Jozef Ráž

For the Slovak politician, see Jozef Ráž (politician).

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
Ráž in 2015
Background information
Birth name	Jozef Ráž
Born	(1954-10-24) 24 October 1954 (age 69) Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
Genres	Rock pop
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals bass
Years active	1969–present
Labels	Opus BMG Ariola
Member of	Elán
Website	elan.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] The band rose to prominence during the 1980s and became one of the most popular Czechoslovak bands of the era. Between 1981 and 1991, they released ten albums.

He is also an occasional actor: in 1989, he played himself in the fictionalized film about the band Elán, titled 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

• OST Fontána pre Zuzanu 2
• The 100 Greatest Slovak Albums of All Time

References

1. [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.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jožo Ráž.

• Official website