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Haj Haj Curo Bre
Oj Devojko Djinjo Moja
Jedno Jutro Cim je Zora Svanula
From the city of Novi Sad, Marko Nesic was one of the greatest Serbian composers and tamburitza musicians. We are extremely fortunate that so many of his works have been passed down to us. The list of folk songs he composed for tambura goes on and on, and includes such famous titles as Žabaljka, Bogata sam imam svega, Đuvegije gde ste da ste, Kukuruzi već se beru, Donesi vina krčmarice, Majka me psuje, Oj meseče, Idem kući, Uzmi mi srce moje, Prolaze noći, Neven Kolo, etc., etc. Not only are we lucky to have so many great compositions, we even have some very old recordings of his tamburitza orchestras.
Ej ljubicica s proleca
Another long forgotten singer from the early days is Obrad Djurin. He recorded Serbian, Croatian, and Slovenian folksongs in the 1910's and 20's on both Victor and Columbia labels. He had a wonderful, operatic, tenor voice, which soared above the sometimes mediocre, nondescript orchestras that accompanied him on many of his records. His passionate rendition of Da Sam Leptir is one of my all time favorites.
Dave Zupkovich was a true legend and we're extremely fortunate that he made so many wonderful recordings. His main instrument was the bugarija, but he played others, and his orchestras always included the best talents tamburitza had to offer. Some of my favorite's were recorded with the legendary violinist, Tony Markulin, on the Balkan Records label. Marty Kapugi, Steve Vucinic, Edo Ljubic, Lex Ellesin, John Krilcic, Joe Matacic, Steve Pavlekovich, George Skrbina, and many others all played and recorded with him. The unique sound they created can never be duplicated.
Before World War II, Milan Timotić was one of the most popular singers in Serbia. He recorded a huge number of songs, both popular and folk, on labels like Odeon and Edison Bell - Penkala. Soon after the war broke out he was taken prisoner and held in a factory near Valjevo. His marriage eventually fell apart, and although it's not certain whether he left during or after the war, he eventually decided to make a clean start abroad, never returning to Serbia. He first went to Vienna, then to New York, and in 1959 he moved to Chicago where he met his second wife, Joan Cornell. They were married in 1961 and lived happily together until 1988. Milan passed away just six days before their 27th anniversary. During his time in Chicago he was a member of the Serbian Singing Federation and made even more 78 rpm records, but this time with Marty Kapugi's Sar Planina Ochestra.
Here are just a few more Milan Verni records. There are still quite a few more to come.
One of my favorite Prim players, George Skrbina was a rare talent and true innovator. His playing was lively and gutsy! The kind of lead every tamburitza orchestra wishes for. He was constantly pushing the envelope, and this passion can be felt to the fullest in these wonderful recordings he made for the Stanchel record company. These were taken from the original 78 rpms. There's a great biography of George Skrbina here.
Edo Ljubic wasn't just a great singer, he was an extremely versatile musician who had an immense influence on tamburitza music in America. His arrangements are some of my favorites and I'll never get tired of listening to his wonderful voice. There's a great biography of him Here. 
Mirko Kolesar was another of the great early recording artists. He played with most of the big name musicians at one time or another and his musical career lasted decades. It's interesting that he was Russian by heritage.
