Ivan Král | |
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Ivan Kral
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Background information | |
Born |
Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic) |
May 12, 1948
Genres | Rock, pop, jazz, alternative rock, protopunk, ambient, electronic |
Occupation(s) | Guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, bassist, pianist, vocalist |
Instruments | Guitar, piano, keyboards, bass, vocals, cello |
Years active | 1966–present |
Labels | Arista, PolyGram, Universal, Chrysalis, Sony, BMG, Supraphon, Warner Music |
Associated acts | Patti Smith, Blondie, Iggy Pop, John Cale |
Website | www.ivankral.net |
Ivan Král (born 12 May 1948, in Prague) is a Grammy Award-winning, Czech-born American composer, filmmaker, record producer, bass guitar player, and singer-songwriter. He works across many genres including punk, rock, jazz, soul, country and film scores. His songs have been recorded by such artists as U2, Pearl Jam, Téléphone,Patti Smith,Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Simple Minds, and John Waite, among others.
Král started his American music career during the early 1970s glam rock scene in New York where his band, Luger, performed at many trendy venues, including Max’s Kansas City. After their breakup in 1973, he joined Shaun Cassidy's backing group, then Blondie, then Patti Smith, then Iggy Pop.
Between 1975–1979, Král was co-writer, guitarist and bassist of Patti Smith Group on her first four albums; including debut, Horses (1975), called one of the All-Time 100 Greatest Albums by Time magazine in 2006. The album is in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress because it’s "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
His work also appears on other Smith albums, including Radio Ethiopia (1976), Easter (1978) and Wave (1979).
Some of his songs during this period include "Ask the Angels", "Pissing in a River", "25th Floor", "Revenge", "Citizen Ship", "Birdland", "Ain't It Strange", "Pumping (My Heart)" and her big hit "Dancing Barefoot" which Rolling Stone included on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” and has been recorded by many including U2, Simple Minds and Pearl Jam.