Branimir Štulić

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Branimir "Johnny" Štulić


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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Branimir Štulić
Alias = Johnny
Born = Birth date and age|1953|4|11|mf=y
Skopje, FPR Yugoslavia
Died =
Origin = Zagreb, Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
Instrument = Vocals, guitar
Genre = Rock, folk rock, folk, alternative rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1977–1991, 1998
Label = Jugoton, Croatia Records
Associated_acts = Azra
URL =
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Branimir "Johnny" Štulić (Macedonian Cyrillic: Бранимир “Џони" Штулиќ) (born April 11, 1953) is a singer, songwriter, poet of Croatian descent, and a leader of a popular former Yugoslav rock group Azra. He is known for his charismatic stage performances and inspiring song lyrics that often combined rock poetry with a strong sense for social commentary.

Biography

Born into a JNA officer's family, young Branimir grew up in Skopje where his father was stationed at the time. At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Cvetković village near Jastrebarsko where they spent year and a half before relocating to Jastrebarsko proper for the following 5 years. In January 1967 Štulić moved to Zagreb where he attended high school and later for two years studied phonetics and history at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Philosophy before dropping out.

He began his musical career with a group called Sevdah Shuttle Band, performing Beatles covers and folk music. In 1977 he formed Azra, which during the 1980s, became one of the most prominent and influential musical acts in former Yugoslavia.

Azra days brought Štulić widespread fame in former Yugoslavia as well as rabid and devoted youth following - Štulić often used music to make statement about social and political conditions in communist Yugoslavia of the time.

In 1990 Štulić moved to Nieuwegein, Netherlands, where he currently lives. Since then, he recorded another 3 records, which met limited commercial success.

In 2005 he published an autobiography called "Smijurija u mjerama".

Croatian journalist Hrvoje Horvat wrote a biography of Johnny Štulić called "Fantom slobode", ("Phantom of freedom"), issued in 2006. Due to Štulić's immense popularity in the region of former Yugoslavia the book was an immediate commercial success. However, it was also heavily criticized by many literary critics, and even Štulić himself for its poor writing quality and misinterpretation of facts.

Štulić is often at lengths with his past as he lives a secluded life and is often the target of reporters seeking an interview, in which he is reluctant to participate. He states he has no interest in going back to his rock career. Branimir Štulić is considered to be something of a cult figure in former Yugoslavia.

Discography

Albums

* "Azra" (Jugoton 1980.)
* "Sunčana strana ulice"(Jugoton 1981.)
* "Ravno do dna (live 3XLP)" (Jugoton, 1982.)
* "Filigranski pločnici" (Jugoton, 1982.)
* "Singl ploče 1979.-1982" (Jugoton, 1982.)
* "Kad fazani lete" (Jugoton, 1983.)
* "Krivo srastanje" (Jugoton, 1984.)
* "Između krajnosti" (Jugoton, 1987.)
* "Zadovoljština" (Jugoton, 1988.)
* "Balkanska rapsodija" (Jugoton 1989.)
* "Balegari ne vjeruju sreći" (Jugoton 1990.)
* "Sevdah za Paulu Horvat" (Komuna 1995. CD)
* "Anali" (Komuna 1995. double CD)
* "Blasé" (Hi Fi Centar 1997.)

External links

* [http://www.azraweb.com Azra Home Page] , a fan page about Azra
* [http://fly.srk.fer.hr/~kbrlek/index.php Azra Home Page] , a fan page about Azra