Bora Spužić Kvaka Бора Спужић Квака | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Kvaka |
| Born | Velibor Spužić (1934-11-10)10 November 1934 Orahovac, Vardar Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia |
| Died | 9 March 2002(2002-03-09) (aged 67) Požarevac, Serbia, FR Yugoslavia |
| Genres | Traditional,folk,blues |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1969–1996 |
Bora Spužić (Serbian Cyrillic:Бора Спужић; 10 November 1934 – 9 March 2002), better known by his nicknameKvaka (Serbian Cyrillic:Квака), was aSerbian vocalist and recording artist with a career spanning almost three decades.[1]
Spužić was born asVelibor Spužić (Serbian Cyrillic:Велибор Спужић) on 10 November 1934 in theMetohija town ofOrahovac to father Todor and mother Olga. He was the fifth of six children in the family. In 1941, the Spužić family had to emigrate from Kosovo, deciding onĆićevac. While living in Ćićevac at the very end of the war in 1945, he fell from a tree during a playground game and dislocated his hip. As a result, his left leg remained twenty-five centimetres shorter than his right leg.[1] Due to that fracture, he had to wear a cast for eleven months after which he had to spend a lot of time in theSremska Kamenica hospital and his education was late by a few years.[2] From Ćićevac, the family moved toZemun and shortly after toPožarevac where his father gained employment as a clerk in the Tax Administration. Spužić began singing and playing theaccordion in Požarevac using his neighbour's accordion.[1]
He was a member of the cultural arts society KUD Abrašević where he first received the nicknameKvaka thanks to his friend's mispronunciation in calling him afakin (theSerbian language version of aguappo, usually translated asmangup). In the 1952–53 school year, he left high school and got his first job in the Dunavkafana inVeliko Gradište. There they bought him an accordion which he had to pay off by singing on the condition that he stays in thekafana until the debt is paid off. He also played Mexican songs.[1][3]
In 1968 in thePančevo Army Hall, he metBudimir "Buca" Jovanović [sr] who at that time was already a known composer of folk music. Jovanović offered him to record asingle with four songs. The single was recorded byZagreb-basedJugoton. It sold 400,000 copies and had a silver and gold publication.[1]
In the Summer of 1968, the director ofBeogradska estrada Rade Mumin offered him a contract. He had his first serious appearance that same year in theDom Sindikata inBelgrade with the songPođimo u krčmu staru. In Autumn of that same year, he competed in the festival inSokobanja where the audience awarded him first place. In 1970, he recorded his second single and at theIlidža '69 Festival where the expert jury co-awarded him andNada Mamula first place.[4]
His first album was published in 1971[3] by Jugoton. The album contained the songs from his first five singles.[1]
He lived abohemian lifestyle, earning and spending money quickly. He enjoyed the company of women andkafanas and married four times. His popularity rose quickly – reaching the top – but decreased gradually over time. He published twenty-three singles, sixteen albums and three CD-s.[3]
He held his last concert in 1996.[3] In 1997, he had a stroke which robbed him of using the entire right side of his body and speaking ability. He managed to recover thanks toHanka Paldum who brought him toSarajevo and financed the expenses of his recovery. In March 1998, a large humanitarian concert was held in the Požarevac Sports Hall and all benefits went towards Spužić's recovery. The most responsible for this concert wereZoran Kalezić andZorica Brunclik.[5]
Spužić died on 9 March 2002 in Požarevac. He was interred on 11 March 2002 at the Požarevac Old Cemetery.[6] He had two daughters.[7]
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