Europes Greatest Singer Tose Proeski | Macedonia

OK, this is quite a claim to make but just mention his name anywhere in the Balkans and you'll see what we mean. Proeski was born in Prilep and grew up in Kruševo as the son of an Aromanian family. After his musical talent was discovered at the age of 12, he was chosen to perform at the popular children's song festival Zlatno Slavejče (eng.: Golden Nightingale) in Skopje, performing the song "Јаs i mојоt dеdо" in Aromanian language.[6][7][8] This was his first public music performance; however, his successful career began in 1996 when he participated in the teenage music festival Melfest in Prilep.

Superstardom
After spending his time in recording studios in Athens, Greece, Proeski released his third album "Ako me Pogledneš vo Oči" ("If You Look into My Eyes") on October 2002 in Macedonian and Serbian. After the release, Proeski went on a tour throughout Macedonia doing intense promotion. He also went to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria for further promotion. Proeski won Beovizija in Belgrade on April 2003, with "Čija Si" ("To Whom Do You Belong?"), a song which became a huge hit in Macedonia and the other former republics. This song was due to represent Serbia and Montenegro in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 but the EBU stated that too many countries wanted to enter in that year and so some would be forced to withdraw. Serbia and Montenegro (who participated as one country at the time) were one of them.

During the early morning of 16 October 2007, at approximately 6:20 a.m., Proeski died in a car accident on the Zagreb–Lipovac highway near Nova Gradiška, Croatia. He was a passenger along with his manager Ljiljana Petrović in a Volkswagen Touareg driven by Georgij Georgijevski. The Touareg crashed into the back of a truck and then into the median barrier, killing Proeski instantly, crushing the third vertebrae of his neck, although the truck sustained no damage. Proeski was asleep in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash. Of the other two passengers, only the driver suffered serious injuries (head trauma). His longtime girlfriend Andrijana Budimir is an international handball player.

Proeski's body arrived at midnight in Skopje by helicopter of the Macedonian army, and was transported by car to his home town of Kruševo. Grieving citizens gathered to pay their last respects at the airport and also in Macedonia Square. The Embassy of the United States of America, the USAID and the Diplomatic mission of the European Union published official statements on the death of Toše Proeski.[12][13][14] 17 October was pronounced a national day of mourning in Macedonia.[2] The three days following his death were pronounced days of mourning in the City of Kruševo.[15]

After his death, the government of the Republic of Macedonia, gave him the title "Honorable citizen of Macedonia

State funeral

Toše's grave in Kruševo has become a pilgrimage point
The government organized an official state funeral[16] for Proeski, which was held 17 October 2007 in his home town of Kruševo, including military honour ceremonies by the Honor Guard Unit of the Macedonian army, such as an honor guard, a military orchestra and an honorary rifle salute. The funeral, which was broadcast by the national Macedonian TV was attended by many domestic and foreign delegations, including the President Branko Crvenkovski, the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, members of the Macedonian Parliament and its President Ljubiša Georgievski and other high-ranking officials, the US and the EU Ambassadors Gillian Milovanovic and Erwan Fouéré and other diplomats, representatives of the Red Cross, the USAID and other organizations, sport clubs etc. Since his death, each year on 25 January Mile Stojkoski as a symbol of grief and respect runs a marathon in his wheelchair from Prilep to Proeski's grave in Krushevo. Since 2008 Stojkoski run an additional long distance marathon starting from Krushevo in honor of Toše Proeski. These two notable Macedonians both received the Mother Teresa Award for their humanitarian accomplishments and shared a close friendship.

[Rosana]

Tose Proeski was an enigma when he was still with us and is an even bigger enigma now that he is no longer with us. The Balkans were never the same after Toše left, Toše was and is something so big, unique and special that it is impossible to describe it with words, one can only say Tose is Tose and will be remembered eternaly for his loving humanity, beauty and it's greates vocal and musical talent ever walked on our planet.

[hoagiemcgee]

I am familiar with Proeski's music and yes he was every bit the Elvis of the Balkans.

[velasiljanovska]

He was the best and he is still the best

[KatEchelon]

I will never forget Tose. He loved his country and gave his love for it!!! He did a lot for the country that he loved so much. He’s an angel that’s why God wanted to take him away too soon. Tose you are loved and never forgotten ❤️❤️❤️

[sebastiaanm]

Toshe will stay for ever in my heart. He was talented

[zoltocrvena]

Humanost, cesnost, iskrenost, vonseriski talent, vernost...ova se malkute moralni karakteristiki so koi bese nakiten negoviot karakter, zatoa bil i ke ostane EDINSTVEN!!!
One and Only !

[chadbinkly]

I recall this horrible day.  He was very talented and loved in that part of the world.

[jayfreedmad]

Wow, he must have been quite famous and loved during his all to short life.

[naummihajlovski]

Tose Proeski died in a car crash on October 16th 2007 in Nova Gradishka, Croatia... He was buried in Krushevo, Macedonia, on October 17th 2007. Between 2006-2007, Tose had recorded few songs on English language in Jamaica, England, Ireland and Sweden... Before he died, he should've go in London in November 2007 to finish his English studio album, collaborating with world music producer from UK - Andy Wright, who also collabed with Simple minds, Eurythmics, Simply Red, Luciano Pavarotti and many other famous music stars from across the world, in the Methropolis studio... One of his greatest international (poshthumously released) hits are: Aria fr. Italian Rock star Gianna Nannini; The Hardest Thing; Guilty; Forever in a day; My little one; Light the Flame; Secret Place and others...
His 8th (sadly, final) studio album, titled as "The Hardest Thing" would have launch his international carrier and achievements... Which means, he has passed, just a month before he actually become a world pop star... His song "The Hardest Thing" was on a world premier, in 2008 - posthumously, on the MTV Adria... On January 25th, 2009 his English album "The Hardest Thing" was poshthumously released, on the territories of former Yugoslavia, but also reached out to other countries as well, like Britain, U.S.A., Sweden, Ireland - although it didn't come up to success, since he died already... His English album was his 8th and final studio album, and the first album to be poshthumously released... His second English album "Secret Place" was poshthumously released in 2018 with previously unreleased and new songs, including the duet "When I've got the sunlight" ft. Rebecca Poole Purdy, and Tose's nephew song "We are blood" (by Kristijan Risteski). Tose Proeski was also supposed to make a duet with the mega pop star Beyonce Knowles, and the great opera singer Andrea Bocelli... Proeski, also had the honor to record his songs in Pavarotti's studio, for his English album, which would've brought him a world wide fame and popularity, as it was supposed to, according to the plan, releasing the album in London, on a world wide trending... The world doesn't know him well, and that's sad... The Balkans still can't believe to this day, what they've lost... Unfortunately all those dreams & ambitions, Toshe had desired have, never been realised, since he tragically died in a horrible car accident, on his way to Zagreb, Croatia to promote his 7th studio album "Igra bez granica" (Games beyond borders - 2007) which was a total masterpiece, and also to make two video spots... He died on his way... No one knows, was it truly a traffic accident, or a murder... But he is gone already... His music can only now make us remember him again... Without doubt, Tose Proeski would've also hold concerts in Wembley as well and be considered as one of the world's best vocals that have ever appeared, and an artist of the upcoming decade (2010s). Thoes are still just dreams, and not a reality... Each year on 5th October (in 2007, he held his last humanitarian concert in Skopje, Macedonia), there's a new song released, attending the ceremony "Star sky for Tose" (Sвездено небо за Тоше), although that ceremony is now over, since 2017. Wayne Hector also worked with him, throughout Toshe's final years and hard work...
RIP our brightest angel...
(Jan. 25th, 1981 - Oct. 16, 2007).

[emmacosabic]

I was 4 years old when his death happend I am now 12 and I still honor him and forever will listen to his music. Ja volim tebe ~Emma❤️

[lizzylewis]

This makes me want to research Tose Proeski so I can listen to his music.

[darjailic]

We love You Toški - greet from Slovenija!

[jennasimpson]

The people in that area must have really loved him.  So sad.

[KatEchelon]

You wouldn’t know I still cry 2019. He was an angel still is!

[harveybennett]

It is so hard to understand why when a life like that is cut short.

[brucechoo]

I love music from all over the world.  I would be very interested to learn about Proeski's music.

[passthejavaplz]

How sad the tragic and unexpected ending to his life. I love the museum that has been built in his honor.

[igormiguelgarciapairik]

Happy Birthday Tose for your 34th!
R.I.P

[Nata-Nesa]

Selena, Aaliyah, Toše... it seems like God always takes the best ones away so soon😥He will ALWAYS live in our hearts. His voice is the best and will never be replaced❤️🇲🇰

[MiljanAdzic]

For anyone who loves Tose I got only one task. Listen his "Zajdi zajdi" song...