Joca (Mlinko) Mimika (ca.1910)

Another wonderful tamburitza orchestra from the old country. From the town of Mol, in Vojvodina, Joca (Mlinko) Mimika was one of the greatest violinists of his time (or any time!) His style of playing was very influential on many of the very early tamburitza musicians here in the United States. Many of these songs are introduced with beautiful, moving violin solos and end with vibrant, upbeat kolos. It would have been something to have heard his "Lire" orchestra play live in the kafanas of Vojvodina. I don't think anyone knows exactly how many recordings Joca Mimika made. You can find his records on many different obscure European labels. He was one of the most prolific recording artists of the time and what I have here is just the tip of the iceberg. I love listening to these old versions of songs that are still popular today. Some haven't changed a bit and others are completely different. So much time has passed since these songs were recorded that they have a fresh feel to them now. Maybe they just never get old.

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Od kako je Banjaluka Col.E1093 (66765)
  
• Devojka je c prozora Col.E1093 (66782)
  
• Ej cija frula Col.E1206 (66780)
• Imam diku Col.E1206 (66784)
  
• Tri noci nisam spavala Col.E1087 (66759)
  
• Skripi gjeram Col.E1087 (66755)
  
• Moj Dilbere Col.E1428 (67268)
• Oj Dunave, lakse goni Col.E1428 (67269)
• Ala imas crne oci Col.E1204 (66773)
• Ala volem ovo Col.E1204 (66778)
• Odmetnu se odmetnica Col.E1089 (66762)
  
• Kukuruzi vec se beru Col.E1089 (66763)
  
• Falila se zuta gunja Col.E1431 (67276)
• Sela Juca na Karuca Col.E1431 (67277)
• Doline Tutnje Col.E1608 (67287)
• Mars Svetozara Miletica Col.E1608 (67288)
• Bez tebe draga Col.E1607 (67281)
• Vesela je Srbadija Col.E1607 (67282)
• Becarac i kolo Col.E1205 (66768)
• Cergo moja cergice Col.E1205 (66772)
• Cija je ono zvijezda Col.E1427 (67266)
• Prid prozorom procvetale ruze Col.E1427 (67272)
• Becarac Col.E1091 (66767)
• Mimikino Kolo Col.E1091 (66769)
  
• Ej, sto ce meni mala garava Col.E1429 (67271)
• Neven Kolo Col.E1429 (67270)
  

Milan Verni

Milan Verni was one of the most influential tamburitza recording artists. His arrangements can still be heard today by orchestras that may not have ever heard his recordings. His main instrument was the cello but he was extremely versatile. His orchestras were comprised of some of the best musicians of the day. They were playing regular gigs in New York as early as 1926. Some of his best recordings were done with the amazing singer, Edo Ljubic, in the early 1940's.

I have more of his records that I'll post in the future. Milan Verni is the vocalist on this one.


Click the photo's for the music...

Ti si rajski cvijet

Majka me psuje

Rada Stojadinovic (circa 1910)

The first song here is very interesting. This melody was the subject of a recent Bulgarian documentary, "Whose is this song?", by Adela Peeva (You can watch it here on Youtube). Apparently almost every country in the Balkans, and many other parts of the world, have a song with this same melody. Some countries have more than one. The most famous Serbian version is "Ruse kose curo imas", In Bosnia it's "Pogledaj me Anadolko", Macedonia- "Oj ti Paco Drenovcanke", Bulgaria- "Jasen mesec vec izgrjava", Greek-"Aπό ξένο τόπο", Turkey- "Üsküdara gider iken", Egypt-"Banat Iskenderia", Albanian (I don't know the name), etc., etc., the list goes on and on. I heard that there's a Croatian version too but I don't know what it's called.

The first side is a recording of Serbian baritone Rada Stojadinovic singing a version of the melody accompanied by an unnamed Roma orchestra. It was probably recorded sometime between 1909-1911, but I'm not certain. It was definitely recorded before the beginning of WWI.

Poletela dva bijela goluba

Ziveo je stari guslar

John Pavkovich's Balkan Tamburitza Orch.

This is a great record with my favorite version of "Grivna". Featuring Marty Kapugi, Dave Zupkovich, John Krilcich, and Joseph Matacic.

Click the Photos for the MP3's...

Grivna

Trudan Putnik

The Kapugi Bros. (Braca Kapudjija)

This is one of my all time favorite groups! They really took tamburitza music to new heights and raised the bar for orchestras to come.

There's a good biography of Marty Kapugi HERE.





Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

The first set was recorded in Chicago on February 2, 1942 with: Martin Kapugi, Adam Kapugi, Louis Kapugi, Frank Kapugi, and Bela Balog-Violin

• Prosetao Mujo Mlad
• Krece Se Ladja
• Tko Se Ono Bregom Sece
• Pod Bregom
• Djevojka Sam
• Kazi Mi Nevenko

This next set was recorded in Chicago on December 15, 1941 with:Martin Kapugi, Adam Kapugi, Louis Kapugi, Djoko Dokich, and Bela Balog-Violin

• Susu Mile Kolo
  
• Kaharli Sam
• Mladi Kapetane
• Na Kraj Sela
• Zalim Te Momce
• Kozacko Kolo
• Mislio Sam Da Je Zivot
• Psenice Su Klasale

This set features Djoko Dokich and was recorded in Chicago on November 20, 1941 with:Martin Kapugi, Adam Kapugi, Louis Kapugi, Djoko Dokich, Frank Kapugi, and Milovan (Mel) Dokich-Violin

• Svadili Se Orli I Sokoli
• Pesma Jugoslavije
• Moja Mala Rada Plesa
• Ide Banda
  

Teodora Arsenovic

The Belgrade kafanas of the 1920's and 30's must have been wonderful to experience. Serbia's greatest vocalists and orchestras were performing at that time. The gypsy groups, which were the usual accompaniment to the singers, were some of the best in the world. Unfortunately many of the recordings made during this time are now lost forever.

Here's a record by Teodora Arsenovic accompanied by one of those great gypsy orchestras.

Click the Photos to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

Hvalila se žuta dunja

Oj mladosti tužni dani

Dušan Jovanović (1920's)

There were many factors that set Dušan Jovanović apart from the other great musicians of his day. He was a true virtuoso on the prima, unafraid to take his playing in new directions, yet with an obvious respect for the old styles. His vocals were passionate and full of emotion. This was true "soul music"!
He was extremely popular not only in the Serbian and Croatian communities, but also the Romanian and Hungarian. He even recorded a set of Romanian records on the Victor label under the name D.Joanovichu.
He also made a number of Comedy records, some with his "Orao" orchestra, and some with other groups. I've included 3 records that he made with "Staich, Avramov, & Co."
Unfortunately Dusan Jovanovic never recorded after 1929. Tragically, he was killed in an auto-train collision, along with his entire "Orao" orchestra, on the way to a performance.

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Stala Stana
• Kao Ljiepi San
• Ej Majka Maru
• Propast Svijeta
• Miraklija
• Pijanac
• Ocemo Braco Da Idemo
• Kockare Mangupe
• Knjigu Pise Kralj Srbije
• Turski Moj Dilbere
• Jel Je Rano Jel Visoko
• Udovac
• A Oj Bosno
  
• Ratna Logoska Pjesma
  
• Narodil se je Kralj Nebeski (w I.S.Petric)
  
• Radujte se narodi (w I.S.Petric)

Staich, Avramov, & Co

• Tako Se To Zivi U Ameriku - I
• Tako Se To Zivi U Ameriku - II
• Rastanak Muza Od Zene - I
• Rastanak Muza Od Zene - II
• Laza I Paralaza I
• Laza I Paralaza II
  

Stevan Bacic-Trnda

Stevan Bacic-Trnda was a violin virtuoso and band leader from the Backa region of Serbia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. His famed orchestra recorded prolifically and can also be heard accompanying the singer and musician Joca Maksimovic on many of his records. As well as lead violinist, he was also a wonderful singer who's voice seemed almost to mimic the violin at times. He was truly one of the greats!

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Salaj Luce ne od Juce
  
• Seto sam se gore dole
  
• Tijo Noci
• Sve dok je tvog blagok oka
• Atma sedi, napevi
• Udovica
• Sta to mice kroz sibljice
• Kolo s pevanjem
• Uzmi mi srce moje
• Da su meni oci tvoje, i Zajecarka
• Backi svatovac
• Backi napevi
  

Djura Bogicevic

Here's a great record by Djura Bogicevic and the Plavi Dunav Orchestra.

Click the photo's for music...

Cigani se legu
Što će meni mala garava

Vinka Ellesin (Part 4) Zora Records

Here are 3 records that Vinka recorded for the Zora record label from Detroit, Michigan.

(This set is older and not in as good condition as the other Vinka records here)

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Svatovac
• Pod Tuzlom
• Umiljene Oci Tvoje
• Mico Pjevacico
• Mili Boze A Sto Mi Ga Nema
• Moj Milane

Vinka Ellesin (Part 3)

Here are 12 songs by Vinka with the amazing Martin Kapudjia Tamburitza Orchestra featuring Milovan (Mel) Dokich on Violin.

[The first 2 songs are from an old tape of an LP but the rest are transfered from the original 78 rpm's.]

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Imao sam Jednu Ruzu from LP source
• Nigdje Zora from LP source
  
• Zorule
• Livadica
• Zone
• Sone Strane Barice
• Koliko Te Volem
• Cele Noci
• Sadila Moma Lojze
• Svunoc Mlada
• Sini Jarko
• Cuva Caca

Vinka Ellesin - Yugoslav Folk Songs (Part 2)

This is another album of 78 rpm records featuring Vinka Ellesin with Steve Pavlekovich's Tamburitza Orchestra. This is also on the "Sevdalinka" record label from Akron, Ohio.

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Lakse Moj Konjicu
• Leti Leti
• Kate Devojce
• Gugutka
• U Sta Si Se Zagledala
• Pro-plakala Zumbul Ajsa

Vinka Ellesin - Yugoslav Folk Songs

Vinka Ellesin was one of the all time great Serbian American singers. Refered to as the "Queen of Sevdalinka", she performed and recorded with most of the great tamburitza musicians of the time.

This 78 rpm record album features the wonderful accompaniment of Steve Pavlekovich's tamburitza Orchestra.

Click the Song titles below to play - To download, right click and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As" if you're using Firefox)

• Bul Bul Mi Poje
• Oj Dunave Plavi
• Na Benbasu (Duet w/ Steve Pavlekovich)
• Kazi Kazi Libe Stano
• Mamina Grivna
• Duni Mi Ladjane