Richard Tesařík, Yo Yo Band frontman, dies at 80

Richard Tesařík, the singer, songwriter, and frontman of the legendary Yo Yo Band, has died at the age of 80 following an illness. His death was confirmed by his son, Štěpán Tesařík.

Tesařík was a pioneer of reggae, ska, and soul music in Czechoslovakia. He co-founded Yo Yo Band in 1975 alongside his brother Vladimír. The group achieved massive popularity in the 1990s, particularly with the album Karviná, which sold approximately 150,000 copies and earned three Czech Grammys. Famous hits include ‘Rybitví’, ‘Karviná’, ‘Kladno’, and ‘Jedem do Afriky’.

Beyond his musical career, Tesařík was also an occasional musical theater actor, appearing in productions such as ‘Robin Hood’ and ‘Galileo’. His life was marked by both professional success and personal tragedy; he lost his brother Vladimír in 2003 following a cycling accident. The family has requested privacy and will announce details regarding funeral arrangements at a later date.