Violetta Villas
Czesława Gospodarek (née Cieślak; 10 June 1938 – 5 December 2011), known by her stage name Violetta Villas, was a Polish and international cabaret star, singer, actress, composer and songwriter.Her father, Bolesław Cieślak (4 December 1907 – 9 May 1960), was a miner and bandmaster, and her mother, Jane (26 January 1914 – 17 February 1985), was a housewife.In the early 1960s, Villas toured many countries in Europe, including Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania, as well as in the United States, Canada and Israel.In 1966, at a personal request of Bruno Cocquatrix, Villas appeared in the Grand Music Hall de Varsovie, revue program at Olympia.In her first program she sang including "Under Paris Skies", "Granada", "O Sole Mio", "Strangers in the Night" and "Libiamo ne' lieti calici".Villas sang in duets with Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Barbra Streisand, Charles Aznavour, Sammy Davis Jr., Eartha Kitt, and Dean Martin.[11] Villas was offered a lucrative eight-year contract with Paramount Pictures but turned it down because of her mother's illness, which saw her return to Poland.Before Villas started her theatre career in Poland, she performed in international revue shows in France and United States.In 1987 she met an American businessman and millionaire of Polish descent, Ted Kowalczyk, and married him on 6 January 1988 in Chicago.The wedding ceremony was held at a banquet room of the "Orbit" Restaurant, a fixture of Chicago's Polish Village.Apparently, according to a show on Polish national public television, Villas suffered from delusional disorder for years,[16] which strained her relationship with family and friends.
Lewin Kłodzkibaptismaloperatic poptorch songtraditional poptrombonecoloratura sopranoabsolute pitchYma SumacDunes Hotel & CasinoLas VegasMedal for Merit to CultureLiège provincebandmasterSzczecinWrocławWarsawPolskie RadioWładysław SzpilmanNational Festival of Polish Song in OpoleBruno CoquatrixRennesOlympiaGranadaO Sole MioStrangers in the NightLibiamo ne' lieti caliciFrank SinatraPaul AnkaBarbra StreisandCharles AznavourSammy Davis Jr.Eartha KittDean MartinCapitol RecordsParamount PicturesCarnegie HallŁódźHello, Dolly!KrakówChicago's Polish Villagealcoholmorphine addictiondelusional disorderSecurity Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairsinformantcode nameDzięciołKnokke-HeistC'est si bonDark EyesEt MaintenantGounod's Ave MariaI Will Wait for YouL'amour Est Un Oiseau RebelleMy Heart Belongs to DaddyNe me quitte pasSomewhere My LoveUn bel dì vedremoUnder the Bridges of ParisThis Is My SongVissi d'arteWhat Now My LoveCongress HallIf You Go AwaySummertimeThe Independent