Zdenko Runjić facts for kids

Zdenko Runjić (born October 26, 1942 – died October 27, 2004) was a very famous Croatian songwriter. During his long career, he became one of the most popular songwriters. He wrote many songs for people in the former country of Yugoslavia and in Croatia.

About Zdenko Runjić

Zdenko Runjić was born on October 26, 1942. His birthplace was a village called Garčin, near Slavonski Brod. Many of his songs were inspired by the traditional music of Dalmatia. Dalmatia is a region in Croatia.

His Music and Success

Runjić wrote almost 700 songs. These songs sold millions of copies. They became very popular and are still loved today. He helped many famous Croatian singers start their careers. Some of these singers include Oliver Dragojević, Doris Dragović, and Meri Cetinić. He wrote over 200 songs just for Oliver Dragojević.

Zdenko Runjić was very successful at the Split Music Festival. This was a big music event in Croatia. He also worked as a businessman and music producer. He owned a record company called Skalinada. This company became one of the most important record companies in Croatia.

Founding a New Festival

In 1993, Zdenko Runjić had a disagreement with the organizers of the Split Music Festival. Because of this, he decided to start his own music festival. He named it Melodije Hrvatskog Jadrana. This means "Melodies of the Croatian Adriatic". This new festival quickly became a major music event in Croatia.

His Later Life

Zdenko Runjić passed away on October 27, 2004. He died in Krapinske Toplice, Croatia, due to health problems.

See also

• Croatian music