P.S. CRO MUSIC A. DEDIC 2018

Arsen was born under the sign of Leo in Šibenik on July 28th, 1938 in a family of farmers. During the second half of the 20th century, he would grow into an iconic figure of the Croatian cultural scene. A straight-A student at an esteemed high school in Šibenik, talented in visual arts and poetry (his first poems were published in Polet issued in Zagreb and Vidik issued in Split), he was a promising flautist at his music school. He moved to Zagreb, the mythical destination of Šibenik students (position held by Padua and Prague in the past) where he would earn both of his high school diplomas. In the fall of 1957 he enrolled at the law school.
Arsen's works of art, poetical strides and musical talent (there are stories of him receiving his first compliment at the age of fifteen from Lovro Matačić, a famous conductor, who was a guest performer in Šibenik) indicated that there would be problems in terms of his future life choices. The Academy of Fine Arts was a possible option when he left his home town and set off into the world. He selected law to please his parents, but he made his own decision to enrol once again in the final year of the music high school. It is as if he wanted to let us know that “cramming“ to become a lawyer did not mean giving up the flute and the music conservatory. Furthermore, an excursion into the world of entertainment that followed as an additional activity after commencing university studies would turn out to be a journey with no return to that finish line he preferred: career of an academic musician and a serious composer despite his flautist diploma. He would forever remain on a dead-end track.
He created an authentic song writing style by combining his musical and poetic talents. He travelled the world and his creations can hardly be counted! Around 40 albums, some official, some pirated, and 32 books! He wrote music for more than 30 movies, 140 theatre plays, 21 TV dramas and series, 11 documentaries, 10 animated movies... He received numerous awards, including Nagrada Slavenski by Vjesnik, Premio Tenco from Sanremo (among the first nine songwriters in the world, in the company of Cohen and Dylan), Premio Brel, numerous Porins and the one for his lifetime achievements, two Zlatna arenas from Pula and others.
I do not believe it was a coincidence that he lived in an apartment in the building at Haulikova ulica 4 with a sign he used for the title he authored for his discography epitaph – Dobrotorov dom (Philanthropist’s Home). The symbolism lies in the fact that it was carried by the inventory of a tremendous career in arts and show business. Arsen Dedić is undeniably a philanthropist who took care of the fate of the Croatian pop-music for decades with his fascinating work giving it selflessly the fruits of his many talents until his passing on August 17th, 2015. Siniša Škarica, musical editor