Regarded as the First Lady of Polish song, Irena Santor was born in 1934 in Papowo Biskupie, a small town located in north-central Poland. She spent her childhood in Solec Kujawski in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region, where she began singing in preschool.
During the WWII, after losing her father and facing her mother's serious illness, she had to endure difficult living conditions. Noticed by Zdzisław Górzyński, she joined the "Mazowsze" ensemble, based in Karolin, near Warsaw, which became a turuning point in her career.
After leaving "Mazowsze", she started collaborating with Polish Radio, gaining popularity with songs like "Maleńki znak" or "Embarras."
In later years, she alsoperformed in films and theaters across Poland, but her true home became Polish Radio in Warsaw.
Santor received numerous awards, including the Grand Prix Honorary Award in Opole, southern Poland, and her songs became icons of Polish popular music.
Now, at the age of 90, she says that "the future is ahead of her," still actively engaging in artistic life.
Source: PAP/IAR/PROM Kultury
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