Miroslav "Miro" Žbirka (21 October 1952 – 10 November 2021) was a Slovak pop and rock singer and songwriter, widely popular in 1980s Czechoslovakia. Born in Bratislava to a Slovak father and an English mother, he sang in Slovak, English, and Czech. He sometimes recorded in London, but lived in Slovakia and since early 1990s in Prague, Czech Republic, where he died.

Miroslav "Meky" Žbirka
Žbirka in 2018
Background information
Also known asMiro Žbirka
Born(1952-10-21)21 October 1952
Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Died10 November 2021(2021-11-10) (aged 69)
Prague, Czech Republic
GenresPop rock, new wave, folk
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1968–2021
LabelsOPUS, Bonton, Sony BMG
Member ofModus, Limit
Websitezbirka.cz

In the late 1970s, Žbirka co-founded two Czechoslovak pop music bands, Modus[1] and Limit. In 1982, he rose to fame by winning the annual Zlatý slavík award for the best male singer in Czechoslovakia. After the 1992 division of Czechoslovakia, he repeated this achievement in the Slovak annual Slávik Awards, coming number one in the annual end of year charts in 2002, 2004 and 2005.[2]

Žbirka had some performances with Jon Anderson in 2012. Asteroid 5895 Žbirka, discovered by Czech astronomer Zdeňka Vávrová in 1982, was named in his honor[3] (the official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 27 August 2019 (MPC 115893)).[4] He died from pneumonia in Prague on 10 November 2021, leaving behind recorded vocals for his 15th studio album, Posledné veci (Last Things), which was completed by his son David Žbirka in Konk Studios by May 2022.

Discography

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Studio albums
  • 1980: Doktor Sen
  • 1982: Sezónne lásky
  • 1983: Roky a dni
  • 1984: Nemoderný chalan
  • 1986: Chlapec z ulice
  • 1988: Zlomky poznania
  • 1990: K.O.
  • 1993: Songs for Children (designed for children)
  • 1994: Samozrejmý svet
  • 1997: Meky
  • 1999: Songs for Boys & Girls (designed for children)
  • 2001: Modrý album
  • 2005: Dúhy
  • 2009: Empatia
  • 2015: Miro
  • 2018: Double Album
  • 2022: Posledné veci
Export albums
  • 1981: Doctor Dream (aka Miro and/or Like a Hero)
  • 1982: Light of My Life
  • 1983: Giant Step (aka Dear Boy)
  • 1989: Step by Step

Awards

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Major awards

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Year Nominated work Award Category Result Ref
1977 "Úsmev" with Modus Bratislavská lýra
  • Audience Choice
Won [5]
  • Czechoslovak Authors
Won
1982 "Atlantída" Nominated [6]
"The Love Song" Villach Music Festival Won
Hitradio Ö3 Won
1983 "Nechodí" Bratislavská lýra
  • Czechoslovak Authors
Won
2002 "Čo bolí, to prebolí" feat. Martha Aurel Awards
  • Song of the Year
Won [7]
2003 Himself
  • Best Male Vocal Performance
Nominated [8]
2004 Won [9]
2005 Nominated [10]
2006
  • Hall of Fame
Inducted [11]
2007
  • Best Male Vocal Performance
Nominated [12]
Doktor Sen Best Slovak Album of All Time Nominated [13]
Sezónne lásky Nominated
Modrý album Nominated
2009 Empatia Anděl Awards
  • Album of the Year
Nominated [14]

Music polls

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Zlatý slavík by Mladý svět, Czechoslovakia
Year Nomination Category Result Ref
1979 Himself
  • Male Singer
#18 [15]
1980 #19 [16]
1981 #7
1982 #1 [17]
1983 #2
1984 #3 [18]
1985 #4
1986 #4 [19]
1987 #4
1988 #13 [20]
1989 #17
1990 #18 [21]
1991 #20
Český slavík by Mattoni, Czech Republic
Year Nomination Category Result Ref
2000 Himself
  • Male Singer
#125 [22]
2001 #131 [23]
2002 #29
2003 #28 [24]
2004 #18
2005 #14 [25]
2006 #15
2007 #19 [26]
2008 #17
2009 #18 [27]
2010 #26
2011 #24 [28]
2012 #20
2013 #24 [29]
2014 #26
Slávik by FORZA, Slovakia
Year Nomination Category Result Ref
1998 Himself
  • Male Singer
#3 [30]
1999 #4 [31]
2000 #5 [32]
2001 #5 [33]
2002 #1 [34]
  • Rádio Expres Slávik
#1 [35]
2003
  • Male Singer
#2 [36]
2004 #1 [37]
2005 #1 [38]
2006 #2 [39]
2007 #2 [40]
2008 #3 [41]
2009 #2 [42]
2010 #3 [43]
2011 #3 [44]
2012 #2 [45]
OTO by Art Production Agency, Slovakia
Year Nomination Category Result Ref
2001 Himself #1 [46]
2002 #1 [47]
2003 #1 [48]
2004 #1 [49]
2005 #1 [50]
2006 #3 [51]
2007 #2 [52]
2008 #2 [53]
2009 #2 [54]
2010 #2 [55]
2011 #3
2012 #1
2013 #1
2014 #2

References

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General
  • Lehotský, Oskar (23 April 2008). "Slovak Popular Music in the Years 1977–1989 – Modus Study" (PDF). Comenius University, Faculty of Arts (in Slovak). Bratislava, Slovakia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
Specific
  1. ^ "Miro Žbirka zůstane ještě letos akustický" (in Czech). Czech Television. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  2. ^ "Slovenské slavíky mají Žbirka a Elán". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 5 December 2005. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  3. ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 5895 Zbirka (1982 UF2)" (11 May 2019 last obs.). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  4. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  5. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music]. Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 56. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Osobnosti – Miro Žbirka – Ocenenia". Feminity. Zoznam.sk. feminity.zoznam.sk. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  7. ^ Verdi, Rob (11 March 2003). "Ceny Aurel 2002 aj s bombovým útokom". Music Scaper. musicscaper.sk. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  8. ^ "V pátek rozdají slovenské hudební ceny Aurel". Právo. Borgis. 4 March 2004. novinky.cz. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Aurela dostala Zuzana Smatanová, Miroslav Žbirka aj kapela Desmod". Pravda. Perex. 4 March 2005. koktail.pravda.sk. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  10. ^ "Nominácie na Aurela 2005 sú už známe". 24 hodín. Denník 24 hodín. 14 March 2006. 24hod.sk. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  11. ^ Kanky, Lucia (20 April 2007). "Aurel 2006 je už minulosťou". Music Scaper. musicscaper.sk. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  12. ^ Bacigalová, Eva (14 May 2008). "Nominácie na ceny Aurel 2007 sú známe". Metoo. Kabel Plus. metoo.cz. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  13. ^ "Exkluzívny rebríček: 100 najlepších slovenských albumov". Nový čas. Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia. 22 September 2007. cas.sk. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Ceny Anděl – Ročník 2009". Ceny Anděl. Akademie populární hudby. cenyandel.cz. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  15. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 429
  16. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 430
  17. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 431
  18. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 432
  19. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 433
  20. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 434
  21. ^ Graclík, Miroslav [in Czech]; Nekvapil, Václav (2008). "Zlatý slavík – Results". Marika Gombitová: neautorizovaný životní příběh legendy československé pop music [Marika Gombitová: An Unauthorized Life Story of the Legend of Czechoslovak Pop Music] (in Czech). Prague, Czech Republic: XYZ. p. 446. ISBN 978-80-7388-115-3. OCLC 294939865. Retrieved 21 March 2011. page 435
  22. ^ "Český slavík 2000 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  23. ^ "Český slavík 2001/2002 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  24. ^ "Český slavík 2003/2004 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  25. ^ "Český slavík 2005/2006 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  26. ^ "Český slavík 2007/2008 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  27. ^ "Český slavík 2009/2010 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  28. ^ "Český slavík 2011/2012 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  29. ^ "Český slavík 2013/2014 – Results – Male Singers" (in Czech). Mattoni. ceskyslavik. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  30. ^ "Slávik 1998 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  31. ^ "Slávik 1999 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  32. ^ "Slávik 2000 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  33. ^ "Slávik 2001 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  34. ^ "Slávik 2002 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  35. ^ "Slávik 2002 – Rádio slávik – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  36. ^ "Slávik 2003 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  37. ^ "Slávik 2004 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  38. ^ "Slávik 2005 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  39. ^ "Slávik 2006 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  40. ^ "Slávik 2007 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  41. ^ "Slávik 2008 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  42. ^ "Slávik 2009 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  43. ^ "Slávik 2010 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  44. ^ "Slávik 2011 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  45. ^ "Slávik 2012 – Male Singer – Results". Produkčný dom FORZA (in Slovak). FORZA. forza.sk. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  46. ^ "Osobnosť televíznej obrazovky (OTO) 2001 – Male Singer – Results" (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia. anketaoto.sk. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  47. ^ "Osobnosť televíznej obrazovky (OTO) 2002 – Male Singer – Results" (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia. anketaoto.sk. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  48. ^ "Osobnosť televíznej obrazovky (OTO) 2003 – Male Singer – Results" (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia. anketaoto.sk. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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  51. ^ "Osobnosť televíznej obrazovky (OTO) 2006 – Male Singer – Results" (in Slovak). Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia. anketaoto.sk. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
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Bibliography

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Further reading

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