Davorin Popović

Davorin Popović
Vanvremena · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Davorin Popović
Birth date	23 September 1946
Birth place	Sarajevo
Death date	18 June 2001
Death place	Sarajevo
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, actor
Years active	1962–2001
Known for	Frontman of Indexi

Davorin Popović was a Bosnian pop and rock singer, songwriter, and actor best known as the charismatic frontman of the band Indexi. Revered in the former Yugoslavia and across the Balkans, he left a lasting influence on popular music in Sarajevo and beyond. His career spanned collaborations with numerous musicians, performances at major festivals, and appearances in film and theatre.

Early life and education

Born in Sarajevo in the People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina within Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, he grew up amid the cultural intersections of Dalmatia, Herzegovina, and Slavonia. He attended local schools in Centar and was exposed early to music scenes linked to venues such as the Dom Mladih and festivals like the Sarajevo Winter and the Sarajevo Film Festival precursor circuits. His formal education included studies at institutions in Sarajevo and interactions with educators affiliated with the University of Sarajevo, while contemporaries and mentors included figures associated with Zabranjeno Pušenje, Bijelo Dugme, and students connected to the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo.

Music career

He rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s as lead vocalist of Indexi, collaborating with bandmates and composers linked to labels and studios such as Jugoton, Diskoton, and producers who worked with acts like Azra, Plavi Orkestar, Parni Valjak, and Prljavo Kazalište. His repertoire included interpretations of works by songwriters akin to Kemal Monteno, Arsen Dedić, Gabi Novak, and arrangements reminiscent of productions for Oliver Dragojević and Zdravko Čolić. He performed at venues and events tied to the Dom omladine Beograda, Sava Centar, Skenderija, and festivals such as Vaš šlager sezone, Opatija Festival, and MESAM.

Across studio albums and live recordings, he navigated styles that echo the legacies of Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, and contemporaries from Italy and France like Adriano Celentano and Charles Aznavour. He worked with arrangers and session musicians connected to orchestras like the RTV Sarajevo Orchestra and collaborated with instrumentalists who performed with Bijelo Dugme and Indexi alumni. Tours brought him to capitals including Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Tirana, Skopje, Podgorica, Zrenjanin, and international stages in Vienna, Paris, Rome, Berlin, London, and New York City.

Eurovision Song Contest and international recognition

He participated in national selection events associated with the Jugovizija process and shared stages with artists who later represented Yugoslavia at the Eurovision Song Contest alongside performers such as Lepa Brena-era contemporaries and singers from Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia. His music was aired on broadcasters like RTV Sarajevo, RTV Zagreb, and RTV Belgrade, increasing exposure across Europe and diaspora communities in Australia, Canada, and the United States. The international recognition he attained paralleled that of ex-Yugoslav artists who reached audiences via touring circuits and festival appearances in Montreux Jazz Festival, MIDEM, and other European showcases.

Acting and other artistic work

Beyond music, he appeared in films and theatrical productions linked to directors and companies from the Sarajevo Film Festival milieu and regional cinema that included collaborators associated with Emir Kusturica-era circles and actors from the Jugoslovenska kinoteka network. He performed in stage productions at institutions like the National Theatre Sarajevo and worked with playwrights and directors with ties to the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Theatre scene. His artistic circle intersected with poets, painters, and cultural figures related to Skenderija Cultural Center and art movements present in Sarajevo galleries and cultural associations.

Personal life and legacy

A public figure in Sarajevo society, his friendships and collaborations connected him with musicians, filmmakers, and public personalities from across the former Yugoslavia, including contacts in Belgrade, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Split. After his death in 2001, tributes poured in from institutions such as the University of Sarajevo, music festivals, and media outlets like BHRT, RTV Sarajevo, and regional newspapers in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Croatia. His legacy influenced later generations of singers appearing on stages like Dom omladine and festivals including Zaječar Gitarijada and educational programs at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo.

Awards and honours

Throughout his career he received accolades from cultural bodies and festival juries similar to honors awarded at Olimp Music Festival-type events and national recognitions issued by republic-level cultural ministries and broadcasters, as well as posthumous tributes organized by music societies, civic institutions in Sarajevo, and regional fan associations. His name has been commemorated in retrospective exhibitions, radio specials on BH Radio 1, and tribute concerts featuring artists from Indexi alumni, contemporaries like Arsen Dedić, Zdravko Čolić, and newer acts inspired by his work.

Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina singers Category:1946 births Category:2001 deaths