Jacek Kawalec – actor and musician. From bedtime TV to Budka Suflera

Jacek Kawalec has appeared in numerous films and TV series, lent his voice to animations and even video games. He has been on stage for forty years—though primarily as an actor. For the past two years, however, he has been testing himself as the vocalist of Budka Suflera. So, how is he doing?

Jacek Kawalec – who is he?

He was born on September 29, 1961, in Warsaw. As a child, he already had a special relationship with music. On his way home from school, he would often stop by the Hybrydy club to listen to the bands playing inside. Although he wasn’t yet thinking about a music career, those experiences undoubtedly shaped his musical taste.

Kawalec’s youth was strongly connected to music. He completed five years of music school and, during high school, sang in a scouting choir affiliated with the Grand Theatre in Warsaw. During that time, he appeared in the opera Borys Godunow. Although a certain chemistry developed between Kawalec and music, he chose to pursue studies in a different field. In 1984, he graduated from the Acting Department of the Leon Schiller National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź.

Acting career

Kawalec made his film debut in Okruchy wojny (1985), where he played Łoziński. The film received a 6.7 rating on Filmweb—not bad, though not outstanding either. Since then, he has appeared in many productions, showcasing acting skills that varied in reception.

However, many viewers associate him primarily with television roles. He appeared in series such as Ranczo and Na wspólnej. These may not be the most ambitious productions ever made, but Kawalec generally delivered solid performances.

Where he truly excels, though, is dubbing. He has an impressive list of iconic voice roles. He voiced the beloved Moomin, appeared in Zakochany kundel, Epoka Lodowcowa, and many other productions. There is no denying that Kawalec has exceptional vocal control—he can transform his voice in ways few can.

In the program Widzę głosy, Kawalec admitted that he particularly enjoys singing in dubbing roles and feels most comfortable performing strong, rock-oriented songs. His role as Dmitri in Anastazja proves that he not only delivered his lines brilliantly but also sang impressively. Even then, his voice was capable of inspiring admiration.

 Jacek Kawalec – musical career

Kawalec’s first attempt at a professional singing career took place in 1995, when he recorded his debut solo album Be My Love Shakespeare. The album contains 14 tracks, with lyrics written by Shakespeare himself—which, admittedly, sounds like great marketing for time-travel agencies. Still, the songs on the album are genuinely well-crafted, even though the release did not gain much publicity.

In 1990, he appeared in the television play Człowiek z Budki Suflera. It’s hard not to wonder whether he realized at the time that this role would foreshadow his future. In 2022, he joined the legendary band Budka Suflera.

This decision, however, did not come without controversy. To understand it, one must briefly revisit the band’s situation at the time.

In 2014, the band announced its closure for the first time since its founding in 1974. It seemed that Budka Suflera had ended its career for good. However, Krzysztof Cugowski continued performing songs from the band’s repertoire. Meanwhile, his former bandmates struggled to achieve similar success in their solo careers and decided to reactivate the band in 2019.

Cugowski was invited to rejoin but declined. Romuald Lipko, in turn, accused him of forcing the band’s earlier breakup. Judging by the musicians’ statements, there was clearly lingering resentment—quite unfortunate given the band’s long history.

The band then began searching for a suitable vocalist. Initially, they collaborated with Robert Żarczyński, a longtime fan who had previously performed in a cover band called Budka Band. In 2021, vocalist Irena Michalska joined the group. A year later, sixty-one-year-old Jacek Kawalec became another lead singer.

He first performed with Budka Suflera during the 30th finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Unfortunately for Kawalec, the performance was met with a wave of criticism. Listeners mainly accused him of trying to imitate the legendary Cugowski. Cugowski himself also spoke critically about Kawalec and the band after its reactivation.

In 2022, the first Budka Suflera song featuring Kawalec was released—O tobie myślę w zimną noc. It received a warmer reception than his earlier performance. Soon after, another track appeared—Wontpliwości. This time, the feedback was much more positive. Many listeners appreciated Kawalec’s style, noting that he had stopped trying to imitate Cugowski.

On November 18, 2022, the band released a new album—Skaza. The album received mixed reviews. Some listeners were disappointed by the presence of three vocalists, while others embraced it, seeing it as a return to the band’s earlier style, when multiple singers were common. Regardless of opinions about his place in the band, one thing is undeniable—Kawalec has a remarkable voice.

Written by: Paweł Skarzyński
Photo: Artist’s official Facebook profile