Ondřej Havelka (born October 10, 1954) is a Czech
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and
swing singer, actor, and director.
Career
Havelka has been the
lead vocalist
The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of t ...
for the
Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra (1976-1995) and for
Ondřej Havelka and his Melody Makers (1995 to present), and has directed and appeared in musicals and award-winning music videos.
Awards
In 1995 the
Czech Academy of Popular Music
Czech may refer to:
* Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe
** Czech language
** Czechs, the people of the area
** Czech culture
** Czech cuisine
* One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus
*Czech (surnam ...
(''Akademie populární hudby'') voted ''Děkuji, bylo to krásné'', which he directed and performs in, the
Anděl Award ("Czech Grammy") for Clip of the Year. In 1996 Havelka received a personal Anděl award as Jazzman of the Year.
Discography
With the Original Prague Syncopated Orchestra
* Originální Pražský Synkopický Orchestr (1979, LP Supraphon & WAM – Germany)
* Srdce Mé Odešlo Za Tebou - 2 skladby (1980, SP Panton)
* Stará Natoč Gramofon (1982, LP Panton + reed. CD)
* Jazz & Hot Dance Music 1923 - 31 (1984, LP Panton + reed. CD)
* Sám s Děvčetem v Dešti (1989, LP Panton + reed. CD)
* Hello Baby (1994, CD EMI – Monitor)
With the Melody Makers
* Ondřej Havelka uvádí The Swings (1995, Monitor/EMI. CD)
* Mě to tady nebaví (1998, Monitor/EMI. CD)
* Jen pro ten dnešní den (1999, Monitor/EMI. CD)
* Rhapsody In Blue: Pocta George Gershwinovi (1999, Monitor/EMI. CD)
* Swing It (2000, V.O.X. Music GmbH. CD)
* Vzpomínky na hvězdný prach (2002, Hot Jazz. CD)
* Nejlepší kusy z repertoiru Ondřeje Havelky a jeho Melody Makers (2003, Monitor/EMI. CD)
* Tentokrát zcela Rozvrkočení / This Time Completely off their Noodles (2005, Hot Jazz. CD)
* Ondřej Havelka a jeho Melody Makers vám přejí veselé vánoce. Bílé a oranžové (2005. CD)
* Rhapsody In Blue Room (2007. CD)
Filmography
Writer and director
* ''Zdravý nemocný Vlastimilený Brodský'' (1999)
* ''Poslední mohykán'' (The Last of the Mohicans, 2009) - a documentary mapping the life story of jazz musician
Jiří Traxler
Jiří "George" Traxler (12 March 1912 – 7 August 2011) was a Czech Canadian jazz and swing pianist, composer, lyricist and arranger, and was considered a founder and co-creator of the swing music era in Czechoslovakia. He was the last survivi ...
.
Actor
* ''
Saturnin
Saturnin of Toulouse (, , , , and , , and ) was one of the ''" Apostles to the Gauls"'' sent out (probably under the direction of Pope Fabian, 236–250) during the consulate of Decius and Gratus (250–251) to Christianise Gaul after the pers ...
'' (1994) as Jirí Oulický
* ''
Kafka
Franz Kafka (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was a novelist and writer from Prague who was Jewish, Austrian, and Czech and wrote in German. He is widely regarded as a major figure of 20th-century literature. His work fuses elements of real ...
'' (1991) as Friend of Kafka
* ''Nefnukej, veverko!'' (1988) as Father's friend
* ''Není sirotek jako sirotek'' (1986) as Jirka Spevácek
* ''Chobotnice z druhého patra'' (1986) as Bóda
* ''Rumburak'' (1985) as Mr. Tumlír
* ''Cesta kolem mé hlavy'' (1984) as Professor Robert Kilian
* ''Pod nohama nebe'' (1983) as Petr
* ''Krakonos a lyzníci'' (1981) as Teacher
* ''Koncert na konci léta'' (1980) as Fenix
* ''Reknem si to prístí léto'' (1977) as Karel
References
External links
Interviewfor
Radio Prague
Radio Prague International () is the official international broadcasting station of the Czech Republic. Broadcasting first began on 31 August 1936 near the spa town of Poděbrady. Radio Prague broadcasts in six languages: English, German, Fr ...
.
Profile of Havelkaat the
Prague State Opera.
Profile of Havelkaat the
National Theatre (Prague)
The National Theatre () is a historic opera house in Prague, Czech Republic. It is known as the alma mater of Czech opera, and as the national monument of Czech history and art.
The National Theatre belongs to the most important Czech cultural ...
.
Melody Makers official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Havelka, Ondrej
1954 births
Living people
Czech jazz bandleaders
Czech jazz singers
Czechoslovak male singers
Czech music video directors
Czech male film actors
Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts alumni
Czech male jazz musicians
20th-century Czech male singers
21st-century Czech male singers
Musicians from Prague