Where Stars Shine Brighter… The Passing of Waldemar Matuska: Czech Musical Icon, Loving Husband and Father, Dear Family Friend….

It is with a very heavy heart that I announce the passing of a Czech national icon and hero; the voice of a movement, of a country and of my homeland, this past Saturday morning at 8:30 am.

Waldemar Matuska was a man whose voice represented the heart and soul of freedom in the Czech Republic. During his immigration to the USA, my mother assisted him, and in the process our families became very close friends.

Watching my mother grieve during the last two days in her support of his surviving wife and son has been heart wrenching. Waldemar was not only a dear family friend, but the spirit of a movement; a representation of what freedom and patriotism mean to a country and to the Czechs who followed the “Tramps” lifestyle – he was the personification of all of the lyrics and melodies that represented a fully free life….

During the communist takeover in Czech Republic, many other stars chose to appease the politicals and sing in the languages of the other countries they were permitted to visit. When they visited, they sang in Russian or German language, but not Waldemar – he stood strongly behind the heart and soul of his motherland and he refused.  He maintained the voice of a nation, even in the literal aspect.  He was loved not only for his powerful songs and voice, but for the man that was behind the talent, for he showed a strength, a unity, a dedication to an idealism of people who had been supressed under communist rule.

For all his lyrical prose he represented, for the choices he made in how he used his voice to inspire millions, for his deep love to his homeland, and so much more that his voice and spirit gave to the people – this day of his passing is shown in deep mourning of the loss of a man loved and deeply respected by not only his own nation, but of the entire world.

I am copying below a very brief biographic history taken from Wikipedia:

Early Career
Waldemar Matuška was born in Košice, Slovak Republic, former Czechoslovakia, and spent his whole childhood in Prague. His mother was a singer in the Vienna operetta theatres. He worked as a glassmaker and performed on various musical instruments with many different bands. In 1960 he recorded his first song Suvenýr (Souvenir). Later he became an actor in the theatre Semafor. On the stage he performed with Karel Štědrý, Jiří Suchý and, starting in 1961, with Eva Pilarová. He won the Zlatý Slavík (Golden Nightingale) music poll twice, in 1962 and 1967, and placed second several times.

As his popularity grew he started acting in movies and writing songs for movies. Waldemar and Eva Pilarová left Semafor and joined the ensemble of the theatre Rokoko. But Pilarová soon returned to Semafor, and Matuška began singing with Helena Vondráčková, Marta Kubišová, Jitka Zelenková and others. He participated in other projects besides the theatre, mainly duets with Hana Hegerová and Karel Gott.

Emigration
In 1976 he married singer Olga Blechová. His popularity at home was high, and he also gave concerts abroad. In 1986 he left Czechoslovakia and settled with his wife in Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States.

Meanwhile, in Czechoslovakia, the Communist party banned all his songs, destroyed recordings of Jsem svým pánem (‘I’m My Own Master’), deleted his opening song in the popular television series Chalupáři (just the melody remained) and changed the title of the series Rozpaky kuchaře Svatopluka.[citation needed] Matuška continued to perform in the United States, mostly for emigrants from Czechoslovakia.

Velvet Revolution
After the 1989 Velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia, his songs were returned to their proper place in the television series. He lived in Florida, at times performing in the Czech Republic.

Death
Waldemar passed in Florida, of pneumonia and heart failure, aged 76.

The hearts of the people who refer to themselves as “Czech Tramps”, a movement within itself, stood together in silent recognition of thier hero’s passing. Groups gathered worldwide this weekend and campfires were lit all over the world in honoring and tribute to this brilliant man whose voice touched not only their hearts, but their idealistic souls, for all he represented.

I ask that you search on google and youtube and watch and listen to the many songs he has posted to aquaint yourself with him.  Being an icon in the Czech Republic, the loss of this man can culturally be compared to the loss of John Lennon, Victor Jara, Johnny Cash and others who not only had an incredible talent, but who used their voice to create in the momentum of movements that represented and moved the deepest souls of people of all nations….

As we say goodbye to one so close to our hearts, may love and healing flow into our world and bring us all comfort and peace.

Please also give a conscious moment in prayer to send blessings and healing during this tragic time to his surviving wife and son here in Florida.

****************************************

Four Candles for You
by Unknown

The first candle represents our grief.
The pain of losing you is intense.
It reminds us of the depth of our love for you.

This second candle represents our courage.
To confront our sorrow,
To comfort each other,
To change our lives.

This third candle we light in your memory.
For the times we laughed,
The times we cried,
The times we were angry with each other,
The incredible things you did,
The caring and joy you gave us.

This fourth candle we light for our love.
We light this candle that your light will always shine.
As we enter this season and share this night of remembrance
with our family and friends.

We cherish the special place in our hearts
that will always be reserved for you.
We thank you for the gift
your living and your voice brought to each of us.

We love you.
We remember you.

****************************************

Leaving his music for us to remember forever
I close with this poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you wake in the morning hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, I do not sleep.
(Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die!)

Your voice lives in our hearts forever….

Further info on the movement of Czech Tramps for whom Waldemar’s voice signified the dreams and beliefs they held so dear: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_Tramping and http://domov-trampu.home.comcast.net/~domov-trampu/Tramping.htm and http://www.radio.cz/en/article/109381

UPDATE:

Information, photos and video on the funeral of Waldemar in Prague can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.novinky.cz/kultura/171533-s-waldemarem-matuskou-se-rozloucily-tisice-lidi.html