Czerwono-Czarni (Polish pronunciation:[t͡ʂɛrˌvɔnɔˈt͡ʂarɲi]; literally: "the Red-and-Blacks") was one of the most popular rock bands in the history of Polish popular music, and one of the pioneers of rock and beat music in Poland (both styles together known as the "Big Beat" in the Eastern Bloc at the times).[1] Czerwono-Czarni was the first Polish rock band to last long enough to cut a record.[2][3] It formed in 1960, and lasted until 1976.
History and influence
The Polish rock scene dates from 1959, when the short-lived Rhythm and Blues band debuted.[4] Rhythm and Blues soon disbanded, but most of its members on the same day formed the Czerwono-Czarni group.[5] Czerwono-Czarni was founded by Franciszek Walicki on 22 June 1960 in Gdańsk,[2][6] first performed on 23 July that year,[7] and operated until 1976.[1][8] They were the first band to record a rock-n-roll (at the time called "big beat" in Poland, which was more politically acceptable than the term "rock-n-roll", which was seen as subversive by the communist authorities)[9] record in Poland, in 1961, in Warsaw, in the concert hall of the National Polish Philharmonic, which at night served as a recording studio.[3][10] The 1961 release was the group's first.[1]
Their notable songs include: Trzynastego ("The Thirteenth"), O mnie się nie martw ("Don't Worry About Me"), Chłopiec z gitarą ("A Boy With A Guitar"), Jedziemy autostopem ("Hitchhiking") and Malowana lala ("Painted Doll").[8]
