Krajewski Seweryn, *3 January 1947 in Nowa Sól, Polish composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist. He studied at the Music High School in Gdańsk. He began his stage career in amateur bands: Złote Struny, Błękitni, and Pięciolinie. Since 1965, he was a founding member of Czerwone Gitary (alongside K. Klenczon – guitar, J. Kossela – guitar, B. Dornowski – guitar, H. Zomerski – bass guitar, and J. Skrzypczyk – drums). The band broke popularity records, winning the Jazz monthly magazine’s polls for the best Polish performers in 1965–66. The basis for the success of Czerwone Gitary were melodic hits composed by Krajewski and K. Klenczon, reminiscent of The Beatles’ sound. In 1967, at the 5th National Festival of Polish Song in Opole, Krajewski won a special award from the Polish Jazz Federation for his debut as a composer; in 1968, Krajewski’s song Takie ładne oczy won the main prize in Opole, and Gondolierzy znad Wisły received special recognition. In 1969, the band was honored with an award from the American weekly magazine Billboard. Three of the band’s albums (Czerwone Gitary II, 1967; Czerwone Gitary III, 1968, and Spokój serca, 1971) received Gold Record Awards (1969, 1969, and 1971). After J. Kossela and K. Klenczon left the band in 1967 and 1970 respectively, Krajewski became the main creator of Czerwone Gitary’s repertoire. In the early 1980s, the band lost popularity and stopped touring; in 1991, it resumed its activity. In 2009, Seweryn Krajewski returned to the stage with a solo repertoire. At the beginning of the 1980s, the band lost popularity and stopped performing; in 1991, it resumed activity. In 2009, Seweryn Krajewski returned to the stage with a solo repertoire.
Krajewski composed for many Polish performers (M. Rodowicz, U. Sipińska, Z. Sośnicka, J. Połomski) and released several albums. In 1969, he wrote the music for the first Polish beat musical Gwałtu, co się dzieje! (after A. Fredro), as well as music for films (including Con amore, Jan Serce, Bez miłości, Och, Karol, Kochankowie mojej mamy, Wakacje w Amsterdamie, and Uprowadzenie Agaty). Krajewski’s compositions Barwy jesieni, Przed pierwszym balem, Anna Maria, Tak bardzo się starałem, W drogę, Anna M, Płoną góry, płoną lasy, Słowo jedyne – Ty, Niebo z moich stron, Nie spoczniemy became hits (2nd prize at the 1st Intervision Song Contest in Sopot in 1977) and Remedium.
Seweryna Krajewski’s work was recognized with the Fryderyk Music Award in the Composer of the Year category (2011) and the Gloria Artis Gold Medal for Merit to Culture (2011).
