Drawing from a multitude of influences ranging from
elegant classical and jazz styles to the rawest, most basic blues, country
and soul, Radoslav Lorkovic has taken on an unusually broad musical spectrum
and refined it into his distinctive piano stlye. His tenure on the R&B
and folk circuits has culminated in five critically acclaimed solo recordings
and numerous appearances on the recordings of and performances with artists
including Odetta, Jimmy LaFave, Ribbon of Highway Woody Guthrie Tribute, Greg Brown, Richard Shindell, Ellis Paul, Dave Moore, Andy White and Bo Ramsey.
His twenty year touring career has led him from the taverns of the upper
Mississippi River to the castles of Italy, The Canary Islands, The Yup'ik villages of Alaska
and Carnegie Hall.
Born in Zagreb, Croatia in 1958, Lorkovic's initial
exposure to music can be attributed to two grandmothers. Antonija Bujas,
his maternal Grandmother, sang him Croatian, Slovenian and Czech folk
songs since birth. At age one he was reported to be singing back on pitch.
By age three he was putting on floor shows for his grandfather and friends
who would respond by showering him with coins yelling "pivaj Radoslav
pivaj!" During this time classical music played in the home constantly
due to the influence of his paternal grandmother Melita Lorkovic, a internationally
renown classical pianist. After this blend of central European musical
influences Radoslav moved to the United States at age six. He had a foothold
on a classical music career when at age fourteen he was sidetracked by
a blues scale that a friend had taught him.
After several years and countless hours of expounding
on this spark, Lorkovic began touring at age 20 with Bo
Ramsey and the Sliders. Lorkovic entered the band having mastered
the styles of boogie-woogie greats such as Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson,
Freddie Slack etc.. Ramsey's influence drove Lorkovic deeper to the core
of the blues. The music of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Little Walter
shifted Lorkovic's focus to the basics as he began to draw from the styles
of Otis Spann and Pinetop Perkins. Several years later Lorkovic
and Ramsey joined forces with Greg
Brown adding musical authenticity to his deep Iowa Roots. At this
time Lorkovic was simultaneously brushing up on his classical heritage
and looking south to the polyrhythmic sounds of Professor Longhair and
James Booker. He had picked up Tex-Mex and Zydeco accordion as well. In
1990 he made his solo recording debut. Six CDs later, Lorkovic currently
tours the world regularly appearing at prestigious events such as
the Woody Guthrie Festival, Womad, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Mountain Stage, Prairie Home Companion as well as a litany of Italian castles and villas.
Cheers champ, an honour having you here, be well, and do enjoy the library/blog's contents, here's hoping that it'll inspire you, as your creative spirit has inspired mine, sweet dreams then...
Thanks for bringing me into your musical realm, Rad. You sounded great at Bill's Blues last week. Also, anyone who appreciates Professor Longhair is OK in my book.
Hey Buddy! How ya been? I have a job interview in Bremerton, WA next week and I'm sending out my application to a job in Jureau, Alaska! When are you playing Houston next?
Humanity has just not yet invented the words necessary to accurately describe and capture the magic you create with a piano and accordion. Amazing, unbelievable, and phenomenal come close, but still don't capture your musical magic. Thanks for every moment over the last couple of days!!
Your music was one of the highlights of Woodyfest this year! I'm amazed and inspired! I would have thanked you for your terriffic music there at the festival, but you were always playing!! :) I've got a lot f good pictures of your onstage marathon which I'll post on my Woodyfest page in the next day or so. Thanks for all the good music! Kitty West
Oh shoot! I just now checked myspace on my husband's machine. My laptop is in a shop in Austin getting fixed. I didn't hear by phone so I came on back--commitments here anyway, actually. Hope the show with the choir was great, and I'm sorry to have missed it! Are you around for a couple days? Let me know! x J
Hi Rad! I guess you'll be in our hood tomorrow with Odetta... I'll be up in Santa Barbara for a first rehearsal with our new alt-country band we're starting! Give my cell a jingle and maybe I can come by sound check to say hey or something. Happy New Revolution, and happy travels. x J
hi rad - wow someone stole my pic and has put these crap ads for phones up on my friends site. since you are a flesh and blood as well as a myspace friend this is slightly embarrassing. apologies. sorted now. see you in 08 look forward to it. it's 37 tomorrow - yours, andy
It was GREAT meeting you last night. We really enjoyed opening for you at the House Concert and look forward to hopefully seeing you again in the near future. Enjoy Florida!