Korni Grupa

Korni Grupa

Company type	Rock band
Industry	Music
Founded	1968 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Founder	Kornelije Kovač
Headquarters	Belgrade , Yugoslavia
Products	Music albums, singles, live performances

Korni Grupa (, translated as Korni Group) emerged as a Yugoslav rock ensemble founded in Belgrade in 1968, under the leadership of keyboardist Kornelije Kovač. Recognized as one of the pioneering Yugoslav supergroups, they gained widespread mainstream acclaim and hold a significant place in the history of Yugoslav rock. For a brief period, the band adopted the name Kornelyans while attempting to break into the international scene with an English-language album.

The band pursued two distinct musical directions simultaneously: commercially oriented pop rock designed for broad appeal, and a more artistically ambitious progressive rock approach that fused elements of psychedelic, folk, jazz, and symphonic rock. The original members were Kovač on keyboards, Bojan Hreljac playing bass, Vladimir Furduj on drums, and Velibor Kacl handling guitar duties. After cycling through several vocalists—Miroslava Kojadinović, Dušan Prelević, and Dalibor Brun—the group ultimately settled with Dado Topić, who also introduced guitarist Josip Boček to the lineup. This formation took part in music festivals, composed the score for the film This Crazy World of Ours, and created a rock opera soundtrack that was posthumously released as 1941.

Following Topić’s exit, vocal duties briefly passed to Zdravko Čolić before Zlatko Pejaković assumed the role. With Pejaković fronting the band, Korni Grupa issued their self-titled debut album—the first full-length release by a rock group from SR Serbia and only the fourth such album in Yugoslavia—as well as an English-language follow-up titled Not an Ordinary Life under the Kornelyans moniker. Their 1974 Eurovision Song Contest entry resulted in a disappointing 12th place finish; coupled with lukewarm reviews of their second album, this contributed to their decision to disband after farewell performances at Novi Sad’s Studio M on December 1, 1974. Live recordings from these concerts were later released as Mrtvo more, notable for being Yugoslavia’s first double album in rock music.

After disbandment, members embarked on solo ventures, studio collaborations, and production roles. The band briefly reunited in 1987 with Topić for shows in Zagreb and Belgrade. In 2019, Kovač, Boček, and Topić came together once more for a farewell concert in Belgrade; although Hreljac was initially slated to participate, he passed away shortly before the event.

Formation and Early Period (1968–1969)

In 1968, after departing from Sarajevo-based Indexi, keyboardist Kornelije "Bata" Kovač, an alumnus of the Sarajevo Music Academy, relocated to Belgrade. There he collaborated with bassist Bojan Hreljac and drummer Vladimir "Furda" Furduj—both formerly part of defunct bands—and guitarist Velibor "Borko" Kacl from Zlatni Dečaci. Female vocalist Miroslava "Seka" Kojadinović joined in September 1968, completing what many regarded as Yugoslavia’s first supergroup lineup and attracting considerable media attention.

Their inaugural performance took place at Belgrade’s Dom Sindikata, featuring original compositions alongside a rendition of "If You Go Away," enhanced by creative sound effects. This successful debut led to numerous local appearances, including an innovative multimedia event at Dom Omladine that combined live painting, dance routines, and theatrical sketches.

When invited to perform on Radio Belgrade’s Studio VI vam pruža šansu, Kojadinović declined due to disagreements over song choices and soon left the band. She briefly pursued a solo path before transitioning into a legal career.

Her replacement was Dušan "Prele" Prelević, recognized for his rhythm and blues vocal style. Despite Kovač’s preference for progressive rock influences, the band entered the 1968 Jugovizija festival with the pop-oriented track "Cigu-ligu," aiming for Eurovision selection. Prelević’s lack of professionalism led to his departure shortly thereafter; nonetheless, his vocals appeared on their debut single released in 1969. Prelević continued his career through various musical and literary endeavors.

Next to join was Dalibor Brun from Rijeka, who contributed hits such as "Magična ruka," "Sonata," and "Dzum-ram." During Brun’s tenure, Korni Grupa maintained a balance between commercially appealing pop rock festival performances and their progressive rock projects. Their folk-inspired single "Pastir i cvet" earned them the Golden Pier award at the Singing Europe festival held in the Netherlands. Brun eventually left to pursue a pop music career with Bohemi.

Dado Topić Era (1969–1971)

Following the exit of Brun, Korni Grupa recruited Dado Topić, who had previously performed with the Osijek-based band Dinamiti, as their new lead singer. With Topić at the helm, they presented the song "Devojčice mala" ("Little Girl") at the Opatija festival, which was issued as a split single alongside 4M's "Priča se" ("Rumour Has It"). The group’s inaugural solo concert took place in Belgrade on 6 November 1969 at the Youth Center, where they showcased a progressive rock repertoire.

After Kacl retired, Josip Boček—Topić’s former bandmate from Dinamiti—joined Korni Grupa. This lineup further developed their progressive sound with compositions such as "Jedna žena" ("A Woman"), "Prvo svetlo u kući broj 4" ("The First Light in House Number 4"), and the classically influenced piece "Etida" ("Étude").

At the 1970 Zagreb Music Festival, Korni Grupa earned both the audience and jury accolades for their performance of "Jedna žena". They released several commercially successful singles including "Bube" ("Beetles"), which served as the soundtrack for Miša Radivojević's film This Crazy World of Ours and was notable for its theme addressing casual encounters. Additional popular tracks included "Trla baba lan" ("Granny Scutched the Flax") and "Slika" ("Image"), co-written with Ljuba Ninković. The French singer Dalida’s rendition of "Trla baba lan", retitled "Ram Dam Dam", achieved notable chart success across Europe.

Between 1970 and 1973, Korni Grupa also composed music for several singles performed by singer Olivera Katarina.

In 1971, the band recorded the rock epic "1941." featuring guest vocals by Josipa Lisac; this track was created as the soundtrack for the TV series Jedan čovek jedna pesma, commemorating the anniversary of Yugoslavia’s revolution. Subsequently, they appeared at fashion shows in Paris and Warsaw to promote Aleksandar Joksimović’s clothing line "Prokleta Jerina". These appearances attracted interest from Alan Milo of Barclay Records; however, Topić departed to establish the progressive rock and jazz fusion ensemble Time.

In September 1971, former Ambasadori vocalist Zdravko Čolić took over as lead singer. Čolić’s style leaned more towards festival-friendly music which contrasted with Korni Grupa’s progressive tendencies; during his brief tenure he recorded three tracks before embarking on a successful solo career. While with the band, they produced a television special that highlighted their more commercial material.

Zlatko Pejaković Period (1972–1974)

At the start of 1972, Zlatko Pejaković—formerly of Lavine, Zlatni Akordi and Had—became Korni Grupa’s new frontman. This change coincided with recording their debut full-length album titled Korni Grupa. At that time in Yugoslavia’s music scene, full albums were rare among rock bands due to market preference for singles. The album featured intricate compositions such as "Put na Istok" and "Glas sa obale boja". After its release, the band secured second place at the Zagreb Music Festival with "Kosovka devojka" and performed at the prestigious 1972 Montreux Jazz Festival, accompanied by guest musicians. Additionally, they produced Yugoslavia's first color television program named Put za istok.

Toward late 1973, Korni Grupa recorded an English-language symphonic rock album called Not an Ordinary Life, which was released under the name The Kornelyans by Italian label Ricordi. The production was overseen by Carlo Alberto Rossi—renowned for his work with Premiata Forneria Marconi and Banco—and despite limited promotion sold approximately 10,000 copies. The album was also licensed for distribution in Yugoslavia as well as markets in Japan, Israel and South America. Within Yugoslavia, the single "Ivo Lola", inspired by the last letter of WWII hero Ivo Lola Ribar, gained significant popularity. Other singles including "Divlje jagode", "Zbogom ostaj o, detinjstvo", and "Praštanje" also attracted attention; these featured lyrics penned by notable poets and dissidents.

In spring of 1974, Korni Grupa won first prize at the Opatija Festival with their song "Moja generacija", which then represented Yugoslavia at that year's Eurovision Song Contest held in Brighton—where ABBA emerged victorious. An English-language version of "Moja generacija" was issued as a single in Italy. That year Music Week honored them as Yugoslav Band of the Year based on reader polls. Nevertheless, dissatisfied with the modest impact of Not an Ordinary Life and their twelfth-place finish at Eurovision, founder Kovač chose to dissolve Korni Grupa. The group performed two final concerts in Novi Sad during November; recordings from these shows were released as Mrtvo more, marking Yugoslav rock’s first double album release. One disc compiled their popular singles while the other showcased live performances of their progressive material. The band officially ceased activity on December 1, 1974.

Post-breakup developments

Following the dissolution of Korni Grupa, Kornelije Kovač embarked on a prosperous path as a composer, arranger, and producer. Meanwhile, Pejaković transitioned towards pop music, Boček and Hreljac established themselves as studio musicians, and Furduj dedicated his efforts to jazz. The 1977 live compilation album Randevu s muzikom included previously unreleased Korni Grupa tracks "I ne tako obićan život" and "Jedna žena," recorded during their farewell concerts in Novi Sad. That same year, Kovač endeavored to create a supergroup named K2 by collaborating with prominent artists such as Josip Boček and Dado Topić; however, the project was abandoned due to Topić’s reluctance. In 1979, the band’s 1971 recording of the musical epic 1941. was posthumously released as a Korni Grupa studio album.

Original guitarist Velibor Kacl tragically passed away in a car accident on 17 May 1984.

1987 reunion at "Legende YU Rocka"

In May 1987, Korni Grupa reassembled with key members Kovač, Furduj, Hreljac, Boček, and vocalist Dado Topić to perform at the Legende YU Rocka event hosted by Radio 101 at Zagreb’s Dom Sportova. They subsequently appeared in concerts held at Belgrade’s Sava Centar and Sarajevo’s Zetra Hall. The live version of "Jedna žena" from their Zagreb performance was included on the 1987 various artists double live album Legende YU Rocka, released by Jugoton.

Activities after 1987

The previously unreleased Korni Grupa song "Prvo svetlo u kući broj 4" surfaced in 1994 on the compilation Plima: Progresivna muzika, part of Komuna’s YU retROCKspektiva series. In 1996, the compilation Prvo svetlo neobičnog života presented selections from their progressive music catalog. That year also saw Kovač release Moja generacija, an album featuring his compositions for the TV show Zvučna viljuška, which included covers of Korni Grupa songs performed by various artists.

PGP-RTS issued a comprehensive three-part compilation titled Ne tako običan život in 2005, gathering singles, recordings from their progressive era, the 1987 reunion rendition of "Jedna žena," and an unreleased track "Kosovka devojka" featuring Kovač on lead vocals. In 2008, PGP-RTS released a DVD named Korni Grupa, compiling music videos, television appearances, concert footage, and rehearsal sessions.

Second vocalist Dušan Prelević died in Belgrade on 28 July 2007 after battling a prolonged illness; Furduj passed away in Belgrade on 1 June 2015.

2019 reunion concert

In 2018, Korni Grupa announced a farewell performance at Belgrade’s Sava Centar, featuring original members Kornelije Kovač (keyboards), Josip Boček (guitar), and Dado Topić (vocals), supported by younger musicians Peđa Milanović (bass), Aleksandar Miletić (keyboards), and Ratko Ljubičić (drums). Bojan Hreljac was invited as a guest but had limited participation due to health complications. The reunion encountered several obstacles.

Originally planned for 30 November 2018, the concert was rescheduled to 31 January 2019. Sadly, Hreljac died on 19 December 2018. Due to health issues affecting Topić, guest vocalists Dejan Cukić, Goran Šepa, Zoran Šandrov, and Dušan Svilar joined the lineup; Topić performed on selected numbers.

That same year, German label Hollow Cloud Music issued a vinyl record featuring the 1970 track "Jedna žena," with Topić on vocals, alongside the 1972 song "Igra na Šar-planini," which included Pejaković and was recorded with Mića Marković and Peter Ugrin.

Post-2019 Developments

In 2020, PGP-RTS collaborated with Croatia Records to release the box set titled Original Album Collection, which brought together the albums Korni Grupa, Not an Ordinary Life, Mrtvo more, along with Kornelije Kovač's initial three solo records.

Kornelije Kovač passed away in Belgrade on 13 September 2022 due to complications arising from COVID-19.

Legacy

Korni Grupa left a lasting impact on numerous influential artists, including Radomir Mihajlović "Točak" of Smak, Vlatko Stefanovski formerly of Leb i Sol, Jurica Pađen associated with Grupa 220, as well as musicians from Parni Valjak, Aerodrom, and Azra. Additionally, singer-songwriter Đorđe Balašević, Momčilo Bajagić "Bajaga"—guitarist for Riblja Čorba and vocalist for Bajaga i Instruktori—Idoli member Vlada Divljan, and Goran Šepa from Kerber were among those influenced.

Numerous artists have produced covers of Korni Grupa’s tracks. The song "Trla baba lan" notably gained European recognition when French vocalist Dalida adapted it as "Ram Dam Dam" in 1970. The Yugoslav jazz/funk ensemble Ansambl Saše Subote recorded a rendition of "Ivo Lola" on their 1976 EP Mikado specifically for the Soviet audience. In 2010, the Serbian group Laura 2000 included a remix of this same track on their debut album. Serbian actor Milorad Mandić also interpreted "Trla baba lan" on his 1991 album aimed at children. The rock band Električni Orgazam offered an acoustic version of "Magična ruka" featured on their 1996 release Živo i akustično. Radio Television of Serbia's program Zlatna viljuška featured covers of Korni Grupa songs performed by Filip Žmaher, Zoran Šandorov, Del Arno Band, and Van Gogh. Saša Lokner, keyboardist for Bajaga i Instruktori, issued an instrumental take on "Put za istok," incorporating a sample from Korni Grupa’s "Zemlja," on his solo album Evropa Elektro Express (2004). More recently, the Serbian rock band Jakarta covered "Jagode i maline" on their 2020 album Letim.

The publication YU 100: najbolji albumi jugoslovenske rok i pop muzike (1988) placed two Korni Grupa albums among its top selections: Korni Grupa ranked fourth, while 1941. appeared at ninety-fourth.

On the Rock Express Top 100 Yugoslav Rock Songs list compiled in 2000, "Put za istok" was positioned at number forty-four and "Jedna žena" at number sixty-seven. In 2011, listeners of Radio Belgrade's Radio 202 included "Etida" within the top sixty tracks released by PGP-RTB/PGP-RTS over a span of sixty years.

Lyrics from Korni Grupa’s songs "Put za istok," "Moj bol," and "Jedna žena" are featured in Petar Janjatović’s anthology titled Pesme bratstva, detinjstva & potomstva: Antologija ex YU rok poezije 1967 - 2007.

Members

Past members

• Kornelije "Bata" Kovač – keyboards, organ, piano, vocals (1968–1974, 1987, 2019)
• Bojan Hreljac – bass guitar (1968–1974, 1987)
• Vladimir "Furda" Furduj – drums (1968–1974, 1987)
• Velibor "Borko" Kacl – guitar (1968–1969)
• Miroslava "Seka" Kojadinović – vocals (1968)
• Dušan Prelević "Prele" – vocals (1968)
• Dalibor Brun – vocals (1969)
• Dado Topić – vocals (1969–1971, 1987, 2019)
• Josip Boček – guitar (1969–1974, 1987, 2019)
• Zdravko Čolić – vocals (1971–1972)
• Zlatko Pejaković – vocals (1972–1974)

Touring musicians

• Peđa Milanović – bass guitar (2019)
• Aleksandar Miletić – keyboards (2019)
• Ratko Ljubičić – drums (2019)

Studio albums

• Korni Grupa (1972)
• Not an Ordinary Life (1974)
• 1941. (1979)

Compilation albums

• Korni Grupa (1971)
• Mrtvo more (1975)
• Prvo svetlo neobičnog života (1996)
• Kolekcija singlova (2001)
• Ne tako običan život (I posle trideset godina) (2005)
• The Ultimate Collection (2009)
• Original Album Collection (2020)

Extended plays

• Dzum-ram (1969)
• Zabranjeno za mlade (1971)
• TV špice (1973)

Singles

• "Cigu-ligu" / "Čovek i pas" (1969)
• "Pastir i cvet" / "Čovek i pas" (1969)
• "Trla baba lan" / "Slika" (1970)
• "Bube" / "Neko spava pored mene" (1970)
• "Pusti da te diram" / "Jedan groš" (1971)
• "Pokloni svoj mi foto" / "Bez veze" (1972)
• "Tri palme" / "Tri čoveka u kafani" (1973)
• "Oj, dodole" / "Život" (1973)
• "Ivo Lola" / "Znam za kim zvono zvoni" (1973)
• "Etida" / "Jednoj ženi" (1973)
• "Moja generacija" / "Zbogom ostaj, o, detinjstvo" (1974)
• "Generation 42" / "One Woman" (1974)
• "Moja generacija (My Generation)" / "Etude" (1974)
• "Kuda ideš, svete moj" / "Divlje jagode" (1974)
• "Miris" / "Praštanje" (1974)

Additional appearances

• "Moja generacija" on Eurovision '74 (1974)
• "I ne tako obićan život" / "Jedna žena" on Randevu s muzikom (1977)
• "Jedna žena" featured on Legende YU Rocka compilation (1987)

Video releases

• Korni Grupa video album (2008)

References

• Ex YU rock enciklopedija 1960–2023, Janjatović Petar
• Fatalni ringišpil: hronika beogradskog rokenrola 1959—1979, Žikić Aleksandar, Geopoetika, Belgrade, Yugoslavia, 1999

External links

• Korni Grupa at Discogs
• Korni Grupa at Last.fm
• Korni Grupa at Prog Archives