Jerzy Kossela — Polish guitarist and founding member of Czerwone Gitary

Jerzy Kossela (1942–2017) was a Polish guitarist, singer and songwriter, best known as a founder of the influential band Czerwone Gitary and an early figure in Poland’s beat and pop scene.

Overview

Jerzy Kossela (born Kosela; 15 July 1942 – 7 January 2017) was a Polish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who played a notable role in the development of popular guitar-based music in Poland. He is best remembered as one of the founding members of the band Czerwone Gitary and for his involvement in several early Polish rock and beat groups.

Early life and musical beginnings

Kossela was born in Częstochowa, Poland. He came to prominence during the wave of popular music often called the "big beat" era, when young Polish musicians adopted electric guitars and beat-influenced arrangements. From the beginning of his career he combined instrumental work with vocal performances, contributing to both the sound and the public image of the groups he joined.

Bands and collaborations

Across his career Kossela helped form and perform with several ensembles that were influential in Poland’s 1960s and 1970s music scene. Notable groups associated with him include:

Electron
Niebiesko-Czarni
Pięciolinie
Czerwone Gitary

Czerwone Gitary ("The Red Guitars") became particularly prominent, enjoying wide popularity for melodic, guitar-driven songs and for bringing a modern pop sensibility to Polish audiences. Kossela’s role there was as a founding member, contributing guitar, vocals and sometimes songwriting.

Artistic style and legacy

Kossela’s work reflected the blend of beat, pop and light rock that characterized many Eastern European popular bands of the period. While not always the most visible solo star, his steady musicianship and role in forming ensembles left a lasting imprint on Poland’s popular music culture. Musicians and fans remember him as part of the generation that introduced electric guitar ensembles to broader Polish audiences.

Later years and death

In later decades Kossela continued to be associated with his earlier bands and with occasional performances and interviews about the development of Polish popular music. He died on 7 January 2017 in Gdynia at age 74. Contemporary accounts and tributes to his career appeared in Polish media; for further reading see sources and obituaries here and here.