Ryszard Riedel

Ryszard Riedel
Ryszard Riedel performing in 1981
Background information
Birth nameRyszard Henryk Riedel
Born(1956-09-07)7 September 1956
Chorzów, Silesia, Poland
Died30 July 1994(1994-07-30) (aged 37)
Chorzów, Silesia, Poland
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, lead vocalist
InstrumentHarmonica
Years active1973–1994
WebsiteOfficial website

Ryszard Henryk Riedel (7 September 1956 – 30 July 1994) was the original lead singer of blues-rock band Dżem (Polish for 'Jam'). He is often regarded as one of the most popular and well known Silesian vocalist, along with an occasional collaborator Czesław Niemen. Riedel's legacy is remembered by an annual festival, bearing his name, held in his home town of Chorzów, which was moved from Tychy in 2009. He has become one of the most powerful vocalists of Polish music, similar to Czesław Niemen.