Genc Salihu
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Genc Salihu (born July 14, 1981) is a Kosovan songwriter, singer and writer. He is best known for being the lead singer of the Priština rock band, Cute Babulja.
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[edit] History
[edit] Solocareer
Salihu was raised alongside two brothers by his parents. By the age of 9, he had started to play the guitar, and his talent was soon enough recognized by all of his family and friends. After moving to live for a little while in Tirana, Albania, he made his first public appearance in 1994, when he was just 13, on an Albanian show called "12 Ne Hollivud". He then appeared in the 1996 Miss Albania pageant with a song of his own, spurring on his popularity in Albania.
[edit] EXP
When Salihu returned back to his birthplace Priština, Kosovo (a Serbian province under UN administration), he started the band EXP with Gemb Shehu and Shpend Mula. They recorded some new songs with the famous producer Enis Presheva, and competed in the most famous Kosovan festival at that time, "Show Fest 1997", taking home the prize for first place. EXP broke up after a while, and Genc started to work with Dritero Nikqi , during which time remained out of the public eye apart from playing a few low key gigs(?)
[edit] Cute Babulja
Later on, Salihu had the idea to form a band with Enes Bajramliqi, a friend he had met in high school at age 15. Enes was one of the best drummers in Priština, as well as a proficient guitarist and singer, so they started the band "Cute Babulja" in 2004, which was named after a character in the books of Dritëro Agolli. They have so far released only one album (a self-titled one), but it is considered one of the best Albanian albums ever made. Two singles have been released, "Kolateralisht" (reaching #3 in Albanian charts) and "Udhe Te Mbare" (reaching #1). Currently, the band is taking a break.
[edit] Present days
In November 2004, Salihu enrolled at a famous sound engineering university, the SAE Institute in London. He currently resides alone in London, where he has put together another band.
