Oliver Dragojević facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oliver Dragojević
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Dragojević in 2010
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| Born | 7 December 1947 Split, Croatia
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| Died | 29 July 2018 (aged 70) Split, Croatia
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| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1974–2017 |
| Spouse(s) |
Vesna Dragojević
(m. 1974) |
| Children | 3 |
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Oliver Dragojević (born December 7, 1947 – died July 29, 2018) was a famous singer and composer from Croatia. He was one of Croatia's most loved music stars for almost 50 years. His music mixed traditional klapa songs from Dalmatia (a coastal area in Croatia) with jazz and blues sounds.
Oliver was very popular in Croatia and nearby countries. He won many awards, like the Porin and Indexi awards. He was one of the few Croatian musicians to perform in famous places around the world. These included Carnegie Hall in New York, Royal Albert Hall in London, L'Olympia in Paris, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. In 1995, he received the Order of Danica Hrvatska for his important work in culture.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Oliver Dragojević was born in Split, Croatia, on December 7, 1947. His family had lived in Vela Luka, a town on the island of Korčula, for a long time. When Oliver was five, his father bought him and his older brother, Aljoša, a harmonica. Oliver quickly became very good at playing it. He would entertain other kids and people on boats traveling between Vela Luka and Split.
Because he loved music so much, his parents sent him to a music school. There, he learned to play the piano, clarinet, and bass guitar.
Beginning His Music Career
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Oliver's first public performance was at the Split Children's Festival in 1961. He sang a song called "Baloni" (Balloons). Later, his band, Batali, won first place in a competition for amateur singers. They played "Yesterday" by The Beatles.
In 1972, Oliver traveled to countries like Germany, Sweden, and Mexico to improve his music skills. He played in many clubs. His solo singing career officially began in 1974. He won the Split Festival with his song "Ča će mi Copacabana" (What Do I Need Copacabana For).
Becoming a Star
A year later, in 1975, Oliver worked with composer Zdenko Runjić. They released the song "Galeb i ja" (Seagull and I). This song became a huge hit across the former Yugoslavia. It made Oliver Dragojević a very famous name.
After that, many more hit songs followed. These included "Romanca" (Romance), "Oprosti mi, pape" (Forgive Me, Father), and "Stari morski vuk" (An Old Sea Wolf). Zdenko Runjić and Oliver worked together on over 200 songs. Their partnership was very successful from 1975 to 1980. Another important person was Jakša Fiamengo, who wrote the words for many of Oliver's most famous songs. Some of these are "Nadalina," "Piva klapa ispo' volta" (The Klapa Sings Under the Vault), and "Cesarica."
Oliver's songs are still very popular today. People often called him "the Cosmic Dalmatian." He was known for his emotional ballads and honest performances. Some of his well-loved songs include "Vjerujem u anđele" (I Believe in Angels), "Kad mi dođeš ti" (When You Come to Me), and "Vjeruj u ljubav" (Believe in Love).
Eurovision Song Contest Attempts
Oliver Dragojević tried five times to represent his country in the Eurovision Song Contest.
- In 1988, he sang "Dženi" for Yugoslavia and came in second place.
- In 1990, he tried again with Zorica Kondža, singing "Sreća je tamo gdje si ti" (Happiness is Where You Are), and they finished third.
- After Yugoslavia broke up, he tried to represent Croatia. In 1994, he sang "Arja" and came fourth.
- In 1995, he sang "Boginja" (Goddess) and finished second.
- His last attempt was in 1997 with "Lucija," where he finished eighth.
In 2017, Oliver won a Porin Award for Album of the Year. This was for his album Familija (Family), which he made with his long-time friend and musician Zlatan Stipišić Gibonni.
Personal Life
Family Life
Oliver Dragojević married his wife, Vesna, in 1974. They had three sons: Dino, born in 1975, and twins Damir and Davor, born in 1978. He also had five grandchildren.
His Passing
In August 2017, Oliver shared that he had lung cancer. In June 2018, he was admitted to the hospital in Split. He passed away on July 29, 2018, at the age of 70, after battling the illness for about a year.
To honor him, the Croatian Government declared July 31 as a National Day of Condolences. On that day, more than 10,000 people gathered in Split to say goodbye as his coffin was taken by boat to Vela Luka. Oliver Dragojević was buried in the cemetery of St. Roko in Vela Luka on August 1.
Images for kids
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Dragojević in 2010
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Dragojević performing live in Slavonski Brod, 10 December 2010
