Ferus Mustafov

Ferus Mustafov (20 December 1950 – 22 May 2023), also known as King Ferus Mustafov, was a Macedonian saxophonist of a Romani descent. He was a multi-instrumentalist and was highly popular in his home country for his repertoire of Balkan folk and gypsy, or Rom, wedding music. He was also credited as one of the artists from the Balkan region to have made this type of music internationally popular.[1]

Ferus Mustafov
Mustafov performing in 2018
Mustafov performing in 2018
Background information
Birth nameFerus Mustafov
Also known asKing Ferus Mustafov
Born(1950-12-20)20 December 1950
Štip, PR Macedonia, FPR Yugoslavia
Died22 May 2023(2023-05-22) (aged 72)
Skopje, North Macedonia
GenresBalkan folk and gypsy
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, violin, clarinet
Years active1967–2023

Biography

Mustafov was born on 20 December 1950 in Štip, Yugoslavia, into a Xoraxane family of musicians. He was the son of Ilmi Jašarov, who is credited with introducing the saxophone into the folk music of the area.[2]

His professional career began at the age of seventeen whilst studying violin and clarinet at his local junior music academy. During this time he was invited to go on tour with a band led by Toma Črčev, the tour's success led him to abandon his academic learning to become a working musician.[2]

Following a year of military service, during which he established his reputation playing at evening dances, he moved to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he took a leading role in the explosion in popularity of folk music taking place there at the time. Later he became a director of musical programming in the Rom language for Radio Television in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, and gained an international audience through his album releases on world music record labels such as Globe Style and Tropical.[1][2] He died in the early morning of 22 May 2023, at the age of 72.[3]

Discography

Albums
  • Ora i Coceci (Horas And Belly Dance Music) (1984), RTB[4]
  • Ferus Mustafov & His Guests: 1 + 4 (1989), Diskos[4]
  • Najgolemi Hitovi (Greatest Hits) (1993), Falcon[4]
  • King Ferus also known as Macedonian Wedding Soul Cooking (1995), Globe Style[5]
  • The Heat of Balkan Gypsy Soul (2002), Tropical[6]
  • Legends of Gypsy Music from Macedonia (2008), Arc[7]

Singles

Compilation appearances

References
  1. Harris, Craig. "King Ferus Mustafov Biography". allmusic. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  2. Burton, Kim (1994). untitled album sleeve notes for the album King Ferus. London, UK: Globe Style Records.
  3. "Ferus Mustafov, the king of the saxophone, has died". 22 May 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  4. unattributed. "FERUS MUSTAFOV (MACEDONIA) PRESENTAZIONE". Balkan World Music Management. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  5. unattributed. "King Ferus Mustafov Discography". allmusic. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  6. unattributed. "The Heat of Balkan Gypsy Soul". allmusic. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  7. unattributed. "Legends of Gypsy Music from Macedonia". allmusic. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  8. atlashunt (1978). "Ферус Мустафов* - Митино Коло". discogs. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
  9. Slavek (1997). "Various - Ring Ring 1996". discogs. Retrieved 23 November 2008.
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