Delfini (Split band)

Delfini

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1963 in Split, Yugoslavia
Defunct	1979
Headquarters	Split , Yugoslavia
Products	Beat music, pop music, singles, albums

Delfini (meaning The Dolphins) was a band originating from Split in 1963, notable as trailblazers in the development of the Yugoslav rock scene.

Throughout the 1960s, Delfini specialized in beat music, establishing themselves as one of the foremost Yugoslav beat groups. This distinction led them to perform as a backing band for several leading Yugoslav vocalists. By the end of the decade, their style evolved toward a pop orientation, which they sustained into the 1970s until their dissolution at the decade’s conclusion, with occasional reunions occurring later.

1963–1979

Delfini was formed in Split in 1963 and initially entertained guests on hotel terraces along the Adriatic coast. After undergoing multiple personnel shifts, the lineup stabilized with Željko Šoletić on vocals, Zdravko Botrić handling guitar duties, Saša Lukić on keyboards, Ante Cetinić playing bass, and Damir Blažević on drums—who was soon replaced by Peco Petej, later affiliated with bands such as Time and Indexi. Early encouragement came from opera singer Andrej Petej and occasional vocalist Meri Cetinić, who subsequently pursued a solo career.

Their significant breakthrough occurred following a performance at the Croatian National Theatre in Split and involvement in Mozaik Society's Prvi pljesak concert series. They built a strong following by regularly playing in the cellars of Diocletian's Palace, attracting crowds up to 1,500. With formal musical training and dynamic live shows, they earned recognition as one of Yugoslavia’s premier beat ensembles and collaborated with prominent artists like Arsen Dedić, Ivica Šerfezi, and Vice Vukov. Mid-1960s saw guitarist Pavle Kolarov join their ranks.

In 1966, Delfini submitted "More i ljeto" to the Melodije Jadrana 66 festival; although they did not perform it themselves and declined an alternative song offered by organizers, this move garnered media interest and peer support. The following year, they entered into an agreement with Split’s tourist agency Primorje to play nightly at a newly opened summer garden venue attracting audiences up to 1,500. That same year, they earned second place at both Belgrade’s Gitarijada Festival and Zagreb’s Festival of Vocal-Instrumental Ensembles. Their track "Beat na moru," a Serbo-Croatian adaptation of The Shadows’ hit, appeared on the festival compilation EP Split '67 and became popular.

In early 1968, Delfini relocated to Belgrade aiming to broaden their audience. They performed multiple shows at Belgrade Youth Center and featured on widely viewed television programs. Signing with PGP-RTB, they released their debut EP Naša serenada under the moniker Dalmatinski Delfini due to naming rights issues. The EP contained four original songs blending regional folk influences; notably, "Dioklecijan" included one of Yugoslavia’s first uses of backmasking in rock music.

Following this release, Delfini shifted from their rock roots towards pop music infused with soul elements. They expanded their lineup by adding saxophonist Igor Lučer and trumpeter Tonči Puharič as permanent members. Returning to Split, they worked as backing musicians for various performers, took part in fashion events, and maintained radio appearances on Radio Belgrade and Radio Zagreb. Throughout the 1970s, with new lead singer Tonči Della Zotta, they issued numerous pop singles, actively participated in Yugoslav pop festivals, toured Italy extensively, completed seventeen tours across the Soviet Union, and five tours in North America before disbanding at the end of that decade.

Reunions

Beginning in the early 1990s, the group has sporadically come together under the name Dupini (meaning The Dolphins in Croatian), featuring a range of lineups that included founding members Silvije Petričić (guitar), Kamenko Tulić "Kame" (drums), Goran Franjić "Njoko" (bass), and Aljoša Draganić Vrančić (keyboards, vocals). Following several years supporting vocalist Oliver Dragojević, they produced the 2004 album Tragom Olivera, which consists of instrumental renditions of his tracks.

In 2014, the band’s original 1960s formation reunited to perform multiple concerts across Croatia.

Aljoša Draganić Vrančić died on 21 August 2021 as a result of COVID-19.

Studio albums

• Tragom Olivera (2004)

EPs

• Naša serenada (1968)

Compilation albums

• Hitovi (1984)
• Hitovi II (1988)

Singles

• "Kako je toplo ovo ljeto" / "Mini-bikini" (1973)
• "Tonbula" / "Dobro jutro, draga" (1976)
• "Od portuna do portuna" / "Radio i mikrofon" (1977)
• "Od ponedjeljka novi život" / "Intima" (1979)
• "Čobanica" / "Srce samo jednom voli" (1979)
• "Prijateljstvo" / "Natanijel" (1979)

Other appearances

• "Beat na moru" (from the compilation Split '67, 1967)

External links

• Delfini at Discogs