Shturtzite (spelled also: Shturtsite, Šturcite; Bulgarian: Щурците) is a Bulgarian rock group. They are one of the most successful bands in Bulgaria during the 70's and 80's and still have many fans. The name of the band translated in English means The Crickets.
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The group was created in 1967 in Sofia by Kiril Marichkov, Petar Tsankov (both from Bandaratsite group), Petar Gyuzelev, and Veselin Kisyov (both from Slanchevi Bratya group). Their first performance was at a students party in VITIZ (The Bulgarian School for Performing Arts), and in 1967 they made their first records. At first Georgi Minchev took part in the group, too, and with him they made their first success: the song "Byala Tishina" ("Бяла тишина"; "White Silence") of the composer Boris Karadimchev, winning the national award of Zlatnia Orfei ("Златния Орфей", the Golden Orpheus).
In 1968, the group issued their first EP record containing the songs "Veselina" ("Веселина", text: Radoy Ralin), Zvan ("Звън"; Ringing), Malkiat Svetal Prozorets ("Малкият светъл прозорец"; Little Bright Window) and Izprashtane ("Изпращане", Dispatch).
It was not before 1976 until they record their first homonymous LP with its hit single "Day Mi Malko Nejhnost" ("Дай ми малко нежност"; "Give Me A Little Tenderness"). Their second album Shturtzite '78 two years later introduced band's new keyboard playing and singing star Valdi Totev. His influence took away the band far from its early pop sound to a new prog rock territory. The first song on the LP "Nyakoi Ot Vas" ("Някои от вас"; "Some Of You") is their first ever leading album song not to be sung by basic vocalist Marichkov, but by the new kid on the block, Totev. Despite his influence being more than obvious for the band's sound, Totev didn't write a single song for the album.
In 1982 Shturtzite issued their most mature work to date, the double LP Vkusat Na Vremeto ("Вкусът на времето", The Taste Of Time). Defined as a masterpiece, it is a brilliant encyclopedia of band's musical interests. For the local scene "Vkusat Na Vremeto" has the significance which Beatles's White Album has for the world pop and rock.
The album starts with hard-rocking title song, but instantly changes the mood with the ballad "Proshtavane" ("Прощаване", Parting). Afterwards predominant are the pop hits with great melodies (Tzvetelina/Цветелина; Valsheben Cvyat/Вълшебен цвят/A Miraculous Blossom; Oblog/Облог/A Bet; Ognen Znak/Огнен знак/A Fiery Sign; Zlaten dim/Златен дим/Golden Smoke) but the style palette still changes here and there from classic rock'n'roll (Момче от група/Momche Ot Grupata/A Boy From The Band; Imash Li Priyatel?/Имаш ли приятел?/Have You Got A Friend?, Alain Delon/Ален Делон), to more lightweight piano ballads (Poday Raka/Подай ръка/Give Me A Hand; Neobhodimost/Необходимост/A Necessity), to synth pop (Tarsim Svoyata Mechta/Търсим своята мечта/Looking For Our Dream; Den Parvi/Ден Първи/The First Day), to delicate Pink Floyd ripping off (Malkiyat Majh/Малкият мъж/The Little Man), to even blues and acoustic folk influences (Ochakvane/Очакване/Expectation; Vecherna Zabrava/Вечерна забрава/Evening Forgetfulness).
The band has had more than 2600 concerts and is still a popular music act.
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1976 | Shturtzite 76 |
| 1978 | Shturtzite 78 |
| 1980 | 20th Century |
| 1982 | The Taste of Time |
| 1985 | The Rider |
| 1987 | Musqueteer's March |
| 1988 | 20 Years Later |
| 1998 | 30 Years Later |
| 2004 | Anthology |
| 2008 | On The Doorstep of The Heart |