Šaban Bajramović
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| Šaban Bajramović | ||
|---|---|---|
| Background information | ||
| Born | April 16, 1936 | |
| Origin | Niš, Serbia | |
| Genre(s) | World / Roma | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Songwriter, Gambler, Actor | |
| Instrument(s) | Voice | |
| Years active | 1964 - present | |
| Label(s) | Arc Music, World Connectio | |
| Website | http://www.sabanbajramovic.com | |
Šaban Bajramović (Cyrillic: Шабан Бајрамовић) (born April 16, 1936 in Niš, Serbia) is Serbian Roma musician.
He attended primary school for only the first four years. On quitting school, he picked up his musical education on the street and wherever he could, as others of his people have always done.
At 19 he ran away from the army out of love for a girl. As a deserter, he was sentenced to three years prison on the island Goli otok, but as he told the military court they couldn’t hold him for so long as he could survive, they raised his punishment to five and a half years. He survived as he was a good goalkeeper in the prison football team. Because of his nimbleness and speed, they called him "Black Panther". Soon he forced his way into the prison orchestra that played, among other things, jazz (mostly Armstrong, Sinatra, and even John Coltrane) with Spanish and Mexican pieces. Today he likes to say that he read 20.000 books in his life, most of them whilst in prison. He also says that the prison on Goli otok was his university of life where he formed his philosophy, adding that a person who has never been in prison is not a person at all.
After Goli otok, his intensive music career began. He made his first record in 1964 and since then has made 15-20 LPs and about 50 singles. To date he is believed to have composed 650 compositions. With his first major earnings, he bought a white Mercedes and hired two bodyguards. The story says that he soon lost his Mercedes gambling, and it seems Šaban is still fond of the dice...
[edit] They wrote about him:
Over the years, his music has been constantly stolen, copied, and imitated by both famous and unknown musicians. Promises and contracts have proven worthless. Actually, he's never been interested in protecting his work. Where others would have earned millions, he's lived as he's always lived: from day to day, making music, going wherever he wants, and not recognising any limits at all., Dragi Šestić - Mostar Sevdah Reunion
The next 66 minutes were one of the rarest moments in my life. I was crying because of the sheer beauty of this music. Together with Mostar Sevdah Reunion, the great gipsy singer created an exceptional album, probably the best ever produced in this Balkan area. Miljenko Jergovi, Jutarnji list, 10.11.2001, Croatia
It is difficult to stay objective while listening to this masterpiece. The saying goes that no one should go down on one’s knees and bow one’s head before a living human being, but in this case an exception should be made. Mladen Hlubna, Oslobodjenje 6.12.2001 Bosnia
The Serbian singer is clearly a giant talent, comparable in his own way to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or Mari Bonie Persen, someone capable of bringing their music to life with such vivid spirituality that it vaults with ease over the most impenetrable cultural barriers. His voice combines the anguish of rai with the soulfulness of fado - a sort of Balkan gypsy jazz Andy Gill - The Independent, UK, 15.2.2002
