Józef Skrzek was born into a miner’s family in the town of Michalkowice in the Upper Silesia. He has played and sung since he was child as he was inspired by the spirit of the arts: playing music, making art, and dancing. He also enjoyed sports. Józef obtained a degree in the piano class from the famous Karlowicz School in Katowice. Next he started studying in the Music Academy located also in Katowice. His father’s death in 1970 was such a difficult event that Skrzek interrupted his education and went to the professional stage to support his family.

He made his debut as a bass player and pianist in one of the best Polish rock group BREAKOUT. In 1971 he set up his favourite band SBB, which started PROGRESSIVE ROCK in Polish music and maybe, in the world as a whole. Inviting the son of a Greek settler in Poland, Apostolis Antymos (guitar) and Jerzy Piotrowski (drum) who worked in cooperation with Józef Skrzek, a multi instrumentalist and a composer, they showed the world a new formula of universal music with both a Slavic romanticism and a rebellious dynamism of rock. In the first nine years (until 1980) they recorded a dozen albums and sold millions of them in many countries such as West and East Germany, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Holland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Finland overthrowing all market conventions.

Today SBB is an important band with deep roots. They released two new CDs which were recorded with a new American drummer from Chicago – Paul Wertico (formerly PAT METHENY GROUP). Recently they worked on a new album in Poland and are making preparation for special events in 2005. The music will take them to Silesian Oratorio and multiple art presentations in the Silesian Planetarium. There will be another tour in Europe and special performance in St. Petersburg, in Russia which will be announced.