Gabi Novak, First Lady of Croatian Popular Music, Dies

(Patria) - Renowned Croatian singer Gabi Novak has died at the age of 89.

She was born on July 8, 1936, in Berlin, where she spent part of her childhood. She then moved with her family to Hvar, and later to Zagreb. There, she completed the School of Applied Arts, majoring in graphic design, and briefly worked as a draftswoman at Zagreb Film, in the Animation Studio.

In the late 1950s, she began performing, and her distinctive voice quickly made her one of the most beloved singers of the Yugoslav music scene at the time. Her repertoire included pop and jazz, and she gained great popularity and critical acclaim during the 1960s.

Her first marriage was to composer Stipica Kalogjera. After their divorce in 1970, she married singer-songwriter Arsen Dedić on March 30, 1973, who was her husband and artistic collaborator until his death in 2015. They had a son, Matija Dedić, a prominent jazz pianist.

Gabi Novak was often called the First Lady of Croatian popular music, and her interpretation, emotional expression, and artistic standard left a lasting mark on the musical heritage of Croatia and the wider region.