Mišo Kovač, Croatian singer, dies at 85
The legendary Yugoslav and Croatian star died at his home in Split; he sold more than 20 million records and asked to be buried in Zagreb.
Mišo Kovač, one of the Balkans' best-known singers, has died at the age of 85. He died today at his home in Split and, according to his wishes, asked to be buried in Zagreb.
Kovač was born on 16 July 1941 in Šibenik and grew up on a street that also produced the singers Vice Vukov and Arsen Dedić. Decades later he recorded a duet with Dedić, "We are leaves of the same branch."
He began singing at 16 and in 1961 shared first place at the competition Prvi glas Šibenika. In 1964 he signed with the label Jugoton, launching one of the most commercially successful careers in the former Yugoslavia; over the course of his life he sold more than 20 million records.
Peak years and recognition
By 1969, after five records each sold in excess of 250,000 copies, Kovač had become Jugoton's best-selling performer. His victory at the Split Festival in 1971 cemented his status as one of Yugoslavia's most popular singers, and he went on to enjoy two decades of major success.
Kovač was named singer of the year five times and in 1989 was selected as person of the year in Yugoslavia. His private life also drew public attention: he was married three times and, with Anita Buturina, the former Miss Yugoslavia, had two children, Edi and Ivana.
His son Edi died at age 16 in 1992 under unexplained circumstances. In Edi's memory Kovač held a concert in Split attended by some 50,000 people; he then announced he would stop performing, but later returned to the stage. In 1999 he survived a suicide attempt after shooting himself in the chest.
Photo: N1)
