Južni Vetar (band)
| Company type | Music ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | Miodrag M. Ilić (Mile Bas) |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Serbia |
Area served | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, former Yugoslavia |
Key people | Miodrag M. Ilić (Mile Bas), Sava Bojić, Perica Zdravković |
| Products | Folk, pop-folk, turbo-folk music |
Južni Vetar (translated as "South Wind") is a music ensemble originating from Bosnia and Serbia, recognized for its partnerships with leading folk, pop-folk, and turbo-folk performers from both Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The group was established by Miodrag M. Ilić, also known as Mile Bas, a seasoned musician hailing from Leskovac in southern Serbia, which is reflected in the band's name.
The principal lineup consisted of Ilić playing bass guitar, Sava Bojić handling lead guitar duties, and Perica Zdravković on keyboards. Among the distinguished vocalists associated with the band were Dragana Mirković, Šemsa Suljaković, Kemal Malovčić, Sinan Sakić, and Mile Kitić. Južni Vetar experienced its most successful phase between 1982 and 1991, concluding with the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars. During the mid-1980s, as Yugoslav unity began to weaken, the band adopted a multifaceted Yugoslav identity by blending traditional folk elements with "oriental" influences, which significantly boosted their mass appeal.
Their commercial peak was highlighted by the 1986 release Pristajem na sve, which surpassed sales of 500,000 copies. Moreover, Šemsa Suljaković's solo project Što me pitaš kako živim achieved remarkable sales exceeding one million units.