Luan Zhegu (; born 21 September 1949) is an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

distinguished singer and songwriter from Tirana.

Life and career

Luan Zhegu was born on 21 September 1949 in Tirana. His first steps into music at age 12, playing the nightingale in the

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, length of the work, and at face value, subject matter. Apart from its s ...

''Bilbili dhe kanarina'' ("The Nightingale and the Canary"), with music from Llazar Morcka. After playing a few other operettas during the time he left singing and focused on percussion, later playing the drums at age 17 for the Tirana Circus for two years. In 1969, after refusing to train as an officer he was sent in the marines, staying at the military base in Pasha Liman, near Orikum. There he created his first composition with an accordion, titled ''Vajza dhe deti'' ("The Girl and the Sea"). His first foray into Festivali i Këngës came in the 1975 edition, winning the second prize with the song ''Shokët'' ("The Friends"), with music by Shaqir Kodra and lyrics from Betim Muço. He participated in multiple editions of the competition both as a singer and as a composer, winning two first prizes as the latter in 1983 and 1998. The winning songs ''Vajzë moj, lule moj'' and ''Mirësia dhe e vërteta'' were performed by Tonin Tërshana and Albërie Hadërgjonaj respectively.

Selected songs

*''Kompozitori dhe fëmijët'' *''Bashkë me fëmijët'' *''A do të vish'' *''Kur jemi bashkë të dy'' *''Të dua ty'' *''E doni dashurinë'' *''Zemrat det i gjerë'' *''Vij drejt teje'' *''E parandjej'' *''Bashkë me vitet'' *''Djepi i trimërisë'' *''Kudo je ti'' *''Shokët'' *''Ditët që na presin'' *''Këngët e rinisë''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhegu, Luan 1949 births living people People from Tirana Musicians from Tirana Albanian singers Albanian songwriters 20th-century Albanian male singers 21st-century Albanian male singers Merited Artists of Albania