Michal Tučný (11 January 1947 – 10 March 1995) was a Czech singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most popular Czech

country singers A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

and he is regarded as a legend of the Czech country music (he was often referred to as the king of the genre).

Biography

Michal Tučný was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1947. He played piano as a child. In 1965, he passed the matura exam at a business school. By profession, he was a qualified shopkeeper (which he mentions in several of his songs). His whole life he was a devote fan of

SK Slavia Prague Sportovní klub Slavia Praha – fotbal (Sports Club Slavia Prague – Football, ), commonly known as Slavia Praha or Slavia Prague, is a Czech professional football club in Prague. Founded in 1892, they are the second most successful club in th ...

. He began his musical career at the age of 14 in Dixieland. In 1967, he participated in the first Czech country music festival. At his beginnings, he played and sang with several bands, including "

Rangers A Ranger is typically someone in a military/paramilitary or law enforcement role specializing in patrolling a given territory, called “ranging”. The term most often refers to: * Park ranger or forest ranger, a person charged with protecting and ...

". In 1969, he became a soloist of the group "Greenhorns". In 1974, he joined the group " Fešáci", and in 1980, he created his own band "Tučňáci" (meaning "Penguins", but relating to his surname, which means "fat"). In 1980s, he collaborated with

Rattlesnake Annie Rattlesnake Annie (born Rosan Gallimore, December 26, 1941) is an American country singer and songwriter. She earned her nickname as a child from her respect of snakes. Rattlesnake began recording music in 1959 and achieved success in Europe. ...

, making album named ''Poslední kovboj'' ("The Last Cowboy"). In November 1990, he gave a concert in

Valdice Valdice (before 1950 Kartouzy-Valdice) is a municipality and village in Jičín District in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 1,400 inhabitants. Etymology Valdice was named after the nearby deer park (from German ''Wa ...

men's prison (similarly to

Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...

at Folsom Prison). Through his life, Tučný struggled with poor health, even worsened by his obesity, and underwent many surgeries. The final cause of his untimely death was liver cancer. He is buried in Hoštice in the South Bohemian Region, where he lived in his last years; its village square bears his name. His grave is marked by a stone in the shape of a cowboy hat. The country festival named ''Stodola Michala Tučného'' ("Michal Tučný's Barn") has been held here annually for many years.

Notable songs

* ''Všichni jsou už v Mexiku'' (original song: '' They All Went to Mexico'') * ''Blízko Little Big Hornu'' (with Greenhorns, original song: ''Jim Bridger'') * ''Báječná ženská'' (original song: ''

Good Hearted Woman ''Good Hearted Woman'' is a studio album by American country music artist Waylon Jennings, released in 1972 on RCA Nashville. Background Along with '' Ladies Love Outlaws'', released later in 1972, and ''Lonesome, On'ry and Mean'' (released earl ...

'') * ''Pověste ho vejš'' (covered by

as ''Hang her higher'') * ''Prodavač'' (with Fešáci, adaptation of '' The Auctioneer'') His other songs include: * ''Blues Folsomské věznice'' (with Greenhorns) (original song: '' Folsom Prison Blues'') * ''Tam u nebeských bran'' * ''Poslední kovboj'' * ''Koukám, jak celá země vstává'' * ''Snídaně v trávě'' (original song: ''

Sea of Heartbreak "Sea of Heartbreak" is a song written by Paul Hampton and Hal David and recorded by Don Gibson in 1961. The song reached #2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Content The song describes the feelings of lost love, and compares ...

'') * ''Ještě dlouhou cestu mám'' * ''Nádraží'' (with band Fešáci) * ''Boty z kůže toulavejch psů'' * ''Jak chcete žít bez koní'' * ''El paso'' (with Greenhorns, original song: ''

El Paso El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the seat of El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 23rd-largest city in the U.S., the s ...

'') * ''Feleena z El pasa'' (with Greenhorns, original song: ''Feleena (From El Paso)'') * ''Chtěl bych být medvídkem'' (with

Zdeněk Rytíř Zdeněk Rytíř (11 April 1944 – 2 October 2013) was a Czech composer, lyricist, multi-instrumentalist, and singer born in Tábor, at the time part of the Nazi-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He died of a heart attack at age 69, ...

, original song: ''

The Teddy Bear Song "Teddy Bear Song" is a 1973 single written by Don Earl and Nick Nixon, and made famous by country music vocalist Barbara Fairchild. Released in December 1972, the song was Fairchild's only No. 1 song on the ''Billboard magazine'' Hot Country Singl ...

'') * ''Cesty toulavý'' (original song: '' On the Road Again'') * ''Vlak v 0,5'' (with Greenhorns) * ''Hromskej den'' (with Tomáš Linka & Greenhorns) * ''Já tajně cvičím'' (with Fešáci) * ''Šlapej dál'' (with Greenhorns)

Discography

Michal Tučný's discography consists of more than 30 albums and compilations. He made 8 albums with Greenhorns/Zelenáči, 3 with Fešáci and another 11 with Tučňáci or solo. A number of his compilations was published posthumously.

Filmography

External links

Michal Tučný
at the Czech and Slovak Film Database {{DEFAULTSORT:Tucny, Michal 1947 births 1995 deaths Czechoslovak male singers Czech country musicians Singers from Prague Deaths from liver cancer