Jozef Ráž

Jozef "Jožo" Ráž (born 24 October 1954) is a Slovak singer–songwriter and bassist from Bratislava known mainly for his work with the group Elán.[1]

Jožo Ráž
Jožo Ráž wearing a suit, standing in front of a microphone onstage, holding a trophy
Ráž in 2015
Background information
Birth nameJozef Ráž
Born (1954-10-24) 24 October 1954
Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Genres
  • Rock
  • pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • bass
Years active1969–present
Labels
Member ofElán
Websiteelan.cz

Career

Jožo Ráž founded the pop-rock band Elán in 1968 together with his school classmates Vašo Patejdl, Juraj Farkaš, and Zdeno Baláž.[2] They became one of the most popular Czechoslovak bands during the 1980s, releasing ten successful albums between 1981 and 1991.

He is also an occasional actor: in 1989, he played himself in the fictionalized film about the band Elán, Rabaka.[3]

Personal life

Ráž graduated from the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava. In the summer of 1999, while riding his motorcycle in Bratislava's city center, Ráž was hit by a car, causing him a serious head injury as well as a broken nose, wrist, and right leg.[4]

The musician has expressed controversial views in the past, such as in 2012, when he stated "I am not a racist, but I am afraid of the Chinese—there are many of them "[5] He has also voiced his support for authoritative leaders such as Gustáv Husák, Vladimír Mečiar, Robert Fico, Fidel Castro, and Vladimir Putin.[1][6] [7]

Ráž's son Jozef Ráž Jr. was nominated for the position of Slovak Minister of the Interior in March 2018 for the Direction – Social Democracy party, but President Andrej Kiska refused his appointment.[8] [9]

Discography
Further information: Elán_(band) § Discography

See also

References
  1. "Životopis: Jožo Ráž" [Biography: Jožo Ráž]. hnonline.sk (in Slovak). 24 March 2006. Archived from the original on 11 April 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  2. "Jožo Ráž: Máme 23 platín, no nemáme prachy" [Jožo Ráž: We Have 23 Platinum Records, But We Don't Have Money]. pravda.sk (in Slovak). 25 February 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. "Rabaka". imdb.com. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. "Rejuvenated Legend Elán Continues Sold-Out Comeback Tour". spectator.sme.sk. 15 October 2001. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. "Zbrojný preukaz Joža Ráža preveria" [Joža Ráž's Weapons License Will Be Checked]. domov.sme.sk (in Slovak). 10 August 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  6. "Jožo Ráž: Gustáv Husák bol svetový politik" [Jožo Ráž: Gustáv Husák Was a World Politician]. kultura.sme.sk (in Slovak). 6 March 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  7. "Jožo Ráž: Fico je jediný profík v politike, ale bude to mať ťažké" [Jožo Ráž: Fico Is the Only Pro in Politics, But He Will Have a Tough Time]. dennikn.sk (in Slovak). 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  8. "Kto je nádejný nový minister vnútra Jozef Ráž ml.? Syn rockera, ktorý vlastní hotel aj reštauráciu" [Who Is the Promising New Minister of the Interior Jozef Ráž Jr.? The Son of a Rocker Who Owns a Hotel and a Restaurant]. cs.sk (in Slovak). 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  9. "Směr-SD ustoupil Kiskovi, syna Joža Ráže z nové vlády vyškrtl" [Smer-SD Gave Way to Kiska, He Removed the Son of Jožo Ráž from the New Government]. idnes.cz (in Czech). 20 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
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