Edward Olearczyk

Edward Olearczyk (born 4 March 1915, d. 1994) was a Polish composer. He was born in Rawa Ruska into a Jewish family, and studied with Zbigniew Drzewiecki at the conservatory in Warsaw. From 1939 to 1945 he worked in the USSR, and after returning to Poland, worked in Warsaw as a stage director in the Polish Army.

Olearczyk was known primarily as a composer of popular songs. In 1948 he won the Ministry of Culture and Arts competition for popular songs. In 1952 he initiated the radio shows, "We sing songs: learning songs on the radio." His songs enjoyed great popularity, some even outside the country, especially in the USSR. In 1952, he received the Gold Cross of Merit Award and in 1957 an award from the city of Warsaw. In 1957 he moved to Israel and died there in 1994.

He married his wife Tamara prior to their immigration to Israel in 1957, along with their son Alon Oleartchik (then Alexi Olearczyk), who is currently a famous musician in Israel. His grandson is Israeli actor and past member of American indie rock band Big Thief, Max Oleartchik.

Read more about this composer on Wikipedia.