Branko Mihaljević

Branko Mihaljević (Zagreb, 19. january 1931. - Osijek, 19. october 2005.), composer, writer, journalist and radio editor.The whole working period he spends in Osijek as editor (since 1952) music and music-documentary program of Radio-Osijek. He works as a chief of Center of Culture University for grown people in Osijek. Big popularity gains with songs for children, among which is a famous song "Zeko i potočić". He also wrote a song "Moj Osijek", which many people accepted as a town anthem. He wrote more than twenty children operetta for the Osijek children theatre (which is now named as a "Children theatre Branko Mihaljević"), the most based on libreto Ratka Zvrka. He is an author of first Slavonian musical "Slavonska rapsodija", which is based on authentic folklore.

As a journalist, he published a huge number of documentary reportage about autochthon culture and art of Slavonia & Baranja, for which he get price "Golden pen of the year" from Croatian journalist association. He also received a medal called Red Danice hrvatske s likom Marka Marulića and prize of Osječko-baranjska županija for a life opus in the area of culture. He received "Reward city of Osijek" twice (1962, 1979.)

He was buried 21. IX. 2005. One of the latest works was book "Tragovima osječke glazbe", published 2002. in which on a nostalgic and worm stile explores genesis of Osijek musicology.

He will be remembered the most because a song about rabbit and a frozen stream. Album with the same name is the most selling child music for all time in Croatia, for which he received Croatia Records platinum record. That song was written 1954. accidentally because one children's event was short of child songs.

His son Mario Mihaljević is a composer of pop-music and a writer, and his grandson Branimir Mihaljević singer and composer too.

WORKS

Main musicals

* "Zeko, Zriko i Janje", 1958. (one of the most viewed hits from former Jugoslavia)
* "Mišić Gricko", 1960.
* "Veliki šumski događaj", 1963.
* "Slavonska rapsodija", 1978.
* "Osječki karusel"

Songs

* "Bijeli sombrero"
* "Davor i harmonika"
* "Dok si pored mene"
* "Golubovi"
* "Kada je maca sama"
* "Kauboj i Indijanci"
* "Moj Zagreb"
* "Pjevat će Slavonija"
* "Ti si moj san"
* "Uspavanka Opatiji"
* "Zeko i potočić"