Who Was Šaban Šaulić

Šaban Šaulić was a Serbian folk singer, composer, and producer, one of the most popular and commercially successful performers in the former Yugoslavia. Over a career spanning five decades, audiences awarded him the title of king of folk music, thanks to his distinctive, warm voice and a string of songs that became part of the region's collective musical memory. Šaban Šaulić was born on September 6, 1951, in Šabac, and tragically lost his life in a car accident on February 17, 2019, in Bielefeld, Germany.

Early Life and Childhood

Šaban Šaulić was born into a modest family in Šabac. His mother, Ilduza Demirović, came from Bijeljina, where Šaban spent much of his childhood and from where, by his own account, he inherited his musical ear and voice. The family had no steady income — his father sold lottery tickets, while his mother sold toys. Šaban grew up alongside an older sister, who looked after him and the household while their parents worked.Despite the family's modest circumstances, the boy showed a deep love of music from an early age. He loved listening to songs on the radio, particularly admiring singers such as Himzo Polovina and Zaim Imamović, whose styles left a lasting mark on his own singing.Alongside music, young Šaban also showed athletic talent. He trained in football with local clubs Polet and Mačva, and also took up boxing. He was reportedly skilled enough to receive an offer to join the Bulgarian club Levski, though his path ultimately led him toward music instead.

Education

Šaban Šaulić completed only an elementary school education. In families of modest means at the time, continuing one's schooling was often not a priority, and the young Šaban soon turned to work and, shortly after, to music as his calling. The lack of formal education did not hold him back — he honed his craft in practice, singing in taverns and learning from more experienced musicians.

Early Career

A key role in steering Šaban toward a musical career was played by his uncle Alija, who recognized his talent and insisted he pursue singing more seriously, convinced it would serve him better than sports. According to one of the best-known anecdotes from his life, his uncle once invited him to sing at a tavern where he was gathered with friends. Unable to refuse an authority figure like his uncle, Šaban performed the song "Jablani se povijaju" and won over everyone present.He went on to perform regularly in that tavern scene, where he was heard by Veroljub Jovanović, first violinist in the orchestra of the well-known accordionist and composer Budimir Jovanović Buca. Jovanović recognized the young singer's exceptional potential and began teaching him, introducing him to professional music circles.In 1969, at just eighteen years old, Šaban Šaulić released his debut single, "Dajte mi utjehu," backed by Budimir Jovanović Buca's orchestra. The song immediately caught the public's attention, and the young singer soon relocated to Belgrade to continue building his career.

Rise to Fame

Throughout the 1970s, Šaban Šaulić became an increasingly prominent figure on the Yugoslav music scene. Until 1976, most of his repertoire was written by Budimir Jovanović Buca; from that year on, Šaulić increasingly composed his own songs, most often to lyrics by Rade Vučković, with whom he formed a long and highly productive partnership.His distinctive, emotive voice and his ability to bring genuine feeling to every song quickly set him apart from the many folk singers of the era. His songs filled taverns, concert halls, and stadiums across Yugoslavia, and he soon became one of the most sought-after performers, especially at weddings and major family celebrations, including within the Roma community, where he enjoyed enormous popularity.The high point of artistic recognition in this period of his career came in 1986, when he was named the singer with the most beautiful voice in the region — an honor that further cemented his standing as one of folk music's leading voices.

Greatest Achievements

Over the course of his career, Šaban Šaulić released numerous albums and singles, many of which are still regarded as classics of the genre today. Some of his best-known albums and songs include:

• "Dajte mi utjehu" (1969)
• "Sutra nek dođe kraj" (1970)
• "Zbog neverstva jedne žene" (1970)
• "Sećam se te žene" (1972)
• "Dva galeba bela" (1978)
• "Dođi da ostarimo zajedno" (1979)
• "Svetlana" (1982)
• "Kafanska noć" (1985)
• "Kad bi čaša znala" (1986)
• "Ljubav je velika tajna" (1988)

A special place in his body of work belongs to the song "Gordana," which he wrote and dedicated to his wife in 1985. "Dođi da ostarimo zajedno" and "Dva galeba bela" have for years been singled out by critics and audiences alike as among the finest folk songs ever recorded in the region. Alongside them, songs such as "Uvenuće narcis beli," "Sine," "Danima te čekam," "Snežana," and "Odlaziš, odlaziš" also achieved great popularity.Beyond his music career, Šaban Šaulić also tried his hand at acting, appearing in the 1981 film Sok od šljiva. Decades later, in the second season of the series Ubice mog oca, he performed the song "Nemam više nikoga," with music and lyrics written by Aleksandra Kovač.A significant part of his later career involved mentoring young performers — he served as a judge on the competition "Zvezde Granda" from 2013 to 2016, and later on the jury of "Pinkove zvezde" from 2016 to 2017, passing on his experience to a new generation of folk singers.In 2018, marking fifty years of his career, Šaban Šaulić held a major anniversary concert at Belgrade Arena, celebrating half a century of work and thanking his audience for their years of loyalty. Earlier, in 2011 and 2013, he had also held successful solo concerts at Sava Centar, one of which had to be repeated due to overwhelming public interest.

Private Life

Šaban Šaulić lived and worked in Belgrade with his wife, Gordana, with whom he had three children — daughters Sanela and Ilda, and son Mihajlo. Ilda Šaulić, despite her father's initial opposition, followed in his footsteps and became a well-known folk singer herself. His son Mihajlo was in a relationship with Dragana Džajić, daughter of former Red Star Belgrade footballer Dragan Džajić, while his daughter Sanela married former Partizan footballer Zoran Bata Mirković, with whom she gave Šaban a grandson, Luka. Šaban also had a son, Robert, born out of wedlock, whom he acknowledged and for whom he paid child support until he came of age.The singer often noted that the greatest burden of raising the children had fallen on his wife, since his frequent performances kept him away from home. He took pride in the fact that, despite his frequent absence, his children grew into good people.Šaban Šaulić's best man (kum) was singer Zorica Brunclik, with whom, along with her husband Miroljub Aranđelović Kemiš, he maintained a long friendship. He was also close friends for many years with singer Miroslav Ilić, though according to available accounts their friendship cooled following the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999.In his free time, Šaban most enjoyed relaxing while fishing at his weekend house in Krčedin, and he also spoke often of his love for football. He repeatedly expressed fondness for Bosnia, his mother's homeland, noting that he had many friends there and had recorded numerous songs inspired by the region.

Tragic Death

Šaban Šaulić died on February 17, 2019, at the age of 67, in Bielefeld, Germany, after the car in which he was returning from a concert collided with a vehicle driven by a 34-year-old man who was reportedly intoxicated and driving without a valid license. Traveling with Šaban in the vehicle were his best man, Slobodan Stojadinović, and keyboardist Mirsad Kerić. As a result of the crash, Šaulić suffered a heart attack and died in the hospital. Stojadinović sustained serious injuries, while Kerić suffered severe injuries from which he died the following day.News of his death drew deeply emotional reactions from the public in Serbia and the wider region. Those who paid their respects to the singer included his best man Zorica Brunclik and her husband Miroljub Aranđelović Kemiš, as well as Zlata Petrović, Hasan Dudić, Đani, Goca Božinovska, Haris Džinović, Snežana Đurišić, Lepa Brena, and Ceca Ražnatović. A large number of people from the worlds of politics, music, television, and sports also attended his funeral and memorial. Šaban Šaulić was laid to rest in the Alley of the Meritorious Citizens at Belgrade's New Cemetery.

Interesting Facts

• He released his first album at just eighteen years old, in 1969.
• After one performance, due to the family's frequent moves, he was unable to recall his current address when a taxi driver asked where to take him.
• At a Roma wedding in Paris, he met a boy who played football with him — an anecdote he loved retelling given his passion for the sport.
• According to YouTube data, his song "Žal" ranked among the most-streamed tracks in his catalog, with tens of millions of views.
• He was one of the best-selling recording artists in the former Yugoslavia.

Awards and Recognition

In 2018, Šaban Šaulić received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Serbian Association of Music and Entertainment Artists, crowning his decades-long contribution to folk music. On Serbian Statehood Day, February 15, 2020, he was posthumously awarded the Golden Medal of Merit, received on his behalf by his wife, Gordana Šaulić. In tribute, a monument dedicated to the king of folk music was unveiled in his hometown of Šabac on September 6, 2022 — symbolically, the day he would have turned 71.

Legacy and Influence

Šaban Šaulić is remembered as one of the most important voices in Serbian and Yugoslav folk music of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. His songs are still played daily on radio stations, television programs, and digital platforms, and many are covered by younger singers, ensuring his musical legacy continues through new generations. Through his role on the juries of competitions such as "Zvezde Granda," Šaban also directly influenced the development of several artists now well known in folk music, passing on his invaluable experience. The monument in Šabac and his posthumous state honors testify to the lasting place he holds in the region's cultural history.

Biography — Frequently Asked Questions

When was Šaban Šaulić born?

Šaban Šaulić was born on September 6, 1951, in Šabac.

When and how did Šaban Šaulić die?

He died on February 17, 2019, in Bielefeld, Germany, from the effects of a car accident that occurred after one of his concerts.

Why is Šaban Šaulić called the king of folk music?

He earned the nickname thanks to his highly distinctive voice, his lasting popularity, and a string of hits that defined folk music across the former Yugoslavia.

What are Šaban Šaulić's best-known songs?

Among his most famous songs are "Dođi da ostarimo zajedno," "Dva galeba bela," "Gordana," "Kafanska noć," and "Svetlana."

Did Šaban Šaulić have children?

Yes, with his wife Gordana he had three children — Sanela, Ilda, and Mihajlo — and he also acknowledged a son born out of wedlock, Robert.

Who was Šaban Šaulić's wife?

Šaban Šaulić's wife was Gordana Šaulić, to whom he also dedicated the song "Gordana."

Did any of Šaban Šaulić's children also become a singer?

Yes, his daughter Ilda Šaulić followed in her father's footsteps and became a well-known folk singer.

Where is Šaban Šaulić buried?

He was buried in the Alley of the Meritorious Citizens at Belgrade's New Cemetery.

Did Šaban Šaulić receive any major awards?

In 2018 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Serbian Association of Music and Entertainment Artists, and in 2020 he was posthumously awarded the Golden Medal of Merit.

Is there a monument to Šaban Šaulić?

Yes, a monument dedicated to him was unveiled in his hometown of Šabac in 2022, put up on the day he would have turned 71.

Conclusion

Šaban Šaulić built a career spanning half a century, rising from humble beginnings in the taverns of Šabac to the status of king of folk music, a title his audience awarded him rightfully. His distinctive voice, emotive delivery, and songs such as "Dođi da ostarimo zajedno" and "Gordana" remain a lasting part of the musical heritage of Serbia and the former Yugoslavia. His tragic death in 2019 cut short the career of one of the region's most beloved performers, but his work lives on through music that is still widely loved and listened to today.