Štěpán Janča

Hans Bruthans - my first guitar inspiration, his singing at the camp-fires was amazing. When I started playing double bass which my parents bought me for my fifteenth birthday he invited me to his band Duha where I learned first lessons of intuitive harmony and band coordination. Part of his songs I still remember.

Petr Vala - my cousin, multiinstrumentalist. When I began with a guitar, he showed me it is not so far from banjo or mandolin. We play together at all family events and celebrations, and these improvisations are always great fun

Jarda Hojný - guitar and organ player, excellent friend; we wrote several songs together, spent many hours playing and singing anything we could; in the nineties we had a band called Kontryhel (Lady’s Mantle) which was really forming experience for me - I learned how to make four or five voices harmonies and write music; and what was more - we were very good friends all together and although I enjoyed a lot other musical cooperation later i have never came across people with whom we would be so closely connected as this band. The peak of our music experiments came in 1997 when we recorded a cassette called Fiddlers Thanks. This was our last thing together, as we all got married and started families and lived in totally different parts of the country. But we had a small comeback in the summer 2018 in Travná - after 20 years:-)

Honza Hrbáč - my secondary school fellow. We used to play and sing at every school outing; I am glad he (being a son of quite high rank communist boss of the region) was willing to sing spirituals with me. We sang a song about rights and freedom in the school radio in the morning of 17th November 1989 - totally unaware the same evening will bring the change of direction for all the country!

Tomáš Najbrt - professional musician, multiinstrumentalist, expert for old music; I was privileged to get music lessons from him when I studied at the University. He taught me the theory of harmony and I never forget our long discussions about philosophy of music. He inspired me to think creatively about music.

Honza Dospiva - lawyer, thinker and wonderful natural musician and song-writer from Orlová; he became a Christian and member of our church, I was privileged to play with him at almost every Sunday service. In his music he is perfectionist; recently started a small but excellent band called Šansonika

Marcel Pastirčák - music professional, teacher, guitar and bass-guitar player, jazzman with very inspirational views of music composition. I feel privileged I could learn from him. For several years he used to play in the Keep Smiling Gospel Band.
Tom Stanček - young musician, which I watched growing. From a kid who arrived to our gospel rehearsal, through his decision to become a conductor of the choir and leader of the band; now he is studying conducting at the university and has a chance to become Somebody. it was very interesting to see him growing: first year I could teach him what to do, second year we were discussing on the same level, from the third year (in the music area) I was learning from him.

David Daniel - pastor, author, singer, choirleader and wonderful man from London who has been coming to lead gospel workshops in Orlová since 2012. Always great inspiration, incredible voice, experiences from working with the world top gospel names; in the same time kind, friendly and humble person. I feel really privileged to call him my friend.

Listen what he can do with seventy people within one weekend:-)

Liza Littau - the Queen of Danish gospel. Author, singer, choir leader, our first international gospel inspirator: she invited one year old Keep Smiling Gospel to the workshop in Denmark where we met David Daniel and Hans Christian Jochimsen and had a chance to sing in two hundred heads choir. We came back after one weekend at least three levels higher! Since that she visited us several times and we could also visit her, and it is always wonderful experience and inspiration.

Listen how she manages the workshop choir in Orlová 2018