Karel Plíhal

Karel Plíhal (* August 23, 1958 in Přerov) is a Czech guitarist, singer, composer, lyricist, poet, music director and arranger. He graduated from the Secondary Industrial School of Mechanical Engineering in Olomouc, then worked as a designer, a fireman in the Olomouc theater and eventually became a songwriter, although he has no musical education. He has been playing the guitar since he was fifteen. He first played in the Olomouc underground country-swing bands Hučka, Falešníisters and Plíharmonyje. He had his first solo performance in 1983. Between 1985 and 1993 he collaborated with Emil Pospíšil and in 1995–1999 he was accompanied by Petr Freund. Karel Plíhal is a four-time winner of the Porta competition music festival award.