Rodolyub Vulovich Yugoslav Serbian singer Date of Birth: 01.05.1955

1. Roke Vulović: Serbian Singer, Songwriter, and War Hero
2. Early Life and Musical Career
3. The Yugoslav Wars
4. Post-War Career
5. Personal Life

Roke Vulović: Serbian Singer, Songwriter, and War Hero

Roke Vulović, a renowned Serbian singer, songwriter, and former war veteran, is currently the director of the Polytechnic and Pharmaceutical School in Bijeljina. Born on the night of April 30th to May 1st, 1955, in the town of Bijeljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vulović has made significant contributions to both the music and military history of the former Yugoslavia.

Early Life and Musical Career

After completing high school, Vulović enrolled in the Technical School "Mihajlo Pupin" in Bijeljina, graduating as a "technician-technologist." He subsequently joined the school as a graduate assistant and eventually became a teacher. During his tenure as an educator, Vulović taught up to eight different subjects.

Vulović's musical career began in 1972 with the release of his single "Kristina," which featured the title track and "Napustićeš me ti." The record was produced by the Belgrade-based label "Jugoton" as part of their "Mladi talenti" series, a testament to Vulović's early talent.

In 1988, he released his sophomore album, "Paša," a collaboration with composer Milutin Zahar Popović. The title track, performed by Vulović and Gorđana Lazarević (Popović's wife), became a popular hit.

The Yugoslav Wars

With the outbreak of the Yugoslav Wars in 1991, Bijeljina became the first city in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be liberated from Muslim forces. After three days of intense fighting, the city was captured by volunteers from the Serbian Volunteer Guard and members of the paramilitary wing of the Serbian Democratic Party. The battle resulted in the destruction of much of the city center, including Vulović's childhood home.

Despite his wife's opposition, Vulović joined the 1st Semberija Light Infantry Brigade, where he served as a reconnaissance scout in the 2nd Battalion. His wartime experiences and the loss of his friends and comrades inspired him to write a series of patriotic songs collected on the cassette album "Semberski junači" (Heroes of Semberija). The album, featuring nine songs, was widely distributed by the Army of Republika Srpska, with all proceeds donated to the treatment of wounded soldiers.

Post-War Career

After the war, Vulović transitioned to the "Panthers" Guards Brigade of the Army of Republika Srpska, where he was responsible for recruiting and staffing. In 1993, he released his second wartime album, "Garde 'Panteri'" (Panthers Guards), dedicated to the unit.

In 1994, Colonel Pero Čolić, commander of the 5th Kozara Light Infantry Brigade, commissioned Vulović to compose an album about the brigade's exploits. The resulting album, "Junaci Kozaraki" (Kozara Heroes), featured lyrics written by Vulović and his wife.

Vulović's post-war musical career continued with the release of "Crni bombarder" (Black Bomber) in 1995 and "Zbog tebe" (Because of You) in 1997. He subsequently retired from singing and returned to teaching. However, he remains one of the most popular performers in the former Yugoslavia and occasionally tours worldwide.

Personal Life

Vulović is married to Jelica, a philologist, and they have two children, Vladislav and Milena. Jelica has collaborated on lyrics for many of Roke's songs, and the family has often appeared in his music videos. Vulović is fluent in French and Italian and can converse in German, which he learned from his father.