Leszek Świerszcz is dead. “These goodbyes make me want to cry”
Leszek Świerszcz, an absolutely extraordinary figure in the world of Polish music, has died. He was an artist himself, but he became famous primarily as the founder of the famous Cricet Club in the USA. This is where the most outstanding Polish musicians performed for years. Leszek Świerszcz not only organized their performances, but de facto took care of them during their stay in the United States. He had an individual approach to each artist. On the one hand, he arranged dumplings for Czesław Niemen, and on the other, he served as an informal tutor for young bands. He knew perfectly well who needed what and when. “Leszek Świerszcz is dead. I want to cry from saying goodbye so often (Budka Suflera recently said goodbye to Marcin Bronikowski – ed.)… Somewhere in March 2019, I wrote regarding secondary characters. I look at this text in silence and apart from these sentences from five years ago, I can only add one thing. Thank you, I thank you, each of us thanks you, all Polish bands, soloists, thank you…” – wrote the current leader of the band Suflera’s booth Tomasz Zeliszewski on the band’s website.
Who was Leszek Świerszcz? A “downright monumental” figure
Leszek Świerszcz is perfectly characterized by what Tomasz Zeliszewski wrote later in his moving entry. Who was the founder of the famous Cricket Club? – The successes of stage stars around the world are accompanied by the actions of people whose existence is usually not known to the general public, for whatever reason… Hidden in the darkness of their actions, they do their work quietly. They don’t envy, they don’t blame, they don’t criticize. They do their thing. Solid and professional. They can sincerely be happy regarding the success of the artist they are working with. Leszek Świerszcz is an extremely important figure for the Polish music industry. This musician, trumpeter, keyboardist, and above all, entrepreneur, manager, promoter, who has been living in the New York area for many decades, is probably known to every musician. His clubs, especially “Cricket”, provided work and bread for both the stars and the little ones. They have been home and shelter for all of us for the last almost fifty years. By writing these few sentences, I am not trying to draw Leszek’s biography. I don’t have that much knowledge. Świerszczyk is a complex, expressive, controversial, ambiguous, even monumental figure. And above all, friendly. I remember how carefully he remembered the habits and preferences of his guests. When Czesio Niemen was supposed to come, we knew that there had to be Russian dumplings, because Czesław loved them and, besides, he was a vegetarian. When a young band was to play, he took care of them like a kindergarten teacher. He knew perfectly well who loved Amaretto and who, God forbid, should give a beer before a concert. Who likes shopping in Manhattan and who doesn’t care regarding these matters… In music stores, all you had to do was mention Leś and it immediately became cheaper… Miodzio. For us, Świerszcz kept talking regarding a concert at Carnegie Hall until we believed it was possible. Without him, this concert wouldn’t be possible. Leszek opened the eyes of many artists to the world, and not only young ones. Maybe one day someone will write a book or a film script regarding him, because what he did was like another scene from an Indiana Johns movie. He sometimes had wonderful questions for me… Tomasz, what’s the difference between a Rottweiler and a drummer…? Well, Lesiu… Because the Rottweiler finally gives up. Ha ha ha… – we read on the Budka Suflera website.
See our gallery: Czesław Niemen, this is what his grave looks like following many years. We have photos
Maciej Damięcki’s funeral
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