Her name is Marta Kubisová and she is a very important person in the both musical and political history of Central Europe. In Czech Republic, Marta Kubisová is known and respected thanks to her exceptional voice, with her animated destiny, her courage and also... with her love for the animals. The Sixties had brought a lot: revival in the culture, the opening towards the world, the thaw in the policy, the enthusiasm whose Czechs and Slovaks were impregnated, their ideals and hopes. And the Soviet occupation of the country in August 1968. The patriots fighting for their land was Dubcek, Havel and Palach and... Marta Kubisová. " Who was Marta Kubisová?"
Almost all people in Czechoslovakia knew that she was a singer with an extraordinary voice: at the same time soft and dramatic, full with sorrow and joy. In 1970 she became forbidden as a singer by the Communists. She worked as secretary.
How it was possible? How can a big artist suddenly live without music, concert, public and applause? Nobody knew that in November 1989 she would come back and sing her famous Prayer for Marta in front of hundreds of thousands of Czechs gathered on the place of Vaclav in Prague.
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1961-1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1970-1989 1978 1979
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Marta was born on November 1, 1942 in the beautiful city Ceske Budejovice in southern Bohemia. When she was nine years old the family moved to the city of Podebrady. She started playing piano when she was 11 years old. Surprisingly the piano lessons were not the best thing she knew. She preferred sport as for instance riding horse. She did not dream of becoming super star she wanted to be physician. Marta's father was cardiolog. But her faith was music and at the end of 1950s Marta got her first musical work at the bar "Florentina" in Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary). In 1961 Marta won the song contest "We are looking for new talents" in Prague and it was a real start of her career.
Marta worked at the theatre "Alfa" in Plzen when she received an invitation to Prague theatre "Rokoko". Marta became the star of the show immediately. She took over after famous by that time singer Eva Pilarova who decided to leave Plzen. In 1964 Helena Vondrackova joined the theatre team after winning the talent competition.
The first studio recording - the song "Mne se libi" (I like it) took place in Prague on September 25, 1963. Marta was still working in Plzen and that day she took train to the capital of Czechoslovakia to the studio in Strahov. The song was quite "old" as Marta had performed it already in the theatre in Pardubice some years before.
Marta who was quite unknown singer became popular during very short period of time. In 1964 she was on the 10th place in the competition "The Golden Nightingale" as the most popular female Czechoslovakian singer. In 1965 she came on number 4 and in 1966 she was the winner.
Marta became a pop star singing a very broad repertoire from evergreens through world hits and her own songs which were a mix of schlager and chancon.
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On February 14, 1964 the show "Black dream" had its premiere in the Rokoko theatre. Marta was singing main parts in the show which was a mix of song, dance and magic. The performance was very jazz influenced.
The year 1965 was very important as Marta made several recording sessions. The first at the end of January. In May 1965 Marta recorded for Czechoslovakian TV a traditional "On top of old smokey" with Czech text. The same song would be even covered by ABBA ten years later...
The beginning of the cooperation with Helena Vondrackova and Vaclav Neckar was confirmed musically in the recording studio in November 65 when the trio recorded their very first song together "Den zen" (The women day). Marta and Helena sang together "Prines ten klic, Tony" (Bring this key, Tony).
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Waiting for Fame
New musical at the Rokoko theatre in Prague was entitled "Waiting for Fame" and it had its premiere on January 1st, 1966. The songs were written mostly by Jan Schneider & Bohuslav Vondracek and the show featured Marta, Helena Vondrackova and Vaclav Neckar playing main parts. They sang songs which would become big hits in Czechoslovakia.
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At the beginning of 1966 Marta participated in a TV show "Kdo, s kym, o cem, pro koho?" (Who, with whom, about what, for whom). The show featured well-known composers and lyric writers as well as singers. The composers and lyric writers drew lots with information what kind of song they had to compose as well as which singer would perform the song in the show. Marta was chosen for singing the song "Dasa" which became later a big hit.
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In March 1966 Marta was approached by a producer of a compilation "Scenes from the most famous American musical". She was asked whether she was interested in recording a duet with Czech pop star Eva Pilarova. The chosen song was Leonard Bernstein's "America". The both singers agreed to do the recording but they ... never met each other in the recording studio. They recorded though their parts of the song and everything was mixed together. Pilarova and Kubisova performed the song together 25 years later on Pilarova's concert in November 1993.
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Bratislavska lyra 1966
One of the biggest hits ever performed by Marta and Helena Vondrackova together "Oh baby baby" was recorded on May 23, 1966. The song was aimed for the festival "Bratislavska lyra 66". The composer Bohuslav Ondracek wanted see both girls looking like two flowers. The main element on stage was a big and high stair. Marta and Helena dressed in long dresses would go all the way downstairs. Marta remembers that it was the most horrible moment during their performance. Helena held hard Marta's hand with every step they took but everything went very well as soon as they reached the stage. Marta and Helena received the second prize (Silver Lire) for "Oh baby baby". Helena, Marta and Vaclav Neckar performed together during the festival even as the members of the Rokoko Theatre.
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In the summer of 66 Marta was back in the studio recording "Nepis dal" (Do not write any more) written by famous Czech composer Lada Staidl. The funny thing about this recording was that Marta did her first version of this song in the studio in her "usual" jazz-chancon way. Staidl was not satisfied with the recording and wanted her to do it in a more "modern" bigbit way. As Marta had difficult to find the right sound Karel Gott recorded more up-tempo version as a demo. Finally even Marta found the "bigbit" sound and the song was successfully re-recorded. "Nepis dal" is still performed by Marta on all her concerts.
In 1966 Marta received her first film contract. She acted in the movie picture "Mucednici lasky" (Martyrs of love) directed by Jan Nemec (Marta's future husband). Marta performed "Jakube Jakube", probably one of the most beautiful songs Marta ever recorded. The movie had its premiere in Czechoslovakia in the spring 1967.
Summer
Helena, Marta and Vasek performed on the student festival "Majales" in the summer 1966.
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In October 66 Marta recorded her version of the world hit "La Paloma" and in November was she back in the studio together with Helena Vondrackova recording Charles Aznavour's song "Donchuan s klarinetem" (Don Juan with clarinet). One more song was recorded during this session on November 10th, 1966 "Depese" (Letters) written by a young composer Karel Svoboda. This song would become his first smash hit. Svoboda is today one of the biggest Czech pop composers.
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The Rokoko team with Marta and Helena went on November 16, 1966 on tour in Soviet Union which would last for 3 weeks.
Five years after the debut Marta Kubisova was the most successful singer in Czechoslovakia which was confirmed in December 1966 when she received the highest pop prize - Golden Nightingale as the best female singer in the country!
Nechte zvony znit - the single
The new Marta single released in 1967 contained the hit "Nechte zvony znit" (Let the bells clang) written by the biggest Czech pop composer Karel Svoboda and a song from the Rokoko theatre play "Listy duverne" (The intimate letters) "Na co te mam" (Why do I have you?).
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The Bratislava festival
In the spring 1967 Marta recorded several songs, most of them duets with Helena Vondrackova and Waldemar Matuska. Marta participated in the Bratislava festival "Golden Lyre" even this year. After the great success with "Oh baby baby" Marta was be back on Bratislavska Lyra and sang duet again, this time with Waldemar Matuska. The song chosen for the festival was "Nech tu lasku spat" (Let this love sleep) and the studio recording was done in May 1967. Marta remembers that Waldemar Matuska had big difficulties with learning the lyrics. He did not remember them even on the final rehearsal on the festival. Even if their performance was maybe the best one they won only the third festival prize - "The bronze lire".
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Czechoslovakian TV started in 1967 a new entertainment series "Pisen pro Rudolfa III" (The song for Rudolf the 3rd). The first show was aired on April 1, 1967 and all famous artists were invited. Twelve current hit songs were presented in each programme and of course Marta, Helena and Vaclav Neckars were among the singers performing in the shows. The show had a tiny story line but the main purpose was of course to create a pop show.
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The 1966 film "Martyr of love" was being shown in Prague's cinemas and one of the songs "Jakube Jakube" recorded by Marta was released as a single in the spring 1967. The second song recorded by Marta for this movie "Nebot co je to clovek" would be unreleased until 1997 when it came out on CD in the "Marta Kubisova Collection" series.
Marta performed on stage in Rokoko theatre in French comedy "Leonarde, tys nam dal". The new single contained two songs from another Rokoko show "The letters of faith".
Until I get tired - the single
One of the 1967 single releases was the one containing "Az unavou" (Until I get tired) and "A ja to nepovim" (I won't tell it).
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In the summer of 1967 Marta, Helena and Vasek went on a three-week-tour in Germany, Austria and Switzerland including a TV appearance recorded by Hessischer Rundfunk in Frankfurt am Main.
On October 16, 1967 it was time for a new premiere at Rokoko "Waiting for fame" with Marta Kubisova, Helena Vondrackova and Vaclav Neckar. Marta sang her great hits in the show and one duet with Helena Vondrackova "Hej, pane zajici" which would become one of hits performed in the future by Golden Kids.
The year 1968 meant a kind of political "new wave". It was time to create socialism with "human face". This year began with thoughts about freedom in Czechoslovkia and thoughts about freedom. (on the picture to the left Marta meets Alexander Dubcek 1968)
Marta became one of the biggest pop artist in the country in the first fanclub was established at the beginning of this year. The fanclub had its own newsletter called "Depese" (Letters) called after Marta's big hit.
You think only about money... - the single
At the beginning of 1968 Marta released a new single with two songs: "Myslis jenom na penize" (You think only about money) b/w Dusty Springfield's hit "I'm Gonna Leave You" (Czech title: Neni to laska - It's not love).
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The philosophic story - the musical
Marta together with Helena Vondrackova and Vaclav Neckar played in the musical "Filosofska historie" (The philosophic story) in the Rokoko theatre in 1967/68. In February 1968 Marta and Helena recorded studio versions of two songs from the musical for a single release. Marta song on side 1 was entitled "Maj" (May) and Helena's song on side 2 was called "Netrubte, vojaci" (Don't blow, soldiers).
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Cannes
At the beginning of the year Marta together with other Czechoslovakian artists represented the country on the record company fair MIDEM in Cannes. Marta performed some of her hits and among them "Lampa" (The lamp). Together with Vondrackova and Neckar Marta sang two more songs which were warmth welcome by the audience.
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Paris
The performance in Cannes caused some interest in both Marta, Helena and Vaclav. Several invitations to a possible cooperation from other countries came. The most interesting one arrived from the most prestigious concert hall "Olympia" in Paris. Marta, Helena and Vasek would perform in Olympia for 1 month.
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On April 1, 1968 Marta, Helena and Vaclav left Prague for Paris. The trio would appear within a bigger show with a 20-minute-performance including three solo songs each and two songs sung by all three of them. They performed as three artists on their own rights and not as a group. The stay in Paris was a great time for three young people from Czechoslovakia and great contrast comparing the capital of France to communist Prague somewhere in East Europe. They did not know that 32 years later Prague would become a new Paris in Europe and much more overcrowded by tourists from all over the world than any other European city.
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Marta Kubisova remembers... "It was in spring 68. In Paris, it was held a splendid reception for us. The director of Olympia, Bruno Coquatrix, presented us to everyone as his Czechoslovakian friends. I spoke a little French and I explained to the public what we sang about. I was even proposed to stay and work in Paris for six months. But it was in May, during the student revolt and I did not want stay there. I wanted to return to Prague and maybe come back later. But after, the Russians arrived the project disappeared. Moreover, I always said to myself if I had been obliged to exile me, I would have settled in France."
Until I get tired - the single
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New single released in the spring 1968 featured two songs recorded at the end of December 67: "Az unavou" (Until I get tired) and "A ja to nepovim" (I won't say it). Both titles seemed to suit to the political situation in the country and Marta's situation at that time.
The Bratislava festival
Marta was very successful on the Bratislava festival in 1968 where she received the highest prize - The Golden Lyre for the song "Cesta" (Journey). The single "Cesta" entered the Top Ten of the record company "Supraphon" in July 1968 at #8. In August was it on #5 and in September on #7. In October the single left Top Ten but Marta's new single " Modlitba pro Martu" (Prayer for Marta) entered the chart directly on #1.
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One of the biggest problem for most pop stars is people's envy. Marta Kubisova was attacked many times during the 1960s by press and people who stated that she lived a luxury life and... took taxi when she went to work at the theatre. It was only beginning. After return from France everybody in Prague "knew" that both Marta and Helena performed on stage in Paris.. naked! Maybe it was envy and stupidity that caused communist's decision about prohibition of Marta as a singer two years later. Anyway in the early summer both Helena and Marta went on holidays to Bulgaria.
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The Slatiniany photo sessions
Later this summer Marta was invited to Helena's family home in Slatiniany where they could relax some days together with Helena's family. During the stay there many of pictures of Marta and Helena were taken. Some months later it would be decided that one of the pictures would be used for the cover of Marta's first album.
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Modlitba pro Martu (Prayer for Marta) - the single(s)
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The song "Modlitba pro Martu" is called for Czech's unofficial hymn. This legendary recording was written for Marta during the hard time in her land's history in 1968. The first recording of the song was done on August 23, 1968 two days after the Warsaw pact's invasion of Czechoslovakia. The song symbolized the feeling of Prague Spring 1968 - the time of hope which was shut down by Russian troops on Prague's streets. Marta dared to sing political messages and maybe she thought then that communism in her land would not last long. But she was mistaken - the communists would have power for 21 years to come. Marta performed her prayer on TV and in front of Czechoslovakian president Mr Svoboda on the Prague castle on September 21, 1968 - one month after the invasion.
The single "Modlitba pro Martu" entered the Top Ten chart of the record company Supraphon in October 1968 at #1.
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go.to/Marta the discography if you want to hear the song
White ribbon - Bila stuha - the single
The new single released in the autumn 1968 contained two new recorded songs: "Bila stuha" (White ribbon) and "Robinson".
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Golden Kids
Autumn 68 was one of the most important periods in Marta's musical life in 1960s. On November 1st, 1968 Marta, Helena Vondrackova and Vaclav Neckar formed a vocal group called "Golden Kids". The threesome had been working together for a long time and this was only a confirmation that they wanted to take their cooperation more seriously. Vondrackova says today that they were a kind of ABBA long before ABBA time.
On November 4th, Marta began recording sessions for her first LP. The sessions were completed on December 17, 1968. Marta recorded 11 new songs including a new version of "Modlitba pro Martu" which was longer than the one recorded in August.
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On November 25 Golden Kids performed for the first time as a group at Lucerna in front of big audience in the Supraphon Show 1968. They even released their first single "Dam Dam".
In November and December Golden Kids prepared with their first own show entitled "Music Box No. 1". The show had its premiere at Lucerna concert hall in Prague during Christmas 68.
Golden Kids - picture gallery
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Songs for Rudolf III
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Before Christmas Marta recorded some Christmas carols for the TV show "Songs for Rudolf III". Two Christmas medleys featuring Marta, Helena Vondrackova, Vaclav Neckara and Eva Pilarova were released on the single at the end of 1968.
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Midem - Cannes
In January 1969 Golden Kids were back on stage at Lucerna enjoying great success. On January 18, 1969 the group represented Czechoslovakia on the MIDEM fair in Cannes. They performed their Music Box No. 1 show featuring Marta singing two songs in German.
In February Marta received the Golden Nightingale prize as the best female singer of the year (1968) in Czechoslovakia and "Modlitba pro Martu" became the second best song of the year after Karel Gott's big hit "Lady Carneval".
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On March 3, 1969 Golden Kids presented their new show "Micro Magic Circus" at the Karlin theatre in Prague.
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Cervanki - the single
Marta performed as a member of the group Golden Kids but it did not mean that she gave up her solo career. A new hit single released in 1969 featured the song "Cervanki" (Red Sky) b/w "Mel snedou tvar" (He had a brown face).
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Golden Kids in West Germany
Due to the huge success of Golden Kids in France and West Germany the group appeared on TV Baden Baden and released two singles (Polydor).
The first single contained "Wo ist der Clown" and "Wir leben mit dem Sonnenschein". The latter was a cover of "I Only wanna be with You" covered previously in Czech by Helena Vondrackova. On the second single there were two songs: "No" and "Was vorbei ist".
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The first LP
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In June it was finally time for releasing Marta's debut album "Songy a balady" (The songs and the ballads) after 7 years in music business. It was the only LP release in the 1960s even if Marta had recorded over 200 songs during that period. The picture sessions for the cover were taken in Helena Vondrackova's hometown of Slatiniany where Marta and Helena spent their holidays at the beginning of August 68.
Photo sessions
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Atlantis - the single
In the middle of June Marta recorded two new songs: "Atlantis" and "Addio" which were released on single during the autumn 1969.
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The Prayer for Marta/Ring-o-Ding - two singles - one cover
"The Prayer for Marta" was released on several different singles between 1968 and 1970. One of them was released in 1969 b/w Karel Cernoch's song "Bad dream". The single with "Ring-o-Ding" (with Mama on the B-side) promoted album in Czechoslovakia. The both singles had the same cover and they were released at about the same time in Czechoslovakia.
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In June Golden Kids participated in a festival "Singing Europe 69" in Scheveningen in Holland.
At the end of July Marta recorded a film which featured 7 of 11 songs released on her debut album. In August it was time for Marta to participate in the song festival in Split (Jugoslavia). She sang a new song "Atlantis" which gave her the third prize.
The LP promotion on TV
In the summer of 1969 the director Jan Nemec made a TV show with Marta promoting her solo album. The 25-minute-show featured several songs performed at very special arranged spots.
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Marta Kubisova becomes the biggest name of Czechoslovakian pop music. In September
