Stole, longtime lead singer of Boemi, dies
After a long illness, Bitola bids farewell to the singer whose voice marked celebrations across the country; funeral is set for August 1.
Stole, the long-serving lead singer of the band Boemi, has died after a prolonged illness, leaving Bitola’s music community in mourning. For more than three decades he was a constant presence at celebrations and cultural events across North Macedonia and within the diaspora.
His bandmates in Boemi announced his passing and paid farewell to their friend and longtime collaborator, remembering him as a performer whose voice was part of countless family milestones.
Known simply as Stole around his hometown, he was celebrated for a soft, warm vocal tone that listeners recognized from the opening lines of a song. Friends and colleagues say that music remained central to his life: even during his illness, and in his final days, he continued to sing.
A career of celebrations and a signature song
With Boemi he performed at thousands of weddings, graduations, christenings, birthdays, concerts, festivals and other cultural gatherings throughout North Macedonia and for Macedonian communities abroad. The band cultivated traditional and popular repertoire for more than thirty years and left behind original material, including the recognizable song "Boemska"—in which Stole’s voice became a hallmark.
Those who knew him emphasize that his value extended beyond vocal talent. He was described as modest, sincere and smiling, someone who greeted every listener with the same warmth whether entertaining a large audience or a small family party. In recent days many citizens of Bitola saw him on Shirok Sokak with his grandchildren — an image now kept as a quiet memory of his gentle character.
The funeral rites are scheduled for tomorrow, August 1. The body will be displayed from 11:00 at St. Demetrius Church, and the burial will take place at the Svetonedelski cemetery with the ceremony starting at 13:00. His family mourns the loss of a beloved husband, father and grandfather.
Though his voice has fallen silent, the songs he sang and the memories he created will continue to accompany the many people who celebrated life to his music.
Photo: press material from the event
