Biography

It is said that one cannot to sing blues if one has never felt them. Similarly, one cannotperform Roma music if one has not led the nomadic life of the Roma people. The music of Vera Bila & Kale reflects the unique Roma experience.

 

Vera Bila & Kale (translated Vera White & The Blacks) comes from a small town inBohemia about 45 miles west of Prague.  As with most Romany bands the entire band is family related.

 

Vera Bila has been singing for as long as she can remember. From early childhood until she was 25, she sang with her father, a violinist and leader of cimbalom band.

 

In the mid of 90s Vera & Kale performed at many sold-out concerts. Their success eventually led to a recording contract with BMG Ariola ČR. The first album „Rom-pop“ was released with success in several countries in 1996 (in France was awarded one of the best world music records of the year).  

 

The reaction after the second album „Kale kalore“ )released in 1998) allowed the band to start the International concert career.

 

During last years the band appeared in 25 countries and hundreds venues. Some of them:

 

USA - L.A. – Hollywood Bowl, New York – Summer Stage Central Park, Seattle Womad,

Chicago Cultural Center, Atlanta Rialto

Canada - Montreal Jazz Festival

UK - Womad Reading, barbican Center, UK tour 2002

France - Théatre des Bouffes du Nord, Transmusical de Rennes, festival Printemps de de

Bourges, festival Francofollies La Rochelle, Paris-Cirque d‘ Hiver

Germany - Womad Hannover Expo, Munich – Gasteig, Frankfurt – Operahaus and many other Theaters and festivals

Spain - Womad Caceres, Pirineos Sur festival, Barcelona Forum

Italy - many theaters and festivals (Arezzo Wawe), Villa Medics

Holland - Concertgebouv in Amsterdam

Belgium – Sfinks festival

Swiss - Paleo festival

Sweden - Falun festival, Södra Teatern Stockholm

Poland - Sopot festival

Israel - YMCA Jerusalem

Czech Rep. - Theater National – concert for Vaclav Havel, Stavovké divadlo 2004

Turkey - Istanbul – Sanat

 

Mira Erdevićki (Emir Kusturica´s ex assistant) directed a documentary movie “Black And White in Color” about Vera & Kale in 1999. This movie met the success in cinemas and on TV around the world (BBC, etc.)

 

One of the Vera Bila & Kale records was included in the Simon Broughton book “100 Essential World Music CD´s”, published in 2001 in The Great Britain.

 

Vera Bila & Kale, who became a respected and confirmed artist, finished their third studio album “Rovava” with 13 original songs in 2001. One of the tracks called “Amen” was recorded in collaboration with Chico Bouchikhi, the former guitarist from Gypsy Kings, and Polish top singer Kayah.

 

Band member Emil PUPA Miko says about importance of music in Roma culture: Music belongs to our lives, it’s tied to our history. It is a living part of us.