Oliver Dragojevic Receives Croatian Music Lifetime Achievement Award

Oliver Dragojevic

Croatian music legend Oliver Dragojevic (70) has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in the music industry last night at the 2018 Porin Awards in Split.

Dragojevic was unable to pick up the award in person as he is recovering after being diagnosed with a tumor late last year, but he did give the audience a message via video.

“My illness has affected me so I can not be with you tonight. A lot of good people are with me, and if things get better, we’ll sing again together. What can I say to you but – enjoy, because what is life but a fantasy,” said the singer from his home in Split.

Born in Vela Luka on the island of Korcula, Dragojevic has enjoyed a career spanning four decades. He is considered one of the most iconic musical stars in Croatia and in the Croatian diaspora around the world.

Oliver Dragojevic

Dragojevic is one of the few Croatian musicians who has performed at Carnegie Hall (New York), Royal Albert Hall (London), Olympia (Paris) and the Sydney Opera House. Dragojević’s solo career really began in 1974 at the Split Festival, where he won with the song “Ča će mi Copacabana”.

A year later, composer Zdenko Runjić and Dragojević, released the song “Galeb i Ja” which became a huge hit and made him a household name. He followed it up with a number of other huge hits over the years such as “Cesarica”, “Oprosti Mi, Pape”, “Skalinada”, “Zuto Lisce Ljubavi”, “Nadalina”, and”Piva klapa ispod volta”.

His iconic songs are still enjoyed decades later.

“Out of all my Porin awards, this is definitely the most special. I will find a special place at home for the award. Thanks to all my colleagues for this recognition,” Dragojevic said earlier.

A number of stars got on stage together to then run through a melody of some of Oliver’s biggest hits in a touching moment.