Maciej Kossowski was born on 11th February 1937, in Grudziądz. He was a singer, composer, and event organiser.
He graduated from Secondary School No. 2 in Grudziądz. After that, he first studied Polish philology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, and then continued studies at the State Higher Pedagogical School in Gdańsk. When he lived in Gdańsk, he also studied at the State Music School (2nd level), in the class of trumpet. His attempts to get enrolled in the Leon Schiller Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School in Łódź were all in vain.
In the years 1963-67, Maciej Kossowski was the lead singer in the band Czerwono-Czarni, and later on gave concerts with the band Tajfuny. He was the author of many popular songs performed by top Polish artists, including: Kasia Sobczyk, Jacek Lech, Halina Frąckowiak, or the band Filipinki. All Poland used to know and sing his most popular songs ‘Dwudziestolatki’ or ‘ Wakacje z blondynką’. The only film that Maciej Kossowski ever starred in was ‘Koncert na 707 ulic’ directed by Ryszard Pluciński, which premièred in 1969.
After that, the artist moved to the United States, which happened either at the end of 1969 or at the beginning of 1970. He settled in New York, where he decided to stay for good, and started an instrumental band. In 1983, he acquired American citizenship and changed his name to Mike Cossi. In 2012, the artist paid a visit to Poland and gave his only concert in his hometown of Grudziądz.
Maciej Kossowski died on 30th October 2022, in New York.
Selected Filmography
- 1969 – Koncert na 707 ulic, dir. by Ryszard Pluciński
