Anna Jantar

Anna Jantar-Kukulska (10 June 1950 – 14 March 1980) was a popular Polish singer and mother of Natalia Kukulska.

Born in Poznań as Anna Maria Szmeterling, she graduated from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. She began her career in 1968 with the song Po ten kwiat czerwony. A year later she became the lead vocalist of the band Waganci. Her most well-known song from this period is Co ja w tobie widziałam ("What did I see in you"). Jarosław Kukulski, whom she married on 11 April 1971, was also a member of the group.

In 1972, Anna began her solo career as Anna Jantar. In 1973 she took part in the National Festival of Polish Song in Opole with the song Najtrudniejszy pierwszy krok ("The first step is the hardest"). Her husband Jarosław Kukulski composed many of her hit songs.

Death

She died in the crash of LOT Polish Airlines Flight 007 from JFK International Airport, New York on 14 March 1980 near Okęcie Airport in Warsaw.

Awards

• 1970 - "Song of the year (1970)" for Co ja w tobie widziałam'
• 1974 - National Festival of Polish Song in Opole - People's Choice Award for the song "Tyle słońca w całym mieście"
• 1974 - Coupe d'Europe - 3rd place with Marianna Wróblewska and Tadeusz Woźniak for the song Tyle słońca w całym mieście
• 1975 - Sopot Festival - 2nd place for her performance of the song "Staruszek świat", people's choice award
• 1975 - 2nd place for the song Niech ziemia tonie w kwiatach at the Festival of Hit Songs in Dresden
• 1975 - Polish "Song of the year (1975)" for Tyle słońca w całym mieście
• 1975 - Polish "Singer of the year (1975)"
• 1976 - Złota Płyta for her album Tyle słońca w całym mieście at the Sopot Festival
• 1977 - Złota Płyta for the album "Za każdy uśmiech"
• 1979 - 2nd place for her performance of her song Tylko mnie poproś do tańca ("Just ask me to dance") at the Festival of Hit Songs in Tampere, Finland
• 1979 - Polish "Song of the year (1979)" for the song Nic nie może wiecznie trwać ("Nothing lasts forever"), chosen by listeners of the radio station Studia Gama
• 1979 - Polish "Singer of the year (1979)"

Discography

Singles

• 1971 - Wszystkie koty w nocy czarne/Marzenia o marzeniach (Waganci)
• 1974 - Nastanie dzień/Tyle słońca w całym mieście
• 1975 - Staruszek świat/Dzień bez happy endu
• 1975 - Będzie dość/Za każdy uśmiech
• 1975 - Mój tylko mój/Dzień nadziei
• 1977 - Dyskotekowy bal/Zgubiłam klucz do nieba
• 1977 - Dyskotekowy bal/Kto umie tęsknić
• 1978 - Baju-baj proszę pana(Jambalaya)/Radość najpiękniejszych lat
• 1978 - Po tamtej stronie marzeń/Mój świat zawsze ten sam
• 1978 - Mój tylko mój/Mój świat zawsze ten sam
• 1978 - Kto powie nam/Dżinsowe maniery
• 1978 - Tylko mnie poproś do tańca/Let me stay/Nie wierz mi nie ufaj mi/Zawsze gdzieś czeka ktoś
• 1979 - Gdzie są dzisiaj tamci ludzie/Nie ma piwa w niebie
• 1979 - Hopelessly devoted to you/You're the one that I want (with Stanisław Sojka)
• 1985 - Wielka dama tańczy sama/Moje jedyne marzenie
• 2005 - Układ z życiem/Nic nie może wiecznie trwać

Albums

• 1974 - "Tyle słońca w całym mieście", reedition 2001
• 1975 - "Za każdy uśmiech", reedition 2001
• 1979 - "Zawsze gdzieś czeka ktoś"
• 1980 - "Anna Jantar", reedition 1999

Compilations

• 1980 - "The Best Of"
• 1986 - "Anna i Natalia" (Anna Jantar, Natalia Kukulska)
• 1990 - "Piosenki Anny Jantar" (Anna Jantar i inni artyści)
• 1990 - "The Best Of 2"
• 1991 - "Piosenki dla dzieci" (Anna Jantar, Natalia Kukulska)
• 1991 - "Nic nie może wiecznie trwać"
• 1991 - "Wspomnienie"
• 1992 - "The collection"
• 1992 - "Złote przeboje"
• 1996 - "Cygańska jesień"
• 1997 - "Antalogia cz.1"
• 1997 - "Antalogia cz.2"
• 1999 - "Przyjaciele"
• 2000 - "Radość najpiękniejszych lat" (Złota kolekcja)
• 2000 - "Tyle słońca..." live (Koncert poświęcony pamięci Anny Jantar)
• 2003 - "Perły - Tyle słońca w całym mieście"
• 2004 - "Platynowa kolekcja - Złote przeboje"
• 2004 - "The best - Dyskotekowy bal"
• 2005 - "Tyle słońca..." 3 CD
• 2005 - "Po tamtej stronie" (Anna Jantar, Natalia Kukulska)
• 2010 - "Wielka dama" 4 CD

Memorials

• After the death of Anna Jantar Polish group Budka Suflera dedicated their song for Anna "Słońca jakby mniej", eng:"Sunlight may be less" .
• Halina Frackowiak has recorded a tribute song to Anna Jantar "Anna już tu nie mieszka", eng:"Anna does not live here anymore."
• Krzysztof Krawczyk dedicated his song "To co dał nam świat", eng:"What the world gave us."
• In 1983, was created by Agata Materowicz and Zbigniew Rostkowski the Music Club Anna Jantar “Bursztyn". The Club had over 1500 members in Poland.
• In 1984 Agata Materowicz, Zbigniew Rostkowski and Roman Woszczek organized the exhibition Anna Jantar- First Step- Last Step” at the Students Club „Stodola” - Warsaw. Jaroslaw Kukulski and Natalia opened the exhibition, and songs were performed by Eleni and Halina Frackowiak. The collection included photos, her personal mementos, letters from her Fans, dresses and costumes, awards, long play records etc. From Warsaw the exhibition moved to Poznan, Lodz and Lublin.
• In 1984 was created Anna Jantar Award for the young talents attending Polish Festival in Opole.
• In 1990,polish artists ( Eleni, Boguslaw Mec, Ewa Dębicka, Monica Boris, Mietek Szczesniak, Jolanta Jaszkowska, Joanna Zagdańska, Wieslaw Sós, Magda Durecka ) released the first album with Anna Jantar songs.
• In 1994, Mariola Pryzwan published the book, "Wspomnienie o Annie Jantar – Słońca jakby mniej..." eng: "In Memory of Anna Jantar - Sunlight may be less ..."
• In 2000, on the 20th anniversary of the death of Anna Jantar was organised concert in the memory of Anna and the following artists sang Ania's songs: Natalia Kukulska, Halina Frackowiak, Maryla Rodowicz, Anna Maria Jopek, Justyna Steczkowska, Kasia Kowalska, Mietek Szczesniak, Andrzej Piaseczny, Kasia Nosowska.
• In Polish town, Wrzesnia the local amphitheater is named after Anna Jantar.