| Gică Petrescu | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gică Petrescu |
| Born | April 2, 1915 |
| Origin | Bucharest , Romania |
| Died | June 18, 2006 (aged 91) |
| Genres | Light music |
| Years active | 1937–2006 |
| Labels | Electrecord |
Gică Petrescu (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈd͡ʒikə peˈtresku]; 2 April 1915 – 18 June 2006) was a prolific Romanian popular music composer and performer. He made his debut at age 18 by joining a student band, having just graduated from the "Gheorghe Şincai" high school in Bucharest. His official debut was made by performing for radio audiences in 1937. Between 1937-1939 he carried on singing with the Radu Ghindă and Dinu Şerbănescu orchestras at the Sinaia Casino in the Carpathians.
He holds a record for the number of composed and performed songs (over 1,500), in an amazingly varied discography, many of which became national hits which were covered again and again by other Romanian artists. Some of those hits are:
Petrescu the performer was known for his extraordinary charm and his rapport with the audience. On 5 May 2003, then-President of Romania Ion Iliescu appointed Gică Petrescu as a Knight of the Order of the Star of Romania as he celebrated his 88th birthday. On 18 June 2006 he was due to receive the national award "Premiile muzicale Radio România Actualităţi" (Radio Romania News - Musical Awards). The award was canceled, as he had died that very morning. He was 91 years old.