Jiří Valenta, Former Olympic Keyboardist, Dies at 66

Jiří Valenta, a former keyboardist and singer for the iconic Czech band Olympic, has died at the age of 66. The band announced his passing on social media, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of a respected musician and distinctive personality.

A Long Tenure with Olympic

Valenta was a member of Olympic from 1986 to 2020, performing hundreds of concerts both in the Czech Republic and abroad. The band described his departure as a significant loss, noting his impact as a musician and personality within the group. Novinky.cz first reported the news.

Early Career and Joining Olympic

Born on May 4, 1959, Valenta had a diverse musical background, having played with bands such as Capitol, Kentaur, Karamel and briefly with Framus 5. He joined Olympic in 1986, replacing Miroslav Berka. He recounted how Olympic invited him to audition after seeing him perform with Karamel as an opening act at a concert in Prague’s Palace of Culture.

Departure and Later Reflections

Valenta left Olympic in March 2020 due to health reasons, stating he was experiencing burnout and family health issues. He expressed a desire to return to music when he had recovered. iDNES.cz reports. He recorded twelve albums with the band and reflected positively on his time with Olympic, describing it as a valuable experience that allowed him to travel the world and form lasting bonds with his bandmates. He felt the band gave him far more than it took.

Olympic’s Legacy

Founded in 1962 as Karkulka and later renamed after a club in Prague’s Spálená street, Olympic debuted in 1968 with the album Turtle, considered the first Czech long-playing beat record.

Following Valenta’s departure, Pavel Březina joined the band after a competitive audition.