Dragan: Difference between revisions

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Dragan Veljković (Serbian Cyrillic: Драган Вељковић) is a Serbian/Swedish Rock musician.

Dragan Veljkovic, singer, songwriter, composer, guitarist, performer and the last romantic of rock and roll, was born on 02. March, 1974. in Belgrade, Serbia (ex Yugoslavia), at the crossroads of different cultures, customs, dogmas and beliefs. Dragan is the elder of two children. He grew up in a musical family that collected records and listened good music. He was surrounded with fabulous jazz, blues, gospel and country. Dragan's mother was very interested in literature and writing poetry, and his father was a great engineer and passionate jazz record collector.

When Dragan was one, he had a favourite group George Baker Selection, and a favorite song Sing A Song Of Love, with which Dragan took his first steps. When Dragan was eleven, he acquired his first acoustic guitar. Dragan understood that music had no boundaries, regardless of the colour of one's skin, race, or religion.

Jimi Hendrix's Hey Joe left a great impression on Dragan, and was crucial in his decision to devote himself to guitar and music in general. The first song Dragan ever learned to play on his guitar was Angie by The Rolling Stones.

Dragan is a self taught musician. He learned to play by listening to records, reading books, other literature, and attending concerts/shows, watching videos. As Dragan says the greatest impression on him, was made by three men: Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Oscar Benton.

As a active campaigner for justice and humans rights, Dragan had many conflicts against the neocommunist regime in his younger years. After Dragan finished high school, he spent a year in the army in the country's north, during the Balkan war. When his service was over, he returned to Belgrade and started work on a career in music.

In 1995, Dragan began to compose songs. He took his inspiration from things around him. In 1996, he formed his own band, but because of the general crisis and bad political situation in the country, he had to put his musical career on hold again.

In 1999, during the NATO bombing of Belgrade, Dragan was invited to join the reputable Rock Union. This well known band had a wealth of experience and high quality musicians: Matt Clifford (ex ABVH, The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, Yes, Bill Wyman etc.), Phil Spalding (ex Toyah, Mike Oldfield, Elton John, Terence Trent D' Arby, Nazareth, Roger Chapman, Seal, Right Said Fred, Roger Taylor, Chris De Burgh, Jimmy Somerville, Ray Carles, Joe Cocker, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Mick Jagger, Randy Crawford etc.), Preston Heyman (ex Atomic Rooster, Bryan Ferry, Kate Bush, Mike Oldfield, Roy Harper, Jimmy Page, Terence Trent D' Arby, Sting etc.) Laza Ristovski (ex Smak, Bijelo Dugme, Osvajaci etc.), Dragoljub Djuricic (ex Kerber, Leb I Sol, Djordje Balasevic, Zdravko Colic etc.), Zoran Nastoski (ex Magicno Oko) and Dragan Radonjic, founder of the band, Branko Radonjic and Petar Milic.

In 2001. with Rock Union, Dragan released the album Velika Je Ljubav (Love Is Great), produced by Laza Ristovski, under the label HI-FI Center, limited distribution (Serbia only). Dragan appeared on the album for the first time as a writer and composer. Dragan looks back on those days with great fondness and honour. After the band broke up, he decided on a solo career.

In September, 2002. Dragan went into one of Belgrade's best studios and recorded his first ever English album Street Dancer. He collaborated with many excellent musicians, and the album was produced by Alexandra Stojanovic. Over the next four years, Dragan and his band toured consistently; playing various clubs, venues and festivals, and were positively received with rave reviews. This gave Dragan the encouragement to keep going.

In September, 2006. Dragan went to Sweden where he met legendary gospel pianist, Per - Erik Hallin (ex Elvis Presley). The meet left Dragan awestruck.

In April, 2007, Dragan signed with One Records and in July, 2007. Street Dancer was released.

In June, 2008. Dragan was required to join the Dado Topic & Time as a lead guitarist, but he's refused.

• Street Dancer (2007)
• Twister Of Dreams (2009)

• Velika Je Ljubav (2001)

• Official site
• Official Dragan MySpace page