Biography Ioan Gyuri Pascu

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 trandafirii negri , fundal
1.3 university years , divertis debut
1.4 first musical , comedic hits
1.5 occident felix şi otilea
1.6 writing debut , pro tv projects
1.7 2010 stroke , divertis split
1.8 death

biography
early life

pascu native of agnita (at time part of braşov region, in sibiu county), graduated primary school. born ethnic romanian father , half-hungarian mother; on mother s side, descendant of poles , slovaks. mother roman catholic , father, gyuri, romanian orthodox. name reflects complex heritage: ioan chosen romanian name; second name hungarian gyurika, recorded ghiurico in birth certificate , personal documents ever since—as pascu later indicated, because neither father nor notary familiar hungarian phonology. pascu, fluent in hungarian language, preferred hypocoristic gyuri.

pascu began study piano when 9 years old, , sang soprano in school choir, entertaining friends impressions of well-known pop singers. during fifth grade, started playing handball amateur team, discarding piano lessons , contemplating career in acting. taught himself guitar.

at age fourteen, pascu s voice changed. still soprano in choir, had use head voice. high school student, pascu had enlist in union of communist youth (utc), romanian communist regime compulsory youth organization. in 1976, enrolled @ agnita high school, later became agro-industrial high school. same year, gave handball , began more formal study of guitar music, using maria boeru textbook guide. debuted amateur actor in 1977, school theater performance @ agnita house of culture.

pascu interested in cenaclul flacăra concerts, outlet american folk-inspired , folk rock, tolerated under communism. became familiar western music acts such olivia newton-john , queen, , active in utc s cultural brigade, wrote , performed first folk-rock numbers.

trandafirii negri , fundal

in may 1978, pascu attended international workers day celebration in mediaş, befriended brothers septimiu , horia moldovan, in same band pop singer elena cârstea. according pascu s official site, played western rock hits him, including deep purple s child in time , uriah heep s july morning . between 1978 , 1980, pascu sang moldovans band trandafirii negri, , invited perform them @ wedding parties , similar festivities. money earned, purchased first acoustic guitar directly factory in reghin, , taught himself play drums. composed 1 of first published songs, melancolie ( melancholy ), in 1979.

in 1980, pascu applied târgu mureş szentgyörgyi istván drama school, failed entry exam. worked in state-owned factory lathe operator, , several months in 1980, conscripted romanian land forces, met other amateur musicians undergoing military training. founded rock band fundal, pascu lead singer , drummer. performed in nationwide cântarea româniei festival.

in 1982, military term over, pascu , fundal returned mediaş, pascu discovered romanian radio s radio vacanţa station. invited perform @ station s youth concerts, met , befriended teo peter, bass player compact, , music promoter andrei partoş. during 1982, pascu played cenaclul flacăra concerts, , billed utc s scînteia tineretului shows. later described mentoring rock singers cristi minculescu, liviu tudan, adi ordean , vladi cnejevici third real school . in 1980, pascu discovered , became influenced reggae music. introduced reggae style police , reggae fusion sessions, became fan of reggae numbers played african diaspora students in romanian universities. twenty years later, pascu told reporters: between 1980 , 1985, mad bob marley.

university years , divertis debut

in 1984, pascu moved cluj-napoca, , admitted cluj university faculty of letters, studying romanian , spanish. had applied similar faculty @ university of bucharest twice, failed entry exam. after admission, joined university s theatrical company ars amatoria şi fiii, mentored literary critic ion vartic. performed radio comedy , parody theater during time, , involved in vartic s echinox literary club. pascu continued interest in sports, particularly soccer, , noted fan of college soccer team fc universitatea cluj.

in 1986, while ars amatoria touring bucharest adaptation of ion luca caragiale s plays, pascu met , befriended members of comedic ensemble , student group divertis, performed subtle political satire against nicolae ceauşescu s communist rule. pascu had been divertis fan since 1982 , recalled, met divertis boys after show. liked me [and] asked me join group . first performance divertis took place in 1987, @ izvoru mureşului resort in harghita county. pascu resumed musical career, , in 1987, invited partoş sing @ summer festival in deva.

in 1988-1989, upon graduation, pascu taught romanian language , literature @ primary school in ulmu, călăraşi county, gave pursue singing career. late in 1989, in semenic, met mircea baniciu, former member of romania s leading rock band transsylvania phoenix. guest in baniciu s home anti-communist revolution erupted in timişoara. rejoined divertis in iaşi, scheduled show there broken communist authorities.

with end of communism, pascu diversified career entertainer. after performing solo music recital in february 1990, renewed contract divertis, , toured country them. later year, divertis performed first time in series of comedy shows airing on romanian television channels. group worked filmmaker , traffic police officer virgil vochină, adding comedy bits serialized road safety campaign, reflecţii rutiere ( roadside reflections ). december 1990 1992, pascu employed program editor same station.

in 1992, mircea rusu, pascu released extended play recording ar putea fi ( ). in partnership girlfriend daniela marin, founded tempo music, claimed romania s first independent music label. pascu founded own band, blue workers.

first musical , comedic hits

pascu recalled during 1990s, divertis had perform dozens of consecutive encores while on tour, interfered group s regular twin peaks viewing parties. according gardianul newspaper, pascu s activity divertis turned him 1 of popular figures in homegrown comedy . in 2006 interview dilema veche, divertis founder toni grecu recalled pascu notable group member not born in historical region of moldavia.

in 1993, pascu experienced first significant success in music album mixed grill , single Ţara arde şi babele se piaptănă ( country burning , old women combing hair , referencing romanian proverb). poll conducted journal evenimentul zilei nominated track best song of 1993, , nationwide station radio contact awarded pascu composer of year title. mixed grill marked pascu s brief experimentation fusion of rock , reggae. hits such gizzi , mi-am luat colac ( got me lifebuoy ) led consider him 1 of pioneers of romanian reggae, years ahead of acts el negro , pacha man. mix of genres became characteristic of pascu s work in music: when writing records, figured that, should someone, say, playing record @ party, have several kinds choose from, , not grow bored. s not because of that, think s how inspiration visits me, how write. won t stick 1 musical genre. in addition piano, guitar , drums, pascu began playing harmonica.

soon after marrying daniela marin in august 1993, pascu invited director lucian pintilie star in film unforgettable summer, alongside kristin scott thomas, claudiu bleonţ , marcel iureş. pascu, referred filming on location mock-honeymoon, received reviews performance.

over following years, pascu , blue workers released 2 eps, rhythm , blues record maşina cu jazzolină ( jazzolin engine ) , caseta pentru minte, inimă şi gură ( cassette mind, heart , mouth ). pascu appeared on number of comedy recordings released divertis, earning pascu reputation of protest song writer. inspired romanian politics , social debates of 1990s write hits morcovul românesc ( romanian carrot ) , instalatorul ( plumber ). pascu acknowledged political streak, recognized considered necessary link between social phenomena , songwriter s cultural perspective, , argued songs should tell story. 1 of parody songs included on maşina cu jazzolină, titled africa, africa , drew special interest in cultural circles satirical undertones. lyrics suggested modern romania no better average african nation. according historian sorin mitu, africa, africa showed romanians tendency relate extra-european realities , trend observed during ceauşescu s final decade, , throughout post-revolutionary period.

in 1995, after series of festivals sang blue workers, pascu had solo recital @ braşov s golden stag festival, , awarded best album trophy music magazine actualitatea muzicală, maşina cu jazzolină. opening act western rock groups touring romania: british bands jethro tull, beats international , asia, , germany s scorpions. television actor, pascu taking part in development of romania s advertising industry. chiefly remembered in pop culture spokesman connex, 1 of first mobile phone operators in romania, catchphrase alo, maria? ( hello, maria? ).

in february 1997, pascu released album gânduri nevinovate ( innocent thoughts ). according website, can considered pascu s first less commercial record. pascu s daughter, ana iarina, born later in same month.

after 1997, pascu prioritized activity music promoter , producer. between 1998 , 2000, , wife helped launch successful pop , alternative rock acts such vama veche, domnişoara pogany , dinu olăraşu. after releasing song collection poveştile lui gyuri ( gyuri s stories ) in 1999, gave music, stating had become disenchanted newer pop trends, returned in 2000 limited-release record titled lasă (muzică de casă), leave (home music) . stated on website, record registered success closest fans , members of romanian-american community.

from occident felix şi otilea

also in 2000, pascu began working filmmaker cristian mungiu. wrote soundtrack mungiu s short film zapping , appeared mircea diaconu in mungiu s medium-length film corul pompierilor. collaborated in occident, featured music composed pascu , supporting role gică , opposite alexandru papadopol ( luci ). contribution earned pascu critical accolades. film critic alex. leo Şerban referred pascu s memorable performance papadopol s cynical, neighbor , , cultural journalist eugenia vodă suggested authentic definition pascu added diaphanous touches mungiu s black comedy.

two years after occident s premiere, pascu released album stângul de visa ( left dream ), less of commercial success , pascu noted, inconsistent editorial policies of commercial radio. according website, not promoted mainstream radio stations, , sold of copies during live performances. in 2009 interview, pascu argued, every time had songs pitch, [the stations] say: re good, don t fit in our policies. [...] if commercial radio stations count, haven t had put out record since 1993. thanked file sharing community circulating copies of music, though lost royalties. pascu voiced opposition singing competitions phenomenon, stating one-time member of mamaia festival jury, had bittersweet experience of romanian pop politics.

pascu toured country mark celebration of 20th year in music, performing in provincial clubs. continued give occasional concerts (including opening act italian singer albano carrisi in arad), , starting in 2003, hosted musical talk show taverna on national television channel, tvr 1. divertis, pascu became co-host of regular comedy program on antena 1, filmed on location in united states. had recurring sketch on show titled felix şi otilea ( felix , otilea ), opposite female pop singers monica anghel , jojo, , comedians cătălin mireuţă , daniel buzdugan. voice actor on animat planet, cartoon show produced divertis antena 1. these contributions, pascu designated best comedian of 2003 in tvr 1 poll.

he released solo albums o stea ( star ) , jocul de-a joaca ( pretending play ), both in 2004. in july 2005, invited sing brazil s national anthem @ exhibition soccer match between 1994 world cup-winning brazilian squad , romanian team. same year, released greatest hits record, titled 12 ani, 12 balade ( 12 years, 12 ballads ). pascu reunited blue workers 2005 nationwide tour , 2006 performance @ children s palace in bucharest. appeared @ proetnica festival in sighişoara, celebrated ethnic minorities , practice of toleration.

pascu parted divertis in 2007. @ time, indicated no longer handle tight schedule. break not total, though, since pascu continued appear on animat planet. in 2007 interview, reflecting on show s impact, stated, m not of fan of political humor. impromptu kind of humor [...]. if [the joke] happens political, because have in series. in 2012, asserted break political humor definitive, , against consensus in divertis—in 2007, pascu noted there disagreement between him , toni grecu. shortly after departure, conflict between grecu , other divertis actors broke divertis competing halves.

pascu released album la jumătatea vieţii ( halfway through life ) @ cluj-napoca recital, in november 2007. resumed stage career during time well. in spring 2007, starred rică venturiano in adaption of caragiale s o noapte furtunoasă, commemorating 130th anniversary of play s first public performance. pascu appeared in marius barna s documentary film utopia impusă ( forced utopia ), investigated ordinary life in communist romania, singer dan bittman, literary critic ion bogdan lefter, actor-politician mircea diaconu, , historian marius oprea.

writing debut , pro tv projects

mircea baniciu (right) , mircea vintilă pasărea colibri frontmen, april 2012

at age of forty, pascu began publishing christian literature, specializing in essays mysticism. when asked beliefs, declared himself inspired orthodox priest arsenie boca , bulgarian-born new age mystic omraam mikhaël aïvanhov. in 2007, said, must understand our destiny, our earthly road, of rebuilding connection divinity, god. although orthodox, pascu went on pilgrimage roman catholic sanctuary of our lady of lourdes.

pascu asked appear in hungarian-produced film, in role of romanian police officer, , starred in stage production of eugène ionesco s le viscomte. had cameos in television commercials , wrote sports columns in periodicals, including leisure magazine time out bucharest. in 2008-2009 season, played chief inspector fane popovici in vine poliţia!, comedy series produced pro tv , based on spain s los hombres de paco. television critic cezar paul-bădescu called catastrophic failure.

in april 2009, pascu provided comedic intermezzos @ uniter awards gala, performance received mixed reviews. 3 months later, opening act american folk artist suzanne vega @ bucharest show. pascu noted had honored invitation after consulting daughter, vega fan, , adapted electric guitar songs unplugged setting, playing mandolin.

in autumn, reunited of divertis colleagues after moved antena 1 pro tv. appeared in metropolis theater production of lower depths maxim gorky, veteran Ştefan radof in lead role. play opened reviews, , pascu s presence, along of other comedic actors (alexandru bindea, tudorel filimon), considered unusual directorial touch gorky s tragedy. pascu , blue workers performed @ sibiu jazz festival. late in 2009, pascu , wife agreed divorce.

in april 2010, pascu sparked criticism in media when agreed perform @ timişoara rally of gregorian bivolaru s yoga movement (misa). bivolaru s legal troubles , allegations regarding misa s sexual policies center of public debates; when contacted reporters, pascu stressed regular gig , stated, people have never harmed me , have no reason avoiding company. pascu s activities year included other live concerts, including 1 held during bookfest event of june. in november, guest @ mircea baniciu tribute concert, entertaining public musical impressions of folk singers nicu alifantis , victor socaciu, , performing pasărea colibri classics. pascu purchased own drinking establishment , live music venue, bucharest tavern named gyuri s pub, hosted performances moldovan folk singer radu captari. collaborator of pascu on solo music projects during spring 2010, captari sang , played guitar while riding horse.

2010 stroke , divertis split

in late 2010, reported pascu had suffered stroke , recovering @ university hospital of bucharest. romania s media speculated stroke caused stress of divorce, although pascu had stated separation amiable. career jeopardized stroke, pascu decided quit drinking alcohol. pascu resumed artistic life, studying part of cadâr in victor ion popa s comedy take, ianke , cadâr. production went on tour of romanian theaters in months of 2011.

pascu returned land of jokes, comedic series produced 1 half of divertis pro tv, played lead character nemuriciul (a spoof on highlander: series). return highlighted conflict between toni grecu, producing political comedy show same station, , less politicized land of jokes. in june 2011, pascu , other land of jokes comedians announced split divertis final, , contract pro tv had reached end. in interview adevărul daily, freelance comedians announced considering other offers; pascu criticized pro tv s focus on producing talent shows. pascu later acknowledged disliked pro tv features such romania s got talent, though daughter iarina appeared on part of gospel music ensemble.

the new comedy troupe took name distractis, since land of jokes brand left pro tv , , in august 2011, signed tvr 1. media analyst iulian comanescu stated move, [distractis] program managed fifth place in ratings. beginning of end 1 of upright , best loved brands in romanian television.

in october 2011, pascu returned cluj-napoca celebrity host inauguration of cluj arena, home ground of soccer club universitatea. traveled seattle , performed @ fund-raiser new romanian orthodox cultural center in america. in 2012, centered musical activity on suceava county, working local singer-songwriter lian cubleşan. collaboration resulted in ballad album tropa, tropa... €uropa!, released on january 20 @ câmpulung moldovenesc, pascu , blue workers performed concert. pascu appeared occident colleague mircea diaconu on short film loto, playing role of car salesman.

death

during night of 26 september 2016, pascu s wife called emergency number (112) twice. first time artist complained panic attack , 3 days lasting insomnia. ambulance doctor reported patient didn t mention previous illness history (namely previous stroke), mentioned diabetes , knee pain prevented him sleep. pascu refused hospitalization. request administrated in order sleep, , doctor gave him diazepam. second call followed couple of hours later; time pascu unconscious. doctors tried resuscitate, no avail. determined pascu died due heart attack.