Guitarist Otakar “Marpo” Petřina dead at 66

The highly-respected guitarist, composer and singer Otakar Petřina died at the weekend, members of his family have confirmed. Petřina, who composed for performers such as Václav Neckář, Petra Janů, or Luboš Pospíšil, was 66. As a young man, Petřina studied at the Prague Conservatory and was later a member of the Rokoko Cabaret Theatre and of the Czechoslovak Radio Dance Orchestra. Some of the hits he penned were Nautilus, Motorest nebo Marilyn, and Good-Bye. Under the Communist regime, he was banned from performing for 14 years and was allowed only studio work.

Author: Jan Velinger