The fact that Vlado Kreslin is currently one of the most popular singers and songwriters in Slovenia is based on the history of his successful career of over 35 years. He started as a drummer in 1970 but later he changed to rock'n roll singer. In 80s he was a frontman and songwriter for the very popular Slovene rock group Martin Krpan. In the late 80s, he was responsible for the reawakening of interest in older Slovene traditional music when he started performing and making music with a folk group of older musicians in their 80s and 90s - the Beltinška Banda. In his musiche he combines the ethno feel of his home region of Prekmurje with the urban sounds of his band Mali Bogovi. His songs have been used as the basis for both novels and films and are performed by many Slovene and foreign artists. The way he sings and the candor of his lyrics have never left the audience unmoved and many of his songs have become Slovene evergreens.Vlado often collaborates with many young Slovene musicians as well as with foreign stars, such as Allan Taylor, R.E.M., Rade Šerbedžija, Hans Theessink, Vlatko Stefanovski, The Walkabouts, Dubliners, Mary Coughlan , Antonella Ruggiero… He opened twice for Bob Dylan, for Rory Gallagher and R.E.M. Several books of his poems have been published, and he is a member of the Slovene Writers' Association. He released 20 albums made music for theatre and film and also acted in theatre and films. In 2009 he was invited by Yale University to be honored at a Master's Tea, and there he was awarded the honorary title of Quincey Porter Fellow.[8] His poems have been published in Poetry in Translation and Confrontation, and in 2012, Guernica Press, Toronto published his book of poems, Instead of Whom Does the Flower Bloom. Vlado Kreslin is the Slovenian »Bob Dylan«. he is immensely popular in Slovenia. His songs have been used as the basis for novels and films. Scott Caughey (R.E.M.) introduced me to his music, having discovered Kreslin's music when he opened for R.E.M. this past summer in Slovenia. Chris Eckman of The Walkabouts who have recorded their own version of Vlado's song Tista črna kitara (That Black Guitar) on their album The Train Leaves At Eight.

Many of the greatest songwriters make their homelands come alive in a universal way, even to listeners that have never been to those places. Bruce Springsteen is an example of this. The New Jersey of his youth is a mythic land to those that love his songs. Vlado Kreslin is also one of these songwriters. Through his songs he has turned his homeland of Prekmurje into a place where human behavior and landscape combine in magical and instructive ways. The song "Tista črna kitara" takes the listener into a complex world of traditional customs, ethnic relationships and ultimately, human understanding. The song is full of unforgettable images and narrative grace. It is a powerful, important tale, one that will certainly be sung for generations to come.


"I prefer traditional music, whatever its origin, other music is not as interesting or exciting, since it derives from deratives. I really like Vlado Kreslin's approach." Goran Bregović

“I had heard the music of Vlado Kreslin and found it marvellous, a magic fusion of so many Mitteleuropean motifs that put me in mind of everything from the films of Emir Kusturica to the novels of Bohumil Hrabal. So much great modern art and writing has risen out of the polyglot world of central Europe. I realize that Kreslin’s music is entirely of his own world, and yet enlarged that world to include anyone who wished to be a part of it.” Richard Flanagan, Australian writer and director

”Vlado Kreslin is the Slovenian »Bob Dylan«. he is immensely popular in Slovenia. His songs have been used as the basis for novels and films. Scott Caughey (R.E.M.) introduced me to his music, having discovered Kreslin's music when he opened for R.E.M. this past summer in Slovenia.” Chris Eckman of The Walkabouts who have recorded their own version of Vlado's song Tista črna kitara (That Black Guitar) on their album The Train Leaves At Eight

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