VYTAUTAS BABRAVICIUS- SIMAS (Vilnius)

VYTAUTAS BABRAVICIUS, alias SIMAS is the first Lithuanian country group, "DEFICITAI", founder. He also was the first performer of the country music in Lithuania. Songwriter and composer, he plays guitar and mouthharp; he also sings Lithuanian folk songs, country evergreens and ballads. In 1997 he released the first Lithuanian country music CD, "Azuolams liepoms" (To Oaks and Lime Trees). The archive recordings of "DEFICITAI" have also been released on the CD format. For several times he won the acclaim in the U.S.

VIRGIS STAKENAS was born in the year of the Serpent (1953), on the 10th of August (Leo) at 6 a.m. in Siauliai. A Lithuanian - and a really good fellow (height 191 cm, weight 130 kgs). Wears glasses and a beard. Non-vegetarian, non-abstinent as well as a non-no-smoker. His first (and so far the last) wife, Ramute, is a dress designer (7 years younger), and his daughter, Agne, is a pupil (27 years younger). Plays the "Morris" six-string acoustic guitar and a mouthharp, helping himself with his left boot. Sings country-folk style ballads, blues and rock'n'roll. Songwriter and composer, he also plays country evergreens in his native Lithuanian. He toured USA, Canada, Holland, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark etc.

THE FOLK COUNTRY MUSIC BAND "JONIS" was formed in 1985 and there are six musicians at the moment. They are very temperamental men (thirteen albums in their account) and play typical Lithuanian folk country music. At this time the band is one of the most popular group in Lithuania, giving more than 200 concerts per year. Most of the musicians can play more than one instrument: traditional country music instruments. During the last years the only one in the meanwhile a club of folk country music "JUONÉ PASTUOGÉ" was established in Lithuania according to the initiative of the musicians and the folk country music parts take place in this club 4-5 times per week.

The "CRAZY CROW" group from Siauliai was founded in 1995 by once a leader of the pop-music group, "VAIRAS", Vytautas Katilius, on the basis of the country music group "OBUOLYS". The original cast included the vocalist Dzoja, Darius Vaitoska ("Injun") on bass as well as Vytautas Katilius himself playing guitar and mouthharp. It released its first MC, "Visai kitaip" (The Other Way Round) apart from live concerts and TV broadcasts, in 1995 (when "OBUOLYS" was nominated as the Country Discovery of the Year). After Dzoja had left the group it was renamed into "CRAZY CROW".

"MAZASIS KAUBOJUS" (The Little Cowboy) is the only country dance group which was founded in 1993 in Mazeikiai. Some 80 performers aged from 6 to 19 have already taken part in "Visagino Country" under the direction of the group's leader, Vilma Slivskiene. The group also had tremendous success in Estonia.

LENA KAUBRYTE, alias DZOJA was born in Samogitia (north-west of Lithuania). She lives in the town of Salantai, where she founded her group, "TANK CITY". She learned to sing from her mother, and as a country singer she made her debut with the "OBUOLYS" group.

The Lithuanian country rock music group VIENKIEMIS for more than a decade has been run by a professional fiddler ARUNAS KYBARTAS, who'd previously played in the Lithuanian Radio and TV big band."Vienkiemis" plays polkas and rock'n'roll alike and, of course, country evergreens. The group's vocalist, Rima Kranauskaite was nominated as Lithuania's best country singer in 1995.

"GRASS & EVER" is the youngest country music group in Lithuania. It was founded in the end of 1995 by two renowned country music vete-rans, Algis Klova and Alius Sirgetas, in Vilnius. Apart from playing country and bluegrass evergreens as well as original compositions it is the only group so far playing newgrass music.

ALGIRDAS KLOVA, composer and musician, was born in Kaunas on October 26, 1958. He attended class of violin at J.Naujalis school of arts as well as composition at J. Gruodis musical college and the Lithuanian State Conservatoire in Vilnius under the tuition of Professor Julius Juzeliunas. Though he played in the local country music group, "Kikilis", in 1981/1984, it was since 1992 that he's been an active promoter of country music in Lithuania. Apart from being president of LCMA Mr Klova is the author of radio and TV broadcast "Country Saloon". Besides, he plays in the "Zaliakalnio vilkai (Wolves from the Green Hills)" trio and runs the country music group "Grass & Ever". He toured Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and the Argentine with Lithuanian and foreign folk music groups. Since the 2nd congress, Algirdas Klova is the president of LCMA.

"COUNTRY BLUES SESSION BAND" was born in the Spring of 1996. Two country musicians - Algis Klova and Alius Sirgetas (bjo) jammed with a blues couple Julija Ritchik (voc) and Aleksander Belkin (g, voc). The jam went so good that they decided to start a band. Since then they successively perform country and blues standards along with original compositions. The band often invites different guests to join them during the gigs.

Folk-country band ZIEWIZDRUOLS from Venta was formed by Teniukai brothers. They perform the songs in Lithuanian, English and Samogitian languages.