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Ana Popović ( sr-Cyrl, Ана Поповић, born May 13, 1976) is a
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
singer and guitarist from
Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
who currently resides in the United States.


Biography


Early life

Popović was born in 1976 in
Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...
. Her father (Milton Popović) introduced her to the
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
, and she started to play the guitar when she was fifteen.


Hush (1995–1998)

In 1995, she formed the band Hush with Rade Popović (guitar, vocals), Milan Sarić (bass guitar) and Bojan Ivković (drums). Hush performed
rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated within African American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predomina ...
, but also incorporated elements of funk and soul into their sound. The band had their first performance in the club Vox in Belgrade. During 1996, Hush performed across
Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...
, also performing in
Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...
. Thanks to their performance at the Marsoni Blues Festival in Senta, Hush got the invitation to perform at the Fifth International Blues, Jazz, Rock and Gastronomic Festival in
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
. A part of their performance was released on a live album which featured recordings from the festival. In 1996, Popović played
slide guitar Slide guitar is a technique for playing the guitar that is often used in blues music. It involves playing a guitar while holding a hard object (a slide) against the strings, creating the opportunity for glissando effects and deep vibratos that ...
on
Piloti Pilotis, or piers, are supports such as columns, pillars, or stilts that lift a building above ground or water. They are traditionally found in stilt and pole dwellings such as fishermen's huts in Asia and Scandinavia using wood, and in e ...
album ''Dan koji prolazi zauvek'' (''The Day that Is Passing Forever''). During 1998, Hush performed more than 100 times, playing in blues clubs and blues festivals. During the same year, they released their debut album, '' Hometown'', through
PGP-RTS PGP-RTS ( sr-Cyrl, Продукција грамофонских плоча Радио телевизије Србије, translit=Produkcija gramofonskih ploča Radio televizije Srbije ) is a major record label based in Belgrade, Serbia. It is ...
. The album was produced by Aleksandar Radosavljević, and featured Vojno Dizdar (
electric piano An electric piano is a musical instrument that has a piano-style musical keyboard, where sound is produced by means of mechanical hammers striking metal strings or reeds or wire tines, which leads to vibrations which are then converted into ele ...
and
Hammond organ The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond and John M. Hanert, first manufactured in 1935. Multiple models have been produced, most of which use sliding #Drawbars, drawbars to vary sounds. Until 1975, sound was created ...
), Petar "Pera Joe" Miladinović (
harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...
), Aleksandar Tomić (
tenor saxophone The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor and the alto are the two most commonly used saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B (whi ...
) and Predrag Krstić (
trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...
) as guests. Beside the band's own songs, ''Hometown'' also featured covers of
blues standard Blues standards are blues songs that have attained a high level of recognition due to having been widely performed and recorded. They represent the best known and most interpreted blues songs that are seen as standing the test of time. Blues s ...
s. In 1998, Popović went to
the Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
to study
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
guitar, and Hush disbanded.


Solo career (1999–present)

In 1999, Popović formed the Ana Popović Band in the Netherlands. In 2000, she appeared, alongside
Eric Burdon Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer and songwriter. He was previously the lead vocalist of the rhythm and blues, R&B and Rock music, rock band The Animals and the funk band War (band), War. He is regarded as one of the Br ...
,
Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal ( ; ; ) is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal Empire, Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his belo ...
,
Buddy Miles George Allen "Buddy" Miles Jr. (September 5, 1947February 26, 2008) was an American composer, drummer, guitarist, vocalist and producer. He was a founding member of the Electric Flag (1967), a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys (1969–19 ...
, Double Trouble,
Eric Gales Eric Gales (born October 29, 1974), also known as Raw Dawg, is an American blues rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. Gales has recorded 19 albums for major record labels and has done session and tribute work. He has also co ...
and others, on the
Jimi Hendrix James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Inducted ...
tribute album ''Blue Haze: Songs of Jimi Hendrix'' with a cover of the song "Belly Button Window". In 2001, she released her solo debut, '' Hush!'', through the
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
label
Ruf Records Ruf Records is a German independent record label, which was founded in 1994 by Luther Allison’s manager, Thomas Ruf, to promote Allison's career. The motto of the blues label is "Where Blues Crosses Over". The company's office is located in L ...
. The album was recorded in
Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Mem ...
, with the members of Ana Popović Band, as well as studio musicians. It was produced by Jim Gaines, who previously worked with
Carlos Santana Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán (; born July 20, 1947) is an American guitarist, best known as a founding member of the Rock music, rock band Santana (band), Santana. Born and raised in Mexico where he developed his musical background, he r ...
,
John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues that he develo ...
,
Alexis Korner Alexis Andrew Nicholas Koerner (19 April 1928 – 1 January 1984), known professionally as Alexis Korner, was a British blues musician and radio broadcaster, who has sometimes been referred to as "a founding father of British blues". A major i ...
and others. The album featured
Bernard Allison Bernard Allison (born November 26, 1965) is an American blues guitarist and singer, based in Paris, France. Biography Allison was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States. His father, Luther Allison, was a Chicago blues musician. Allison moved ...
as guest. The album saw large success, so Popović left her guitar studies, and dedicated herself to performing. In 2003, Popović released her second album, ''
Comfort to the Soul ''Comfort to the Soul'' is Ana Popović's second studio album, released on October 7, 2003 on Ruf. The album was recorded in Memphis and produced by Jim Gaines. The album consists of five songs by Popović and six covers, showcasing not just the ...
''. The album, recorded in Memphis and produced by Gaines, featured a fusion of blues,
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...
, soul and jazz. During the same year, on the Rhythm & Blues Festival in Belgium, she was invited by
Solomon Burke Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke (born James Solomon McDonald, March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was an American singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s. He has been called ...
to join him on stage, after which she joined him on the rest of the tour as a guest. In 2005, Popović released a live album and DVD entitled ''
Ana! Live in Amsterdam ''Ana! Live in Amsterdam'' is Ana Popović's first concert video and live album, with the video released on May 31, 2005, and the album released on July 26, 2005. The album is not pure blues but showcases modern and cross-border blues with rock, ...
'', recorded on January 30, 2005, on her concert in Amsterdam club Melkweg. In 2007, Popović released the album ''
Still Making History ''Still Making History'' is Ana Popović's third studio album, released on June 19, 2007 on Eclecto Groove Records, her debut album in the US and on her new label, produced by Grammy winning producer John Porter. The album explores the differen ...
'' through the American record label Eclecto Groove Records. In 2009, she released the album '' Blind for Love'', and in 2011 the album '' Unconditional'' through the same label. Both ''Still Making History'' and ''Unconditional'' reached number one in the United States ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' Blues chart. In 2012, Popović moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and a few years later relocated to Los Angeles, California. Popović's ninth album, '' Can You Stand the Heat'', was released in April 2013 through ArtisteXclusive records. The album, produced by Tony Coleman, was recorded with John Williams on bass guitar, Harold Smith on rhythm guitar, Frank Ray Jr. on organ and Tony Coleman on drums. Popović performed at the 2013
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (commonly called Jazz Fest or Jazzfest) is an annual celebration of local music and culture held at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. Jazz Fest attracts thousands of vi ...
, where she introduced a new project: a nine-piece band under the name Ana Popovic & Mo' Better Love. In September 2013, Popović signed with Monterey International booking agency. In 2014, she was nominated for a
Blues Music Award The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, " ...
in the Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year category. Popović released a triple album titled ''
Trilogy A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of ...
'' on May 20, 2016. The album includes multiple guests, including
Joe Bonamassa Joseph Leonard Bonamassa ( ; born May 8, 1977) is an American blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He started his career at age twelve, when he opened for B.B. King. Since 2000, Bonamassa has released fifteen solo albums through his inde ...
, Robert Randolph, Cody Dickinson (
North Mississippi Allstars North Mississippi Allstars is an American blues and southern rock band from Hernando, Mississippi, founded in 1996. The band is currently composed of brothers Luther Dickinson (guitar, lowebow, vocals) and Cody Dickinson (drums, keyboards, elec ...
),
Bernard Purdie Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul, funk and jazz musician. He is known for his precise time-keeping and his signature use of Tuplet, triplets against a half-time backbeat: the P ...
, and rapper
Al Kapone Alphonzo Jerome Bailey (born November 5, 1971), better known by his stage name Al Kapone, is an American rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. Al Kapone is known principally for his underground success in the Memphis hip hop scene in the 1990s, and h ...
. Popović released her next studio album, ''
Like It on Top ''Like It on Top'' is Ana Popović's eighth studio album, released on September 14, 2018 on ArtisteXclusive records. The album is a concept album which explores ten different aspects of female empowerment. The album was recorded in Nashville, Te ...
'' on September 14, 2018. The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, and produced by
Keb' Mo' Kevin Roosevelt Moore (born October 3, 1951), known as Keb' Mo', is an American blues musician. He is a singer, guitarist and songwriter, living in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been described as "a living link to the seminal Delta blues that tra ...
. In late 2020, Popović was diagnosed with breast cancer, but continued to perform live, and also worked on her new album in between medical treatments. On May 5, 2023, Popović released ''Power'', her first studio album in five years.


Awards and honors

* 2002 Nominated for Best Singer, Best Guitarist, and Best Album at the French Blues Awards * 2003 First European nominated for Best New Artist Debut at the W.C. Handy Awards * 2003 Nominated for Best Blues Album at the Jammie Awards * 2004 Winner of the Jazz a Juan Revelation award in
Juan-les-Pins Juan-les-Pins (; ) is a town in the commune of Antibes in the Alpes-Maritimes department in Southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera, it is situated between Nice and Cannes, to the southwest of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport. Juan-les-Pins ...
, France. * 2006 Nominated for Best Blues DVD (2005), Best Live Performer, Best Female Blues Artist, and Most Outstanding Musician (guitar) at the Living Blues Awards * 2007 Nominated for Blues Artist of the Year, BluesWax 2007, U.S. * 2010 Nominated for Best Overseas Artist at the British Blues Awards * 2011 Winner of Best Blues DVD at the Blues Matters Awards, UK * 2012 Nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album (''Unconditional''), Best Contemporary Blues Female Artist, and Best DVD at the 33rd
Blues Music Award The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, " ...
s * 2014 Nominated for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, Blues Music Awards


Discography

* '' Hometown'' (1998) as Hush * '' Hush!'' (2001) * ''
Comfort to the Soul ''Comfort to the Soul'' is Ana Popović's second studio album, released on October 7, 2003 on Ruf. The album was recorded in Memphis and produced by Jim Gaines. The album consists of five songs by Popović and six covers, showcasing not just the ...
'' (2003) * ''
Still Making History ''Still Making History'' is Ana Popović's third studio album, released on June 19, 2007 on Eclecto Groove Records, her debut album in the US and on her new label, produced by Grammy winning producer John Porter. The album explores the differen ...
'' (2007) * '' Blind for Love'' (2009) * '' Unconditional'' (2011) * '' Can You Stand the Heat'' (2013) * '' Blue Room'' (2015) with Milton Popović * ''
Trilogy A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of ...
'' (2016) * ''
Like It on Top ''Like It on Top'' is Ana Popović's eighth studio album, released on September 14, 2018 on ArtisteXclusive records. The album is a concept album which explores ten different aspects of female empowerment. The album was recorded in Nashville, Te ...
'' (2018) * ''Power'' (2023)


DVD

* ''
Ana! Live in Amsterdam ''Ana! Live in Amsterdam'' is Ana Popović's first concert video and live album, with the video released on May 31, 2005, and the album released on July 26, 2005. The album is not pure blues but showcases modern and cross-border blues with rock, ...
'' (2005) * '' An evening at Trasimeno Lake'' (2010) * ''
Live for Live ''Live for Live'' is Ana Popović's third concert video and live album, recorded during the Festival de Guitares d'Issoudun in Issoudun, France, at the Centre Culturel Albert Camus on November 2, 2019 and released on May 15, 2020. Popović's tour ...
'' (2020)


References


External links


Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Popovic, Ana 1976 births Living people Musicians from Belgrade Serbian blues guitarists Serbian blues singers Serbian emigrants to the United States Serbian expatriates in the Netherlands Serbian women guitarists 20th-century Serbian women singers Serbian rock guitarists Serbian rock singers Serbian women rock singers Serbian singer-songwriters Serbian women singer-songwriters Singers from Belgrade Yugoslav expatriates in the Netherlands Serbian expatriates in the United States 21st-century Serbian women singers Ruf Records artists 21st-century women guitarists English-language singers from Serbia 21st-century Serbian guitarists