Late Croatian music star Krunoslav Kićo Slabinac to get street named after him

(Photo: Grad Osijek)

The city of Osijek will soon name a street after celebrated Croatian singer and musician Krunoslav Kićo Slabinac, Mayor Ivan Radić announced during the presentation of the monograph Krunoslav Kićo Slabinac – Kad umjetnost dodirne dušu by author Dubravka Bouša.

Speaking at Osijek’s Cultural Centre, Radić said the honour recognises Slabinac’s contribution to Croatian music and his deep connection to the eastern Croatian city where he was born and began his musical career.

“Osijek is the city of his youth and his musical beginnings. Osijek, the Drava and the streets of the city shaped him both as a person and as a musician,” Radić said.

The mayor revealed that the street where the Cultural Centre and the city’s new concert hall are located will be renamed after Slabinac. The concert hall itself already bears the name of Osijek violin virtuoso Franjo Krežma.

Radić noted that the site once housed the former Radnički dom, known locally as “Radnjak”, where Slabinac and his band Dinamiti achieved some of their first major musical successes.

“In a symbolic way, Kićo is returning to his hometown and to the place where his musical journey began,” Radić added.

He also thanked Slabinac’s family for supporting the initiative and congratulated author Dubravka Bouša on the publication of the monograph.

The street which will be renamed (Photo: Grad Osijek)

Alongside Bouša, the monograph was presented to the Osijek audience by Croatia Records director Želimir Babogredac, journalist and publicist Dražen Dragušica, Radio Osijek editor-in-chief Davor Lončarić and film director Branko Schmidt, who was also born in Osijek.

During the event, organisers also announced plans for a film about the life and career of Krunoslav Kićo Slabinac, one of Croatia’s most recognised musical figures.

Slabinac began his musical education in his hometown of Osijek, with his music strongly influenced by Slavonian folk traditions and instruments such as the tamburica.

During the 1960s, he performed in several rock’n’roll bands before moving to Zagreb to pursue a solo singing career. He gained wider attention after appearing at the 1969 Split Festival and went on to win the Opatija Festival in 1970.

In 1971, Slabinac represented Yugoslavia at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Tvoj dječak je tužan”. He later achieved major success with hits including “Zbog jedne divne žene”.

Mayor Ivan Radić (Photo: Grad Osijek)

Although his career faced interruptions during the 1970s, Slabinac remained active in music after returning from the United States, focusing more on folk music while continuing to perform pop songs. His song “Letaj mi” also became especially popular in Macedonia after being performed at MakFest in 1989.

Slabinac passed away at the age of 76 in Zagreb in 2020.