Stan Borys
Encyclopedia
Stan Borys is a Polish singer-songwriter
, actor
, director
and poet
.
He is a charismatic person and a versatile
artist who has a broad musical taste, acting and directing capabilities.
In his over 45-year-long (celebrated 2006) musical career he has recorded 8 albums, has been a performer at many festivals, and won many awards.
. At the age of 20 he won a countrywide recitation competition. Gifted with a very strong voice and a good diction he started an acting career at the theatre in his hometown and then moved to the capital city of Poland, Warsaw
.
, with whom he created the band "Blackout". After two years of playing together he split with the "Blackout" and started playing with band "Bizony". As a vocalist with this band he changed his name, stage appearance and recorded his big holiday hit song "Spacer Dziką Plażą" (Walking on a Sandy Beach).
He was aiming into a more ambitious repertoire and in 1968 he appeared at the Opole
music festival with the song "To Ziemia" (It's Earth), winning the journalists' prize. In 1973 he won another award performing "Jaskółka Uwięziona" at the Opole festival.
Since 1970 he started acting only as soloist
. He was singing in many festivals in Poland, and abroad winning prizes.
Because of his "Jesus
-like-look" image (he has long hair, a beard and always wears a cross necklace), and liberty-themed songs, he experienced problems with the communist government which often cut off his appearances on TV, and censored his lyrics.
On the other side of the Atlantic, he continued his musical career and started singing at various music clubs, working with Polish and American artists and polishing his English.
Despite being thousands of miles away from Poland, he cherished his love for Polish poetry, which he promoted in his radio programme in Chicago
. In 1983, celebrating 100th anniversary of C.K. Norwid's (a Polish poet) death during the World Norwid Conference held at the University of Illinois in Chicago, he directed and starred in the theatre performance "Norwid".
His acting and vocal talent led to acting in other plays e.g. "The good Woman of Setzuan", "Polish Bethlehem".
.
In 1998 he recorded a new album "Niczyj" with several well known international artists as well as performed on tour in Canada
, and throughout the US. The album had not been available in Poland until 2004.
Stan Borys performed during the celebrations of the Polish accession
to the European Union on 30 April 2004.
The same year he took part in some charity concerts.
Because of many performances in Poland Stan Borys has now a house near Warsaw. In the USA he lives near Death Valley
, where as he says he has a good atmosphere for his work.
as well as meditation
techniques and breathing exercises, which helps him in his vocal performances.
He is a fan of muscle cars. His first automobile after moving to the USA was a Pontiac sports car. Currently he drives a 1998 Jaguar XJR
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
He is a charismatic person and a versatile
Versatile
Versatile is a Canadian brand of agricultural equipment that has produced augers, swathers and combine harvester.In the 1970s, it was an independent operation, founded by Peter Pakosh and Roy Robinson, that had 70% of the 4WD tractor market and then was later owned by Ford and Fiat's New Holland,...
artist who has a broad musical taste, acting and directing capabilities.
In his over 45-year-long (celebrated 2006) musical career he has recorded 8 albums, has been a performer at many festivals, and won many awards.
Early life
Since his early years he has been interested in poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
. At the age of 20 he won a countrywide recitation competition. Gifted with a very strong voice and a good diction he started an acting career at the theatre in his hometown and then moved to the capital city of Poland, Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
.
Musical career
In 1965 he met Tadeusz NalepaTadeusz Nalepa
Tadeusz Nalepa – was a Polish composer, guitar player, vocalist and lyricist.-Career:Nalepa graduated from the Music Academy in Rzeszów in the departments of violin, clarinet and contrabass...
, with whom he created the band "Blackout". After two years of playing together he split with the "Blackout" and started playing with band "Bizony". As a vocalist with this band he changed his name, stage appearance and recorded his big holiday hit song "Spacer Dziką Plażą" (Walking on a Sandy Beach).
He was aiming into a more ambitious repertoire and in 1968 he appeared at the Opole
Opole
Opole is a city in southern Poland on the Oder River . It has a population of 125,992 and is the capital of the Upper Silesia, Opole Voivodeship and, also the seat of Opole County...
music festival with the song "To Ziemia" (It's Earth), winning the journalists' prize. In 1973 he won another award performing "Jaskółka Uwięziona" at the Opole festival.
Since 1970 he started acting only as soloist
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
. He was singing in many festivals in Poland, and abroad winning prizes.
Because of his "Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
-like-look" image (he has long hair, a beard and always wears a cross necklace), and liberty-themed songs, he experienced problems with the communist government which often cut off his appearances on TV, and censored his lyrics.
Moving to the USA and further career
Stan Borys has always been fascinated with the USA, and finally in 1975 (after several attempts, and going through obstacles created by the government, under pretending to be going on an artists exchange), he managed move permanently to the US.On the other side of the Atlantic, he continued his musical career and started singing at various music clubs, working with Polish and American artists and polishing his English.
Despite being thousands of miles away from Poland, he cherished his love for Polish poetry, which he promoted in his radio programme in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. In 1983, celebrating 100th anniversary of C.K. Norwid's (a Polish poet) death during the World Norwid Conference held at the University of Illinois in Chicago, he directed and starred in the theatre performance "Norwid".
His acting and vocal talent led to acting in other plays e.g. "The good Woman of Setzuan", "Polish Bethlehem".
Visiting Poland
After 1989 he started visiting Poland again. In 1991 he performed at the Opole and Sopot festivals, and played Jean Valjean in the musical Les MisérablesLes Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
.
In 1998 he recorded a new album "Niczyj" with several well known international artists as well as performed on tour in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and throughout the US. The album had not been available in Poland until 2004.
Stan Borys performed during the celebrations of the Polish accession
Enlargement of the European Union
The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...
to the European Union on 30 April 2004.
The same year he took part in some charity concerts.
Because of many performances in Poland Stan Borys has now a house near Warsaw. In the USA he lives near Death Valley
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it features the lowest, driest, and hottest locations in North America. Badwater, a basin located in Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below...
, where as he says he has a good atmosphere for his work.
Trivia
Stan Borys practices yogaYoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
as well as meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
techniques and breathing exercises, which helps him in his vocal performances.
He is a fan of muscle cars. His first automobile after moving to the USA was a Pontiac sports car. Currently he drives a 1998 Jaguar XJR
Jaguar XJ
Jaguar XJ is the designation that has been used for a series of luxury saloon cars sold under the British Jaguar marque. The first XJ was launched in 1968 and the designation has been used for successive Jaguar flagship models since then. The original model was the last Jaguar saloon to have had...
.
Discography
- (with Blackout) Studnia Bez Wody
- (with Bizony) To ziemia (1968)
- Krzyczę Przez Sen (1970)
- (with Niebiesko-Czarni) Naga (1972)
- Szukam Przyjaciela (1974)
- Portret
- Piszę Pamiętnik Artysty (1983)
- Niczyj (1998)
- (with Imię Jego 44) Znieczulica (2007)
- Piszę Pamiętnik Artysty - Hańba Temu, Kto o Tym Źle Myśli (2010)
Compilations
- The Best of Stan Borys (1991)
- Złote Przeboje (Platynowa kolekcja) (1999)
- Idę Drogą Nieznaną (Złota kolekcja) (2002)
- Jaskółka Uwięziona (Perły Polskie) (2003)