Stanisław Joachim Sojka, known professionally as Stanisław Soyka or simply Soyka, born on April 26, 1959 in Żory, Upper Silesia, Poland, and died on August 21, 2025 in Sopot, Poland, was a celebrated Polish jazz and pop singer, pianist, guitarist, violinist, composer and arranger, whose versatile career spanned more than four decades. Born into a musical family, Sojka was introduced to music at an early age by his father, a church choir director. At the age of seven, he began performing as a soprano in the Gliwice Cathedral choir, while studying violin at the National Music School in Gliwice, reaching the second year. At the age of 14, he became a church organist, revealing his prodigious talent. His musical training continued at the Katowice Lyceum of Music, culminating in a master's degree in arranging and composition at the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. He sang in the university's Puls orchestra and recorded for Polish Radio Katowice. During his studies, he collaborates with jazz guitarist Jarosław Śmietana, opening for his band Extra Ball at club gigs and festivals across Poland. Sojka made his professional debut in November 1978 at the National Philharmonic in Warsaw, as part of the prestigious Jazz at the Philharmonic series. Her recital, blending classic jazz, soul and R&B with influences from Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles and George Gershwin, as well as traditional Polish Christmas carols and folk tunes, captivated the audience. This performance was recorded and released on his debut album, Don't You Cry (1979), on the PolJazz label, earning him First Prize at the Lublin Jazz Singers Festival that same year. Sojka went on to release a series of very different albums in a variety of musical genres, showcasing her soulful sound and eclectic mix of jazz, pop, rock, religious music and more. His albums Blublula (1980), Acoustic (1991) with the hit "Cud niepamięci" and Neopositive (1992) with "Tolerancja" propelled him to the top in Poland. In 1986, he signed with RCA in Germany for Stanisław Sojka, then collaborated with Janusz Iwański, Andrzej Przybielski and Buba Badjie Kuyateh, exploring jazz, pop, reggae and sacred music. He released Tryptyk rzymski (2003), which won a Fryderyk Award, and Muzyka i słowa (2019), his latest original album. Actor in Jutro będzie lepiej (2010) and composer for theater and radio, he received the Gloria Artis Silver Medal (2005). Married to Iwona Sojka, father of three sons, he died aged 66, leaving a legacy of over 20 albums and 5 million records sold, celebrated as an icon of Polish jazz.
