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, in Prague.[1]
Zdeněk Rytíř | |
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| Born | 11 April 1944 Tábor, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia |
| Died | 2 October 2013 (aged 69) Prague, Czech Republic |
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| Labels | Supraphon |
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Biography
editMusic
editZdeněk Rytíř was born on 11 April 1944 in Tábor, which at the time was part of the Nazi-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. During his studies at Charles University, he wrote poetry and played bass guitar and harmonica in several bands. He began writing lyrics professionally as a member of the group Mefisto.[2]
Rytíř wrote lyrics for songs performed by numerous Czech artists and bands, including Pavel Bobek, Helena Vondráčková, Václav Neckář, Petr Spálený, Michal Tučný, Olympic, Karel Gott, Lenka Filipová, Hana Zagorová, Jitka Zelenková, and ASPM among others. He additionally wrote Czech lyrics for several songs by Bob Dylan, including "Like a Rolling Stone", later made famous by Petr Kalandra, and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", sung by Marta Kubišová.
Personal life
editRytíř was in a relationship with singer Helena Vondráčková until 1969. He later married actress Evelyna Steimarová, with whom he has a daughter, actress Vendula Prager-Rytířová. His second wife, Helena Rytířová, is also an actress.[3] They have two children together: Zdeněk Rytíř Jr. and Alena Rytířová.[4]
Illness and death
editAfter a long illness, Rytíř died of a heart attack on 2 October 2013 in Prague, aged 69.[5]
Selected discography
edit- Michal Tučný, Zdeněk Rytíř & Tučňáci – Jak to doopravdy bylo s Babinským
- Konec básníků v Čechách – soundtrack (1993)
- Nautilus Zdeňka Rytíře – compilation of songs by Zdeněk Rytíř (2004)
References
edit- ^ Zemřel textař Zdeněk Rytíř, autor hitu Zvonky štěstí (in Czech)
- ^ "Kam zmizel ten starý song – Zdeněk Rytíř" [Where did the old song go? Zdeněk Rytíř]. ceskatelevize.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Rytíř se vrací do života" [Rytíř comes back to life]. blesk.cz (in Czech). 30 January 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Druhá manželka Petra Čepka (†54) Helena Rytířová (69): Prozradila, díky čemu vypadá pořád skvěle!" [The second wife of Petr Čepek (†54) Helena Rytířová (69): She reveals why she still looks great!]. blesk.cz (in Czech). 31 July 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Zemřel Zdeněk Rytíř, autor textů mnoha slavných popových písní" [Zdeněk Rytíř, author of many famous pop songs, died]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2022.