Composer Jolt Kerestely died on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at the age of 91. The tragic news was given by the “Constantin Tănase” Magazine Theatre.
“Goodbye, Jolt Kerestely. Today another star of Romanian light music went out. The beloved composer, author of some love songs, musicals and operettas that became landmarks, left us, leaving behind a huge artistic legacy. “The Tree”, performed by Aurelian Andreescu, remains even after almost six decades in the top of the most beautiful Romanian hits”, writes on the institution’s Facebook page
Tomorrow afternoon, the lifeless body of Master Jolt Kerestely will be deposited in the foyer of the “Constantin Tănase” Magazine Theatre, in Calea Victoriei 33, for those who wish to pay their last respects.
“Smooth Road Among the Stars, Mr. Joly” “Constantin Tănase” Magazine Theater transmitted.
Composer, instrumentalist and conductor, Jolt Kerestely was born on May 12, 1934, in Şiclod commune, Harghita county. He graduated from the “Gheorghe Dima” Conservatory of Music in Cluj in 1963, according to joltkerestely.ro.
Correspondent at the Pedagogical Institute (1962-1964), he was also a conductor at the Student House of Culture in Cluj-Napoca
Arriving in Bucharest in 1964, he was employed as a music director at Radio Televiziunea Română, where he worked for 30 years. Since 1976, he has been a member of the Union of Composers and Musicologists from Romania, writes Agerpres.
In 1966, he debuted on the radio with the song “Primul pas”, according to the volume “Meridians of the song” by Daniela Caraman Fotea (Bucharest, Musical Publishing House, 1989).
He composed music for theatre, cartoons, musicals, magazine shows, children’s songs, but also for opera and operetta soloists. He was a member of numerous national light music juries.
Many of his compositions became hits: “The tree”, “The world of love”, “Please smile, beautiful girl”, “Night, girl with pitch earrings”, “Silent loves”.
From his discography we mention: “Melodii de Jolt Kerestely” (1976), “Mesevilag (The world of fairy tales)” (1980), “The world of love” (1981), “Silent loves” (1997), “Secret pockets” (1999), “Laugh, children, day by day” (2002), “Music clip” (2003), “Meow, meow… I’m a poor kitty” (2004), “Children’s Portable”, “Sing with us, dance with us”, “In step steps”, “A life for music” vol. 1 and vol. 2 (album released on the occasion of his 75th birthday).
His pieces – over 600 composed throughout his career – were enhanced by the voices of valuable performers – Margareta Pâslaru, Angela Similea, Corina Chiriac, Mirabela Dauer, Constantin Drăghici, Aurelian Andreescu, Eva Kiss, Marcel Pavel, Monica Anghel, Mihaela Runceanu, Aura Urziceanu, Dan Spataru, Loredana Groza, Gabriel Dorobanţu, Sanda Ladoşi, Anca Ţurcaşiu, Marina Voica, Anca Agemolu, Olimpia Panciu, Silvia Dumitrescu, Elena Cârstea, Emilia Diţu, Cătălin Crişan, Aurelian Temişan, Oana Sârbu, Carmen Trandafir, Daniel Iordăchioaie, Viorela Filip, Adrian Enache, Adrian Daminescu, Dorin Anastasiu, Stela Enache, Marina Florea, Paul Surugiu Fuego, Angela Gheorghiu, Liliana Pagu, Daniela Vlădescu, Valentin Teodorian, Ludovic Spiess, Dorin Teodorescu.
Awards
His creations have been rewarded, over time, with numerous awards.
25 years ago, he received the Diploma of Excellence at the 2001 Mamaia Festival, for his entire professional activity. He was rewarded by the Ministry of Culture and Religions, in 2002, with an Excellence Award. In 2004, he was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in the rank of Knight. Composer Jolt Kerestely was among the winners of the Romanian Musicologists and Composers Union awards.
In 2009, a show, entitled “A life for music” and dedicated to the anniversary of 45 years of compositional activity, took place at Sala Palatului.
“Jolt Kerestely. A life for song”
On the occasion of his 80th anniversary, in 2014, the biographical book “Jolt Kerestely. A life for a song” was released, written by Oana Georgescu and published by Pro Universitaria Publishing House, a book that also includes two CDs with 40 hits composed by Jolt Keresty.
In 2024, one of the special sections of the 12th edition of the “HermannstadtFest” International Festival in Sibiu was dedicated to him.
