Ioan Gyuri Pascu

Ioan Gyuri Pascu or Ioan Ghiurico Pascu (also credited as Gyuri Pascu, Ghyuri Pascu and Joan Pascu; born August 31, 1961) is a Romanian pop music singer, producer, actor and comedian, also known for his participation in the comedy troupe "Divertis" and for his activity in Romanian cinema and television. Moving between rock music, rhythm and blues and jazz, he founded a number of bands and registered success particularly during the early 1990s, when he was the lead singer of a group known as The Blue Workers.

Noted for his impressions and musical acts within "Divertis"' political satire shows, Pascu is also a successful actor, appearing in film productions such as Lucian Pintilie's "An Unforgettable Summer" and Cristian Mungiu's "Occident", and portraying known characters in Romanian theater in various stage adaptations. He is also known as a printed media journalist who contributes columns on soccer, as well being a writer of Christian literature.

Biography

Early life

Pascu was born in Agnita (at the time part of Braşov Region, now in Sibiu County), completing primary school in his native town. He was born to an ethnic Romanian father and a half-Hungarian mother,ro icon [http://www.expres.ro/articole/detalii-articol/440583/Gyuri-Pascu-un-artist-de-succes/ "Gyuri Pascu, un artist de succes" (interview with Ioan Gyuri Pascu)] , in "Evenimentul Zilei", April 29, 2007] ro icon Corina Pavel, [http://www.formula-as.ro/2007/786/lumea-romaneasca-24/ioan-gyuri-pascu-8315 "Ioan Gyuri Pascu" (interview)] , in "Formula As", Nr. 786, September 2007] and, on his mother's side, he is also the descendant of Poles and Slovaks. His mother was a Roman Catholic while his father, like Gyuri himself, was a Romanian Orthodox. His name reflects his complex heritage: "Ioan" was chosen as his Romanian name; his second name was to be the Hungarian "Gyurika", but it was recorded as "Ghiurico" in his birth certificate and personal documents ever since—as he later indicated, this was because neither his father nor the notary were familiar with Hungarian phonology. Pascu, who is fluent in the Hungarian language, prefers the hypocoristic "Gyuri".

He took up piano studies by the age of nine, and was also a sopranist in the school choir, entertaining his friends with impressions of known pop singers of the day.ro icon [http://www.ioangyuripascu.ro/ Ioan Gyuri Pascu (official site)] ; retrieved May 5, 2007] ro icon Patricia Marinescu, [http://www.gardianul.ro/2008/02/20/media_cultura-c20/ioan_gyuri_pascu_s_ar_intoarce_la_divertis_dar_nu_face_fata-s109427.html "Ioan Gyuri Pascu s-ar întoarce la Divertis, dar nu face faţă"] , in "Gardianul", February 20, 2008] During fifth grade, he became interested in playing amateur handball, discarding music lessons and deciding to become an actor. At around the same time, Pascu learned to play guitar.

At age fourteen, Pascu recalled, his voice changed, and, in order to remain a sopranist in the choir, had to use his head voice. During that year, as a high school student, Pascu was enlisted in the Union of Communist Youth (UTC), the Romanian communist regime compulsory youth organization. In 1976, he enrolled at the Agnita High School, which later became the Agro-Industrial High School. The same year, he began a more formal study of guitar music, following a method devised by Romanian musicologist Maria Boeru and giving up handball. He debuted as an amateur actor in 1977, when he took part in a show at the local House of Culture.

By then, Ioan Gyuri Pascu became interested in the activities of "Cenaclul Flacăra", a series of concerts which were an outlet for American folk-inspired and rock music performances under communism. At the time, he became familiar with Western music acts such as Olivia Newton John and Queen. Pascu was also active in the UTC's cultural brigade, writing and performing several rock and folk songs.

Trandafirii negri and Fundal

In 1978, during the International Workers' Day celebration, Pascu was in Mediaş, where he befriended the brothers Moldovan, who were in the same band as pop singer Elena Cârstea. According to his official site, they were the ones to introduce Pascu to international hits such as Deep Purple's "Child in Time" and Uriah Heep's "July Morning".

Between 1978 and 1980, Ioan Gyuri Pascu sang with the Moldovan brothers' band Trandafirii Negri, and was invited to perform at weddings and other festivities. With the money earned, he purchased his first acoustic guitar from the factory in Reghin, while teaching himself to play drums. He composed one of his first known songs, "Melancolie" ("Melancholy") in 1979.

In 1980, Pascu applied for Târgu Mureş' Szentgyörgy István Drama School, but failed the entry exam. He was subsequently employed as a lathe operator at a factory, and, for several months in 1980, was conscripted into the Romanian Land Forces. Although, as he states, he had problems adapting to military life, Pascu met with other amateur musicians who were undergoing training, and together with them founded the rock band Fundal, of which he was the lead singer and drummer. They applied for the nation-wide "Cântarea României" festival and registered some success with the public.

In 1982, after their term in the Land Forces was over, Pascu and his fellow Fundal members were in Mediaş. It was there that he was discovered by Romanian Radio's "Radio Vacanţa" branch, who invited him to perform at concerts it organized. On the occasion, he mat and befriended Teo Peter, singer for Compact, and music promoter Andrei Partoş. In 1982, he performed in "Cenaclul Flacăra" concerts, and then in shows organized by the UTC's "Scînteia Tineretului". He credits his encounters with rock singers such as Cristi Minculescu, Liviu Tudan, Adi Ordean and Vladi Cnejevici with having been his "third real school".

University years and "Divertis" debut

In 1984, Pascu moved to Cluj-Napoca, and was admitted into the Cluj University Faculty of Letters, studying Romanian and Spanish. He had previously twice applied for the similar faculty at the University of Bucharest, but failed the entry exam on both occasions.

Soon after admission, Gyuri Pascu became active in the university's theatrical company, "Ars Amatoria şi Fiii", which was supervised by literary critic Ion Vartic. Two years later, while touring Bucharest with a student theater adaptation of Ion Luca Caragiale's plays, Pascu met the comedic ensemble "Divertis". At the time, "Divertis" was itself a student group, and, like many other such troupes, made use of subtle political satire targeting Nicolae Ceauşescu's communist rule. [Adrian Cioroianu, " _ro. Pe umerii lui Marx. O introducere în istoria comunismului românesc", Editura Curtea Veche, Bucharest, 2005, p.474-477. ISBN 9736691756] Gyuri Pascu later recalled: "I met with the "Divertis" boys after a show. They liked me [and] asked me to join the group [...] " His first performance with the troupe took place in 1987, at Izvorul Mureşului, Harghita County.

He also resumed his musical career, and, the same year, was invited by Partoş to sing at the summer festival in Deva. In 1988-1989, after graduation, Ioan Gyuri Pascu taught Romanian language and literature at a primary school in Ulmu, Călăraşi County, but renounced in favor of his singing career. Late in 1989, he was in Semenic, where he met Mircea Baniciu, former member of Romania's leading rock band Transsylvania Phoenix. He was a guest of Baniciu until just before the anti-communist Revolution erupted in Timişoara. He rejoined "Divertis" were in Iaşi, where their show was broken up by the communist authorities.

Upon the end of communism, Pascu took up a career in entertainment. Having performed another solo recital in February 1990, he renewed his contacts with "Divertis", and toured the country as a member of the troupe. Late in the same year, "Divertis" debuted on screen, with a series of comedy shows aired on Romanian Television channels. From December 1990 to 1992, he was employed as a program editor by the same station. In 1992, together with Mircea Rusu, he issued his extended play record, the cassette "Ar putea fi" ("It Could Be"). In partnership with his girlfriend Daniela Marin, Pascu founded the label Tempo Music, which claims to be Romania's first independent venture of its kind. Pascu also set up his own band, The Blue Workers.

First musical and comedic hits

In 1993, Pascu registed his first significant success in music, with the album "Mixed Grill" and the single "Ţara arde şi babele se piaptănă" ("The Country Is Burning and Old Women Are Combing their Hair", originating with an old Romanian proverb). A poll conducted at the time by the journal "Evenimentul Zilei" nominated the title song as the best song of 1993, and the nation-wide station Radio Contact awarded him the "Composer of the Year" distinction. Soon after marrying Daniela Marin in August 1993, Pascu was invited by film director Lucian Pintilie to star in his film "An Unforgettable Summer", alongside Kristin Scott Thomas, Claudiu Bleonţ, Marcel Iureş and others. He jokingly refers to this casting as having replaced his honeymoon.

Over the following years, Pascu and The Blue Workers released two extended play labels, the rhythm and blues record "Maşina cu jazzolină" ("The Jazzolin Engine") and "Caseta pentru minte, inimă şi gură" ("The Cassette for the Mind, Heart and Mouth"), while appearing on a number of comedy cassettes released by "Divertis".

According to "Gardianul" newspaper, his activity with "Divertis" made him "one of the most popular figures in homegrown comedy". During a 2006 interview with "Dilema Veche", "Divertis" founder Toni Grecu noted that Pascu was the only member not to originate in the historical region of Moldavia. [ro icon [http://www.dilemaveche.ro/index.php?cmd=articol&id=3586&nr=136 "De la Mariana Cosînzeana la Felix, "via" Iliescu" (interview with Toni Grecu)] , in "Dilema Veche", Vol. III, Nr. 136, September 2006] One of the songs performed by Pascu on his "Maşina cu jazzolină", titled "Africa, Africa", also drew interest because of its satirical undertones: the singer compared modern Romania with African countries. According to historian Sorin Mitu, "Africa, Africa" was one evidence of "the Romanians' tendency to relate to extra-European realities", which he argues was evident during Ceauşescu's final years in power and throughout the early post-revolutionary period. [Sorin Mitu, "National Identity of Romanians in Transylvania", Central European University Press, Budapest, 2001, p.121-122. ISBN 9639116955]

In 1995, after a series of festivals where he sang together with The Blue Workers, Pascu had a solo recital at Braşov's Golden Stag Festival. He also supplied the opening act for Western rock groups concerting in Romania: the British bands Jethro Tull, Beats International and Asia, as well as Germany's Scorpions. In February 1997, the singer released the album "Gânduri nevinovate" ("Innocent Thoughts"), which his site indicates is "his first less commercial record." His daughter, Ana Iarina, was born later in the same month.

After 1997, Pascu prioritized his activity as a music promoter and producer. Between 1998 and 2000, he and his wife helped launch successful pop and alternative rock acts, among them Vama Veche, Domnişoara Pogany and Dinu Olăraşu. He gave up music completely in 1999, stating that he had become disenchanted with the newer tendencies in Romanian music. Pascu returned in 2000 with a limited-release record, titled "Lasă (muzică de casă)", "Leave It (Home Music)". According to his site, it registered success with "his closest fans" and, particularly, with members of the Romanian-American community.

2000s

Also in 2000, Ioan Gyuri Pascu began working with filmmaker Cristian Mungiu. Having written the soundtrack to Mungiu's short film "Zapping", he starred alongside Mircea Diaconu in his medium-length film "Corul pompierilor". The collaboration resulted in "Occident", which featured music composed by Pascu and his performance alongside lead actor Alexandru Papadopol in the supporting role of Gică.

Two years later, Pascu released his album "Stângul de a visa" ("The Left to Dream"). According to his site, it was not promoted by the mainstream radio stations, and sold most of its copies during live performances. He toured the country to mark the celebration of his 20th year in music, performing mainly in local clubs. He continued to give occasional concerts after that date (including an opening act for Italian singer Albano Carrisi in Arad), and, starting 2003, hosted the music show "Taverna" on the national television channel TVR 1. With "Divertis", Pascu became a co-host of a regular comedy program on Antena 1, and filmed some of the episodes in the United States. Within the show, he had a recurring sketch, titled "Felix şi Otilea" ("Felix and Otilea"), also starring female pop singers Monica Anghel and Jojo, as well as his fellow comedians Cătălin Mireuţă and Daniel Buzdugan. [ro icon Dan Boicea, [http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/felix-si-otilea-vand-umor-in-piata-divertis/156118 "Felix şi Otilea vând umor în Piaţa Divertis"] , in "Adevărul", August 10, 2005] He also lent his voice to the cartoon show produced by "Divertis" for Antena 1, titled "Animat Planet". For his work in the field, Pascu was designated "the best comedian of 2003" by a TVR 1 poll. [ro icon Alina Erimia, [http://www.curierulnational.ro/Eveniment/2004-01-12/Adrian+Mutu+si+Horatiu+Malaele+i-au+dat+teapa+Andreei+Marin "La Gala 'Cei mai iubiţi români ai anului 2003', Adrian Mutu si Horaţiu Mălăele i-au dat ţeapă Andreei Marin"] , in "Curierul Naţional", January 12, 2004] In a 2007 interview, reflecting on the show's impact, he stated: "I'm not much of a fan of political humor. I simply like the impromptu kind of humor [...] . It [the joke] happens to be political, it is because that is what we have to do in this series."

He released the solo albums "O stea" ("A Star") and "Jocul de-a joaca" ("Pretending to Play"), both in 2004. In July 2005, he was invited to sing Brazil's National Anthem at an exhibition soccer match, in which the 1994 World Cup-winning formation of the Brazilian squad faced the equivalent Romanian team. [ro icon Radu Paraschivescu, [http://www.observatorcultural.ro/informatiiarticol.phtml?xid=13720&print=true "Cronica TV. Sorry pentru Lori (semnat: tricolorii)"] , in "Observator Cultural", Nr. 278, July 2005] The same year, he released a greatest hits record, titled "12 ani, 12 balade" ("12 Years, 12 Ballads"). Pascu also reunited with The Blue Workers for a 2005 nation-wide tour and a 2006 performance at the Children's Palace in Bucharest. [ro icon [http://www.jurnalul.ro/index.php?section=rubrici&article_id=19020 "Antimonden. Recital - Gyuri Pascu, la balet"] , in "Jurnalul Naţional", June 15, 2006]

Pascu parted with "Divertis" in 2007, confessing that he could no longer cope with the routine of regular shows, but indicated that he considered a comeback if a change in schedule was to occur, and continued to work for "Animat Planet".

Pascu released the album "La jumătatea vieţii" ("Halfway through Life") with a November 2007 live show in Cluj-Napoca, [ro icon Dana Depta, [http://old.clujeanul.ro/cotidian/nocache/articol/Time_out/Ioan_Gyuri_Pascu_La_jumatatea_vietii.html "Ioan Gyuri Pascu, "La jumătatea vieţii"] , in "Clujeanul", November 23, 2007] and resumed his career as a stage actor. In spring 2007, he starred as Rică Venturiano in an adaption of Caragiale's play "O noapte furtunoasă", commemorating the 130th anniversary of its first public performance. [ro icon Doinel Tronaru, [http://www.evenimentulzilei.ro/index.php?zone=articole&task=detalii-articol&item=393394&page=O-noapte-furtunoasa-in-comunism&current_date=2008-03-04 " 'O noapte furtunoasă', în comunism"] , in "Evenimentul Zilei", February 5, 2008] He was also convoked to star in a Hungarian-produced film, being cast in the role of a Romanian Police officer, and starred in a stage production of Eugène Ionesco's "Le Viscomte". [ro icon Claudiu Groza, [http://www.clujeanul.ro/cultura-timp-liber/ioan-gyuri-pascu-revine-pe-scena-clujeana-2445512Pascu "Ioan Gyuri Pascu revine pe scena clujeană"] , in "Clujeanul", March 11, 2008] He also appeared in a number of television commercials, and authored sports columns for publications such as the leisure magazine "Time Out Bucharest".

In his forties, Pascu became the author of Christian literature, publishing a number of essays on mystical subjects. He declares himself inspired by the Orthodox priest Arsenie Boca and Bulgarian-born New Age mystic Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov. In 2007, he said: "We must understand that our destiny, our earthly road, is rebuilding the connection with Divinity, with God." Although an Orthodox, Pascu also went on pilgrimage to the Roman Catholic Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

References

External links

*imdb|0664420
*ro icon [http://www.tvr.ro/acmecms/articol.php?id=26279&c=99 Biographical clip of Ioan Gyuri Pascu] , at TVR Cultural
*ro icon [http://www.tempomusic.ro/ Tempo Music (official site)]