Karel Kryl

Karel Kryl was a Czech singer-songwriter and poet best known for his politically charged folk songs, especially during the time of communist rule in Czechoslovakia. Emerging in the late 1960s, his music combined poetic lyrics and acoustic guitar, often criticizing the regime and speaking out for freedom and human rights. His debut album, Bratříčku, zavírej vrátka (Little Brother, Close the Gate), released in 1969 shortly after the Soviet-led invasion that crushed the Prague Spring, became an iconic work that resonated with many and turned him into a voice of dissent.

Kryl spent much of his later career in exile in West Germany, continuing to perform and record albums that addressed both the struggles under communism and later developments following the 1989 Velvet Revolution. Though his relationship with post-communist politics was complex and at times critical, he remained a powerful symbol of resistance and integrity in Czech culture. Even today, his legacy lives on through live recordings, retrospective releases, and the ongoing influence of his fearless artistic voice.