Who is Saša Popović

Saša Popović was a Serbian musician, accordionist, television host and one of the most influential figures in the region's entertainment industry from the late 20th into the 21st century. Born Aleksandar Popović, he became known publicly under the nickname Saša, building a long and varied career — from an accordionist in small local orchestras, through founding the cult band Slatki Greh, to co-founding the record label Grand Production and creating the singing competition "Zvezde Granda." He is widely regarded as one of the key figures behind the sound and style of the former Yugoslav, and later Serbian, pop-folk scene.His name is closely tied to the rise of Lepa Brena, with whom he worked as a musician and producer starting in the 1980s, as well as to the growth of an entire entertainment industry that expanded from small orchestras and tavern performances into a regional media phenomenon.

Early life and childhood

Aleksandar Saša Popović was born on 24 April 1954 in Novi Sad, then part of the FPR Yugoslavia. He grew up in a family of Orthodox priests — his grandfather, archpriest Stevan Popović, served at St. Nicholas Church in Novi Sad, and the grandfather's brothers were also priests. He spent his childhood in the parish house next to the church, together with his parents, an older sister, and his grandparents.By his own account, he was a cheerful and mischievous but obedient child. He loved football more than school, and his favorite childhood pastime was playing marbles, which he continued even as a high school student. His father first took him to a Vojvodina football match when he was eight years old, and his love of the sport stayed with him for life.

Education

Saša Popović completed elementary music school, where he developed his first musical skills, followed by the Mathematical Gymnasium in Novi Sad. After finishing high school, he enrolled at the Faculty of Law and Economics in Novi Sad, but never completed his studies, as his growing music career increasingly pulled him away from academics.He began playing the accordion at the age of ten, supported by a family in which music, as he often noted, ran through several relatives. By the age of sixteen he had formed his first small orchestra with friends, marking the true beginning of his lifelong dedication to music.

Early career

He began his professional music career in the mid-1970s. According to some sources, he formed his first serious group, "Lira Šou," in 1976, while other accounts tie his musical beginnings, alongside a singer known as Spasa, to 1977 (sources differ on the exact year). He put together his first band in his native Novi Sad, with strong support from his father, who helped him find skilled musicians in taverns and restaurants across Vojvodina.The band gradually grew and became more professional, with Popović, as accordionist and bandleader, carefully choosing musicians willing to commit fully to performing. Though less known to the wider public, this period laid the foundation for what would become one of the most successful music stories in the Balkans.

Rise to fame

The turning point in Saša Popović's career came when a young singer named Fahreta Jahić — later known worldwide as Lepa Brena — joined his orchestra. Sources differ on the exact year she joined, citing both 1980 and 1982, but they agree that the combination of his musical leadership and her stage talent set off an extraordinary run of success.Once Fahreta Jahić became the band's lead singer, its name changed to Slatki Greh. Composer, lyricist, arranger and producer Milutin Popović Zahar produced their debut album, titled "Lepa Brena," which included the song "Čačak, Čačak" — a track the band members initially doubted, but which went on to become a defining hit of the era. The album reportedly sold several hundred thousand copies.With Slatki Greh, Saša Popović, as accordionist and musical leader, helped create a string of hits that defined the 1980s and part of the 1990s, including "Mile Voli Disko" and "Hajde da se Volimo." At the height of their success, the band performed up to two concerts a day, and Lepa Brena became one of the biggest stars of the former Yugoslavia.

Founding Grand Production

After years of collaboration with the record label ZAM, owned by Rade "Raka" Đokić, Saša Popović and Lepa Brena decided to establish their own production company following Đokić's death and the subsequent change in the label's ownership. Together with Slobodan Živojinović, they founded Grand Production in 1998.On 3 December 1998, the first episode of the show "Grand Šou" aired on Pink TV, a date that has since been marked as the company's official founding anniversary. Grand Production grew over time into one of the leading record labels in the Balkans, focused primarily on pop-folk and turbo-folk artists, eventually launching its own cable television channel and music festival.

Greatest achievements

The most significant project Saša Popović created was the singing competition "Zvezde Granda," launched in 2004, which grew over the following decades into one of the most-watched music competitions in the region. Hundreds of contestants have appeared on "Zvezde Granda," and many went on to build serious singing careers thanks to the mentorship and production support Grand provided.As part of the show's judging panel and creative leadership, Popović worked for years alongside major names of the Serbian music scene, including singers such as Snežana Đurišić, Ceca Ražnatović, Marija Šerifović, Viki Miljković, Dara Bubamara and Dragan Kojić Keba, as well as hosts like Voja Nedeljković. Starting in April 2014, the cable channel "Grand" began broadcasting, further expanding the company's media presence.As creative director of Grand Production, Popović played a central role for decades in discovering and guiding the careers of numerous performers, which is why many in the industry consider him one of the most influential figures in Serbian music.

Personal life

Saša Popović moved from his native Novi Sad to Belgrade in 1996, where he continued to live and work. He was married to folk singer Suzana Jovanović, with whom he tied the knot in the late 1990s. The couple had a daughter, Aleksandra, in 1999, and Popović also raised Suzana's son Danijel from a previous marriage as his own child.In May 2024, he broke his leg, and when the injury failed to heal properly, further medical examinations revealed that he had stomach and pancreatic cancer. He spent the following months undergoing treatment at an oncology clinic in Paris, including well-known institutions specializing in cancer care. In early 2025, his health rapidly declined after the cancer metastasized to his bones and lungs.Saša Popović died on 1 March 2025 in a hospital in Paris, at the age of 70, after a battle with illness lasting just under a year. A memorial service was held at Sava Centar in Belgrade, and he was buried on 6 March 2025 at Novo Bežanijsko Groblje (New Bežanija Cemetery), in a family plot chosen by his wife Suzana. The funeral service was led by Bishop Petar, vicar to Patriarch Porfirije, assisted by several priests, and was attended by numerous figures from the music, media, business and sports worlds.

Interesting facts

• He founded his first band with his father's help, who assisted him in finding musicians in taverns and restaurants across Vojvodina.
• The band "Slatki Greh" got its name thanks to composer Milutin Popović Zahar, who shaped their debut album.
• The song "Čačak, Čačak," which band members initially doubted, became one of the most recognizable hits of former Yugoslav pop music.
• A few months before his death, Popović shared an anecdote in an interview about a prediction concerning his lifespan, joking that he planned to enjoy driving his cars.
• He was known for his passion for cars, particularly favoring the Mercedes ML SUV model.

Awards and recognition

While individual formal awards for Saša Popović are not widely documented in publicly available sources, his contribution to the music industry is reflected in the lasting influence he had as a producer, mentor and creative leader of one of the Balkans' most significant record labels. Recognition of his work is best seen in the careers of the many performers he discovered and guided, as well as in the longevity and popularity of projects like "Zvezde Granda."

Legacy and influence

Saša Popović left a deep mark on the history of former Yugoslav and Serbian entertainment music. As a musician, he helped shape the sound that defined the Yugoslav pop-folk scene of the 1980s, and as a producer and entrepreneur, he built Grand Production into an institution that continues to shape the careers of young singers today. "Zvezde Granda," the competition he created, remains one of the longest-running and most influential media formats in the region, with many of today's well-known performers owing their careers to the opportunity it provided.His collaboration with Lepa Brena and the band Slatki Greh is still remembered as one of the most significant chapters in the history of Yugoslav music, while his work at Grand Production stands as the foundation of the modern Balkan pop-folk industry.

Biography — frequently asked questions

When was Saša Popović born?

Saša Popović was born on 24 April 1954 in Novi Sad.

What was Saša Popović's real name?

His real name was Aleksandar Popović, though he used the nickname Saša throughout his public career.

What did Saša Popović found?

Together with Lepa Brena and Slobodan Živojinović, he founded the record label Grand Production in 1998, and later created the singing competition "Zvezde Granda."

Was Saša Popović a member of the band Slatki Greh?

Yes, he was the founder and accordionist of Slatki Greh, which served as Lepa Brena's backing band during the most successful phase of her career.

Who was Saša Popović married to?

He was married to folk singer Suzana Jovanović, with whom he had a daughter, Aleksandra, and he also raised her son Danijel from a previous marriage.

When and where did Saša Popović die?

He died on 1 March 2025 in a hospital in Paris, at the age of 70, after battling stomach and pancreatic cancer.

Where was Saša Popović buried?

He was buried on 6 March 2025 at Novo Bežanijsko Groblje in Belgrade.

What illness did Saša Popović suffer from near the end of his life?

He was diagnosed with stomach and pancreatic cancer, discovered after a leg fracture failed to heal properly.

Who led the "Zvezde Granda" competition alongside Saša Popović?

For years, performers such as Snežana Đurišić, Ceca Ražnatović, Marija Šerifović and Dragan Kojić Keba worked with him on the show's judging panel and creative leadership.

Why is Saša Popović considered a significant figure in Serbian entertainment?

Because of the lasting influence he had as a musician, producer and creative director of Grand Production, as well as the role he played in launching numerous singing careers.

Conclusion

Saša Popović is remembered as one of the most influential figures in former Yugoslav and Serbian entertainment music — from his modest beginnings as an accordionist in small Novi Sad orchestras, through his rise with the band Slatki Greh and Lepa Brena, to founding Grand Production and the competition "Zvezde Granda," which shaped the domestic music scene for decades. He died on 1 March 2025 in Paris, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to live on through the careers of the many performers he discovered and supported.