The history of ( the band) Cree

The band was established in 1993 in Tychy, Poland by Sebastian Riedel, Sylwester Kramek and Adrian Fuchs.

Sebastian’s father Rysiek Riedel, who had always been interested in the history and lives of Native Americans,  helped to create the name Cree. He had also been thinking about a band called like that. His son made his dream come true. Their debut took place in Tychy the same year and the following years were spent on creating and perfecting their skills.

The all Polish debut of Cree took place in 1997 during the Ist Festival of Young Culture and

winning the Grand Prix at VI Olsztyńske Noce Bluesowe was their first success. Another milestone for the band was their concert, recorded by Polish Television, during FAMA festival in Świnoujście.

Supporting John Mayall during a concert at Sala Kongresowa in Warsaw was yet another success for Cree. They received a warm welcome.

In May 1998 the band was invited to the Lille Festival in France. They gave a few fine concerts  and their style appealed to  the sophisticated French audience. Just before leaving for France Cree recorded songs for their debut CD which received good reviews and was appreciated by blues and rock fans.

The popularity of the band increased significantly after their performances at Olsztyńskie Noce Bluesowe, Przystanek Woodstock in Żary and Rawa Blues in Katowice. In December 1998 the band started cooperating with two record labels:  Pomaton EMI and Scena FM and recorded their first record. It was comprised of all the songs from the previous recording and one new „Czyja to wina, może Twoja też…”

The following musicians participated in the recording: Sebastian Riedel-vocals, guitar; Dariusz Sama- bass guitar, Marek Gruszka- guitar, Adrian Fuchs- drums and Krzysztof Głuch- piano. Sylwester Kramek- guitar, Michał Giercuszkiewicz- drums and Rafał Rękosiewicz- Hammond organ were guest musicians. There was also Paweł Berger from the band „Dżem”. To promote their CD Cree performed live on a TV programme and played with the band „Perfect” during their 20th anniversary tour.

In 2000 the singer of Cree Sebastian Riedel was announced to be the second best blues singer by „Twój Blues” magazine. At the end of the same year the band recorded the song „Wesoła nowina” which was included on a blues carols CD and did a video for Polsat TV.

Years 2000-2001 were the time of significant changes in the band. Sylwester Kramek came back for good but Marek Gruszka and Dariusz Sama left. The latter was replaced by Jurek „Kawa” Kawalec a renowned bass guitarist of the legendary band „Krzak”. The musicians started working on a new CD „Za tych” which was released in July 2002. The video for it was shot in the Niepołomice Castle. The lyrics and specific climate were the characteristics of the CD. It sold very well and „Twój Blues” magazine voted it the best CD of 2002.

In 2003 Krzysztof Głuch left Cree which resulted in stronger and more guitar sounds. The most painful loss was the death of Jurek Kawalec. On 9 Sep 2003 a great musician and friend passed away. As Sebastian Riedel underlined „Kawa is, will be and will stay”. Lucjan Gryszka, an experienced musician from Silesia, became the new bass guitarist of Cree.

In October that year the band shot a video promoting a documentary about Rysiek Riedel. The premiere of it took place a year later.

In 2004 other changes took place. Adrian Fuchs, who played drums, was replaced by Tomasz Kwiatkowski who invited his friend Adam Lomania (keyboard) to cooperate. And all the people have remained in the band ever since.

A summary of a ten-year art work was one of the most important if not the most important events of that year for the band. To celebrate the anniversary Cree released a CD called „Parę lat”. It included ten songs from the previous CDs and one new „Po co więcej mi”.

The same year Sebastian Riedel took part in a programme Bar VIP which made Cree more popular.

In December 2007 the band releasaed their fifth CD „Tacy jesteśmy”. It got good reviews in the music press.

In May 2009 Cree played in Wrocław at the „Thanks Jimi Festival” which was dedicated to Jimmie Hendrix. On the main stage next to Sebastian Riedel there also appeared Leszek Cichoński, Mieczysław Jurecki and Marek Raduli. Together with 6000 people of the audience they played the song „Hey Joe”, thus setting a new Guiness record.

On 6 June 2009 there was yet another important event. In the beautiful interior of Teatr Śląski in Katowice, in cooperaton with the AUKSO Orchestra from Tychy, which was directed by Marek Moś, Cree celebrated its15th anniversary. The guests of the concert were: Józef Skrzek, Krzysztof Głuch, Marek Gruszka i Adrian Fuchs. The concert was recorded and released as a CD and DVD titled „15”.

On 11 Nov 2011 the band played the same concert in Teatr Ślaski one more time. During the concert the second DVD of Cree was made and titled „Cree Live”. The premiere of the DVD was  planed on 18 June 2012 and Metal Mind Productions was the producer.

The year 2012 is the time of cooperating with Universal Music. The band  finished their newest album „Diabli nadali”and it was released on 29 May 2012.

The motto of the band are Sebastian Riedel’s words: „To live it is needed to play, to play it is needed to live”.