We did not play chastushka songs, we played American jazz
Jiří Novák was born in Slaný on the 21st June 1931 in the family of a tradesman. He graduated from business and technical school. After graduation he started to work in CKD Slaný as an economist, and he eventually retired from this position. In the 1950s he was transferred into production for political reasons, where he had to do manual work for two years. From his youth he had been interested in music. In 1962 he became one of the founders of Slaný Jazz Club. Until 1995 he headed the organizing committee Slaný Jazz Days. He married Jaroslava Skolilová and thus became the adoptive father of Marek Skolil, an influential post-1989 diplomat. He is now retired and lives in Prague.