Semir Cerić (; born 23 May 1963), better known as Koke (), is a Bosnian ''

narodna muzika Balkan folk music is the traditional folk music within Balkans, Balkan region. In South Slavic languages, it is known as narodna muzika () or folk muzika () in Bulgarian language, Bulgarian, Macedonian language, Macedonian, and Serbo-Croatian, and ...

'' singer. His music style is

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

and modern

turbofolk Turbo-folk is a subgenre of contemporary South Slavic pop music that initially developed in Serbia during the 1990s as a fusion of techno and folk. The term was an invention of the Montenegrin singer Rambo Amadeus, who jokingly described t ...

Career

The beginning of Koke's music career dates from 1988, when he published his debut album – ''Sanja'' (for

Diskos A paten or diskos is a small plate used for the celebration of the Eucharist (as in a mass). It is generally used during the liturgy itself, while the reserved sacrament are stored in the tabernacle in a ciborium. Western usage In many West ...

label). The title song is also notably performed by Serbian folk singer

Toma Zdravković Tomislav "Toma" Zdravković (; 20 November 1938 – 30 September 1991) was a Serbian singer-songwriter and recording artist. Zdravković was an outstanding figure on the Yugoslav folk scene; a true bohemian and a poet, he lived up to his sad s ...

, in ekavian form ("Sećaš Li Se Sanja" – 1990). After cooperation with Diskos, Koke published albums ''Život Me Je Prevario'' (1994) and ''Jednom Se Živi'' (2001) for In Takt Records. The album ''Blago Tebi'' (1999) was released by

Sarajevo Disk Sarajevo Disk is a record label founded and based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1978 by Hanka Paldum, Muradif "Mufta" Brkić and Ishak "Braco" Džirlo. It became inactive in 2000 and began releasing music again in September 2012. Artists ...

. The fifth studio album, ''Koke'' (2003), was published in

Grand Production Grand Production ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Гранд продукција, separator=" / ", Grand produkcija) is a Serbian record label and production company predominantly focused on folk performers. The label produces the weekly television show ''Grand ...

. albums ''Koke'' (2017) and ''Blago Tebi'' (2018) were published for original productions. Koke's sixth studio album, ''Idemo Dalje'' (2009), was released by Hayat Production. Koke has recently recorded three singles with music videos: "Kafanica Laganica" for BN Music in 2017, "Sve I Sad" for Hayat Production in 2019 and "Jednom Se Mora Krenuti Dalje" (self-release) in 2020. Three recent singles without music videos are: "Častit Ću Pola Grada" (2013), "Carski Karavan" (2017) and "Ne, Ne Diraj" (2018). Koke's evergreen hits are: "Nek' Ti Bude Kao Meni", "Emina" (cover), "Aida", "Sanja", "Glumica", "Zavodnica", "Nevjernica", "Treba Vremena", "Robinja Ili Kraljica", "Vjerovala, Bolovala", "Kad Te Neko Spomene", "Život Me Je Prevario", "Kraj Priče", "Moja Dobra Vilo", "Otkako Je Banjaluka Postala" (interpretation), etc. Koke gives concerts in

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

and

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

in addition to those in the

Western Balkans The Balkans ( , ), corresponding partially with the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throug ...

, as well as

USA The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...

states (tours) and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

(tours), – because a large number of Bosnian migrants is present in these countries and they want to hear his songs and remember their past. Koke also usually performs in Eid TV program on Hayat TV during this Muslim holiday. Koke took part in Grand Diet Plus Festival 2012 and recently Ilidžanski festival 2017 and 2019. He was one of the members of the jury of music competitions '' Zvijezda možeš biti ti'' (abbr. ''ZMBT''; Hayat TV) and '' Valentino zvijezde'' ( OTV).

Private life

Koke is married to Ivana as of 2019 and has two daughters with his wife (one's name is Emma); he also has one son (Almein). The singer has previously been in a passionate relationship with Željka for over 18 years but had no born children with her nor they ever got married. Semir Cerić has testified against Zijad Turković (Bosnian criminal boss, sentenced to 40 years) during his trial on 21 December 2011 because Cerić and Turković own Sarajevo-based restaurant "Toskana" – place from which killed people Tolić and Ajdari called their families for the last time; also, Turković admitted attempted murder of Naser Keljmendi and according to one witness' (Kalender) words information on Keljmendi's location Turković got from his wife Šejla Jugo-Turković and singer Semir Cerić Koke who had engagement to sing on Naser's son Elvis Keljmendi's wedding party where assassination attempt achieved by bomb has taken place. It is interesting that Turković wrote lyrics for one Koke's song, "Malo Vina, Malo Pjesme" (A3 on cassette ''Život Me Je Prevario'').

Discography

;Studio albums *''Sanja'' (1988.) *''Život me je prevario'' (1994.) *''Blago tebi'' (1999.) *''Jednom se živi'' (2001.) *''Koke'' (2003.) *''Idemo dalje'' (2009.) *''Koke'' (2017; re-release) *''Blago tebi'' (2018; ) ;Compilations *''

Enes Begović Enes Begović (born 6 June 1965) is a Bosnian pop-folk singer and producer. Early life Enes Begović was born on 6 June 1965 in Visoko, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina. While attending a Visoko high school in 1978, Begović passed an audition as a sol ...

Koke – Najveći hitovi'' (2011.) *''Kad kažu ljubav'' (2016.) ;Single *''Suze moje'' (2021.) ;Live *' (2006.)

Festivals

Grand Grand may refer to: People with the name * Grand (surname) * Grand L. Bush (born 1955), American actor Places * Grand, Oklahoma, USA * Grand, Vosges, village and commune in France with Gallo-Roman amphitheatre * Grand County (disambiguation), ...

Diet Plus Festival (2012) – "Njen Grad" * Ilidžanski Festival (2017) – "Sa Igmana Pogledat' Je Lijepo", "Kraj Bentbaše" *Ilidžanski Festival (2019) – "Oj, Safete, Sajo, Sarajlijo", "Treba Vremena", "Kafanica Laganica", etc.

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Koke, Semir Ceric 1963 births Living people Musicians from Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina turbo-folk singers Bosnia and Herzegovina folk-pop singers 20th-century Bosnia and Herzegovina male singers 21st-century Bosnia and Herzegovina male singers Bosniaks of Bosnia and Herzegovina