Himzo Polovina

Himzo Polovina (; 11 March 1927 – 5 August 1986) was a Bosnian singer and songwriter, and a sevdalinka (also known as Bosnian blues) artist. Polovina was a neuropsychiatrist by profession.

Biography Polovina was born on 11 March 1927 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His father, Mušan Polovina, was an Austro-Hungarian soldier during World War I. During his service in Ljubljana, he met and married Ivanka Hlebec, making Himzo Polovina the child of an ethnically mixed marriage between a Bosniak father and a Slovene mother.

Himzo was introduced to music and singing as a child. His father played the šargija and would often sing sevdalinka songs. As their father sang, Himzo and his siblings sang along in unison.

In the late 1930s, right before World War II broke out, Polovina was taught to play the violin by renowned Czech professor and violinist Karel Malaček.

From 1947 until he left for Sarajevo, he was a member of the folk ensemble "Abrašević", with whom he toured cities and villages across Yugoslavia. Polovina was married to a woman named Fikreta Medošević. They had a daughter Rubina and a son Edmir.

He died at the age of 59 from a heart attack while on vacation with his family in Montenegro, and was buried in the Bare Cemetery in Sarajevo.

Career In January 1953 he auditioned live for Radio Sarajevo. He performed the sevdalinka song "Mehmeda je stara majka karala" and was accepted. His cover of the Bosnian sevdalinka, Emina, is considered by many to be the best version of the song. His 1960s version featured added verses, which were written after the subject of the song, Emina Sefić, died in 1967. Upon hearing Emina's death, Polovina told poet Sevda Katica, who spoke the new verses.

Discography The following is the complete list of albums, singles and extended plays (EPs) released by Himzo Polovina: Tracks ReleasedStade se cvijeće bosom kititi Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi Gonđe ružo u zelenom sadu Pokraj kuće male Gonđe ružo u zelenom sadu Kad se Jangin iz Sokaka pomoli S one strane pive Otvor' vrata od hamama Telal viče Moj behare Pjesma o Mehmed-Paši SokolovićuOctober 1964Emina / Hasanagin Sevdah (Što te nema) Emina Hasanagin Sevdah (Što te nema)1964Azra Azra Meni draga sitna pisma piše Na prijestolju sjedi Sultan Lutaj, pjesmoOctober 1965Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi U lijepom starom gradu Višegradu Telal viče Pošetala Suljagina FataMay 1966Ehlimana Ehlimana Akšam Geldi Imam curu malenu Mila majko, šalji me na vodu Jutros prođoh kroz čaršiju Jesi li čula dušo? U Stambolu na Bosforu Sarajevo, divno mjesto Zaplakala stara majka Oj djevojko, džidžo moja Širi mjesec po Igmanu zrake Imal' jada Čije je ono djevojče Čudna jada od Mostara grada Mila majko šalji me na vodu Dunjaluče, golem ti si Voljelo se dvoje mladih Gonđe ružo U sutonu jedne proljetne noći Crne oči dobro glede Na put se spremam Tiha je noć1975Kradem ti se u večeri Kad ja pođoh na Bembašu Vino piju age Sarajlije Kradem ti se u večeri Sjećaš li se kad si lani Razbolje se lijepa Hajrija Pokraj vrela U Stambolu na Bosforu Oj djevojko Anadolko Djevojka je zelen bor sadila Ikindija Ja zagrizoh šareniku jabuku Emina U Trebinju gradu Izvi se Mujo na grade Kliknu vila sa vrha Porima Jasenice, nestalo ti gaza Dobro došli, kićeni svatovi Omere, prvo gledanje Poletjela dva goluba Ali-Paša na Hercegovini Mujagu majka budila Mehmed Paša tri cara služio Mila majko, šalji me na vodu Tamburalo momče uz tamburu Poljem se vija hajdar delija U lijepom starom gradu Višegradu Kad ja pođoh na Bembašu Otvor' vrata od hamana Karanfile, cvijeće moje Oj, djevojko, pod brdom Snijeg pade na behar, na voće Oj, bogati, siva ptico sokole Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi September 1984Magla pala od pola Saraj'va Magla pala od pola Saraj'va Ehlimana Pod Skočićem trava pogažena Meni draga sitna pisma piše Imam curu malenu Otputovah u daljine Okladi se momče i djevojče Pjesma o Mehmed-Paši Sokoloviću Pusti me, majko Laku noć Pokraj kuće male Komšinica Emina Stade se cvijeće rosom kititi Pošetala Suljagina Fata Jutros prođoh kroz Čaršiju Moj behare Lutaj, pjesmo Hasanagin Sevdah Na prijestolju sjedi Sultan Azra Telal viče Akšam geldi Voljelo se dvoje mladih Pod skočićem trava pogaženaunknown release dateNema lijepše cure / Pusti me, majko Nema lijepše cure Pusti me, majkounknown release date