Zlatni Dečaci
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1962 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia |
| Defunct | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Belgrade , Yugoslavia |
| Products | Rock music, EPs, singles |
Zlatni Dečaci (in Serbian Cyrillic: Златни дечаци, translated as The Golden Boys) were a pioneering rock group from Yugoslavia, established in Belgrade in 1962. They hold a significant place as early contributors to the Yugoslav rock movement.
Their initial repertoire consisted mainly of cover versions of international hits and instrumental adaptations of classical compositions. This approach attracted the attention of a Dutch record label, leading to their debut release overseas—making them the first Yugoslav rock ensemble to have a record issued on a foreign market. Within Yugoslavia, they gained considerable mainstream success throughout the 1960s. After frontman Slobodan "Boba" Stefanović departed in 1967, the band dissolved. Stefanović went on to build a notable career as a pop vocalist and songwriter.
1962–1967
The band was formed by a group of high school classmates from Belgrade’s 14th Gymnasium: Slobodan "Boba" Stefanović (lead vocals), Velibor "Borko" Kacl (guitar), Predrag Lukić (organ), Dušan Banović (drums), and Vidoje "Vili" Brajović (bass). Initially calling themselves The Tigers to project a striking and memorable image, they later adopted the name Zlatni Dečaci after receiving advice from Nikola Karaklajić, a national chess champion and radio host who played an influential role in promoting rock music across Yugoslavia.
Following roughly two months of rehearsals mostly held in their school’s gymnasium, the group made their first public appearance at a school event. By February 1963, they had secured regular gigs at Belgrade’s Euridika club, where members of a jazz trio occasionally provided mentorship. Their stage outfits evolved from yellow shirts emblazoned with the "ZD" logo to black and gold suits; drummer Banović notably played on gold-colored drums. Before Stefanović became the exclusive vocalist, singers Moma Davidović and Tomi Sovilj also performed with the band intermittently.
In 1964, Zlatni Dečaci supported singer Miki Jevremović on his successful EP titled 18 žutih ruža and maintained steady performances at the Gradski podrum club. That same year, they took part in Parada ritma (Parade of Rhythm), recognized as Yugoslavia's inaugural rock festival and among the earliest such events in a communist nation.
To overcome resistance from radio stations hesitant about beat music, the band recorded beat-style covers of classical pieces. Karaklajić promoted these recordings during a chess tournament in the Netherlands, which led to interest from the Dutch label Fontana Records. Under the English moniker Golden Boys, they released singles including "Swan Lake" (an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's ballet) and "Humoresque" (originally by Dvořák). These singles marked the first instance of a Yugoslav rock band issuing records abroad. In 1966, these tracks alongside renditions of Gounod's Faust and Ivanovici's "Waves of the Danube" were compiled domestically on Jugoton's EP entitled Humoreska. The releases significantly increased their popularity nationwide and prompted extensive touring.
Although some critics reproached them for performing classical works without formal musical education and accused them of catering too broadly for mass appeal, Zlatni Dečaci maintained strong public favor. Their concerts at Euridika club frequently sold out, they appeared regularly on television, and recorded more than twenty sessions for Radio Belgrade.
In April 1966, with Karaklajić’s assistance during his chess tournament visit to the United Kingdom, the band toured Great Britain posing as young chess players to facilitate visa approval. They performed multiple shows including a well-attended concert in Bognor Regis before an audience of approximately 1,500 people; their rendition of the Macedonian folk tune "Jovano Jovanke" received particular acclaim.
After returning home, Zlatni Dečaci released their second EP featuring covers such as Marty Robbins' "Devil Woman" ("Čudna devojka"), Rimsky-Korsakov's Sadko, The Four Pennies' "A Place Where No One Goes" ("Napušteni dom"), and an original piece titled "Foxtrot Oriental". This single surpassed sales of 100,000 copies. During that year they also appeared on television performing an instrumental version of Rossini's William Tell Overture while horseback riding. Bassist Brajović left the group around this time and was replaced by Gradimir Janković.
Their final EP in 1967 included interpretations of Bobby Vinton's "Mr. Lonely", The Who's "It's Not True", "Skokiaan", and The Zombies' "Kind of Girl". They also contributed as backing musicians for singer Zlatko Golubović’s EP Op hop and recorded several tracks for Vladan Slijepčević’s film Where to After the Rain?, which were released on a Jugoton flexi disc.
Throughout this period internal difficulties surfaced: academic obligations led members to drift apart, and media outlets noted that their connection with younger audiences was weakening. Following Stefanović’s solo performance at the Belgrade Spring festival, he exited Zlatni Dečaci; shortly afterward Lukić also left. The remaining trio—Kacl, Banović, and Janković—briefly continued with vocalist Moma Davidović before ultimately disbanding.
Post-breakup
Following the group's dissolution, Stefanović embarked on a prosperous career as a pop singer and songwriter, producing five studio albums, 29 EPs, and multiple 7" singles, while receiving various accolades at both Yugoslav and international music festivals. He completed his studies at the Belgrade Faculty of Dramatic Arts. Stefanović also wrote the book Prva ljubav Dušana Silnog (First Love of Dušan the Mighty), which included his own artwork and was accompanied by an original soundtrack he composed. He passed away in Belgrade in 2015 at the age of 69.
In 1968, Kacl became a member of the newly established band Korni Grupa, but he left the music industry soon after. He died in a car accident in 1984. Banović had a brief stint performing with the group Džentlmeni.
Moma Davidović moved to France, where he released several 7" singles under the stage names David Colsberry and David Loris.
Brajović emigrated to the United States, where he independently issued a limited-edition CD containing Zlatni Dečaci's recordings. He also authored Album sa sličicama iz mog života (Album with Pictures from My Life), which was published first in Washington, D.C. in 1985 and later reissued in Belgrade in 2000.
EPs
- Labuđe jezero (1966)
- Čudna devojka (1966)
- Sadko (1967)
Singles
- "Swan Lake" / "Humoresque" (1965)
- Muzika iz filma Kuda posle kiše (1967)