It all started in 1977, when Witold Paszt founded the Victoria Singers band, consisting of two vocalists and Andrzej Kozioł and , preparing artistic programs for nightclubs in Warsaw hotels. Due to the fact that the last one left the group, his place was quickly taken by Ryszard Rynkowski. – It turned out that I was a lifeline for the group because I sang baritone – in an interview for “Rzeczpospolita”.
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After a year of joint activity, the group finally transformed into an exclusively male lineup, which was also joined by the founder’s cousin, Jerzy Słota. In addition to performing in clubs, they decided to present their skills to a wider audience. That’s how they came under the wing of a manager, Marek Skolarski, who helped them become known in domestic show business. However, they had a specific plan for their big debut. They started composing their own music, inspired by the German dance scene, and under their supervision they learned tap dancing and created choreography.
Their first performance took place in 1979 during the International Stage Spring in Poznań, where, to the surprise of many, they sang, among others: in English. In the same year, they also released their debut album, but in a much smaller circulation than demand. Despite this, their songs reached many people – first, the song “Masz w Oczy dwa nieba”, which they presented in Opole, became a hit, and then the cult “Bananowy Song”.
In the Polish People’s Republic they were a breath of fresh air, so they easily gained popularity and fame. It is no secret that VOX had great potential to exist outside the country, but this was prevented by the government’s introduction of martial law. – Our main goal was Europe – said Rynkowski, adding that the target group was an audience “with position and money, relaxing in resorts”. They even had a contract with a German manager who invested in their English-language album and tour, but due to political confusion the plan was ruined forever.
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Those events undoubtedly had a negative impact on the band’s future, which was also contributed to by the fashion for rock music, which made their songs no longer so popular. Despite this, they still consistently implemented their idea. At that time, hits such as “Roy, Little Roar” and “Happy Road, It’s Time” became hits. And although they were successful, the first serious problems began, mainly between Paszt and . Ultimately, cooperation with the latter was terminated, and the official reason given was his aggressive behavior under the influence of alcohol. Although his place was taken by Dariusz Tokarzewski, soon afterwards Kozioł also decided to end his career and eventually the quartet turned into a trio.
For the next decades, Vox operated, but without much success, mainly due to the lack of a composer who could create in a style known and liked by listeners. The glimmer of hope for a return to the top of the charts was the song “Rainbow Bridge” from 2014, and although it actually became a hit, it was not enough to restore the group to its former glory. In February 2022, the group’s leader, , died after a severe coronavirus infection, so fans assumed that this would be its final end. However, this did not happen. Dariusz Tokarzewski, Mariusz Matera and Jerzy Słota currently operate under the name Nowy Vax, giving concerts during smaller festivals and events.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
