What that name means? I know, you smile now, you can explain it. Of course, I know meaning of it too. In our language it’s something like green ear, little pheasant, beginner, amateur. Stop, stop, stop. If you listen them, you should change your opinion. Maybe they are everything, but not amateurs – greenhorns.
     Greenhorns (in our language Zelenáči) are czech country music group, with bluegrass and country base. The group was established in 1965. (many famous country groups in Czechoslovakia were established during 60 and 70-teen years of last century – see Rangers, Taxmeni).

     This country group was established in 1965 in Prague. All members were friend from hiking settlement (tramp camp) Hejkalů.

The basic arrangement:
Jan Vyčítal – sing, 12 strings guitar
Josef Šimek – mandolin
Marko Čermák – 5 strings banjo
Petr Bryndáč – violin
Jiří Fallada – contrabass

     In October of the same year, group had own first show in club Olympic (Jiří Grossmann invited them.) but this show was unsuccessful. Maybe that’s why it was ortodox beat club. But never mind. After one month Greenhorns had huge success in competition of tramp’s groups.
     In 1967 the group won Porta and they recorded their the first single. In 1968 they had tour in Germany. Thanks to political situation, their visit was overextended. Greenhorns returned after two months and recorded album.
     The most important thing of their history (1969) was arrival of Mirek Hoffmann, Michal Tučný and Tomáš Linka. It was here, where Honza Vyčítal advised Michal Tučný to sing in Czech. It was Gold period of group.
     During 70-teen Greenhorns started to have a special liking more for country style.
     In 1972 some member (speaker Petr Novotný, Tomáš Linka and Michal Tučný) departed them and entried to BluegrassHoppers and changed the name to Fešáci.
     Every few years the group recorded album (Písně amerického Západu 1970, Písně větru z hor 1974, Silnice, řeky, tratě a stezky – 1976)
     Like Rangers, Greenhorns had to change their name to Zelenáči (it s’ same name but in translation).
     In 1978 they played in movie Balada pro banditu (Ballad for Gunman).
     After 1989 they became to original name, but also to separate. Now, there are existing two groups – Greenhorns with Honza Vyčítal and Nový Zelenáči (New Greenhorns) with Mirek Hoffmann.

Actual members of Greenhorns :
Jan (Honza) Vyčítal (from 1965) – sing
Milan Černý (from 1996) – contrabass
Václav Šváb (from 1999) – drums
Eda Panschab (from 2002) – banjo
Medard Konopík (from 2006) – sing, guitar
Jiří Zima –(from 2006) – pedal-steel guitar
Honza “Freddy” Zubárik – sing, guitar

Actual members of New Greenhorns :
Mirek Hoffmann – sing
Milan Krbec – guitar
Franta Kacafírek – sing, violin
Jirka Drnec – guitar
Janda Hnyk – drums
Pavel Král – sing, mandolin, guitar

During the time, we could seen other members as :
Josef Šimek 1965 – 1980
Marko Čermák 1965 – 1988
Petr Bryndač 1965 – 1967, 1969, 1973 – 1980
Jiří Fallada 1965 – 1967
Karel Vágner 1967
Václav Češka 1968
Jan Jedlička 1968
Michal Tučný 1969 – 1974
Vladimír Štýbr 1969 – 1995
Josef Dobeš 1969 – 1974
Miroslav Hoffmann 1970 – 1990
Tomáš Linka 1970 – 1974, 1987 – 1995
Vít Tučný 1974 – 1986
Pavel Král 1974 – 1990
Jaroslav Hnyk 1974 – 1990
Zdeněk Kryštof 1976 – 1990
Miloslav Totter 1979 – 1980
Aleš Maudr 1980 – 1995
František Kacafírek 1981 – 1990
František Donáth 1990 – 1999
Petr Kocman 1995 – 2006
Jan Hromas 1995 – 1996
Ilja Herain 1995 – 2002
Miroslav Roček 1992 – 2002
David Babka 2002 – 2006

     Almost their songs became to traditional (Blízko Little Big Hornu, Když náš táta hrál, Na Vánoce ráno, Honzův song, Červená řeka, Battledress, Oranžový expres, Rovnou, tady rovnou, Tequila Sheila, Abilene, Dívka s vlasem medovým).
     Maybe the most popular (especially in Pils) is song To tenkrát v čtyřicátom pátom. This song is about end of the second war, US army in Pils, next political situation in Czechoslovakia (when comunists lied that Czechoslovakia was disengaged by CCCP’s Army.). Many people, who were in revolt in the West (Britain, France, etc) were pilloried, lost their jobs, were locked up to prisons or also executed.

Discography
· Zlatá éra 1967 – 1974 (3CD) 2007 Supraphon
· Těm, kteří tu už nejsou 2005 Multisonic
· Rovnou, tady rovnou 2004 Universal music
· Honza Vyčítal a Greenhorns – Dalas! 2003 Universal (Venkow)
· 60 – Honza Vyčítal a Greenhorns 2002 Universal (Venkow)
· Když Pepa Šimek hrál 2001 Bonton
· Greenhorns 2000: Plav vocuď ty grázle 1999 Venkow
· Marko Čermák & Greenhorns – Banjo z Mlžných lesů 1998 Sony BMG Music
· Greenhorns – master serie 1998 Venkow
· Hlavou dolů 1996 Venkow
· 50×30 Let Greenhorns (1965-1995) 1995 Panton
· Potkal klokan klokana 1994 Venkow
· Country saloon 1992 Venkow
· Greenhorns ´93 1992 Venkow
· Zlatá éra 1991 Panton
· Čtvrtstoletí se Zelenáči 1991 Supraphon
· To tenkrát v čtyřicátom pátom 1991 Supraphon
· Zálesácká bowle 1988 Supraphon
· Mistr Čas 1986 Supraphon
· Galaportrét 1985 Panton
· Pod liščí skálou 1983 Supraphon
· Oheň z dříví eukalyptu 1982 Supraphon
· Řidič tvrdý chleba má 1979 Panton
· Silnice, řeky, tratě a stezky 1976 Panton
· Písně větru z hor 1974 Panton
· Hromskej den Zelenáčů (2LP) 1973 Panton
· Zelenáči – Greenhorns ´72 1972 Panton
· Greenhorns ´71 1971 Panton
· LP (special) 1970 Panton
· Písně amerického Západu 1970 Panton

Blízko Little Big Hornu

Oranžový Expres

Rovnou, tady Rovnou