Day of National Sorrow declared for Tuesday after music legend Oliver Dragojević passes away

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced today that he called a telephone session of the government cabinet and proposed that July 31st, 2018 be declared a Day of National Sorrow after Oliver Dragojević passed away.

“The decision was supported by all members of the government,” said Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

The Day of National Sorrow will be marked with all flags of the republic of Croatia flying at half-staff on all buildings where bodies of state government or local governments are located as well as all buildings where legal entities do business.

Contrary to a Day of National Mourning, a Day of National Sorrow is understood to mean no cancellation of previously planned events.

Oliver Dragojević, a legend of Croatian popular music, passed away yesterday in the Split hospital at the age of 71. He left behind 23 studio albums, numerous compilations and awards from his rich career. Oliver held concerts in many of the world’s best known venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Olympia in Paris and the Sydney Opera House.

Oliver was from Vela Luka on the island of Korčula where he spent his childhood. IN Split he attended music school. He began his career in 1963 as a singer and pianist for the Batali group in Split. He saw his first success at the Split Festival in 1974 when he won the 1st Place Award of the Public for the composition “Če će mi Copacabana”.

Source: HRT