Željko Šašić

Željko "Žeki" Šašić (; born 31 October 1969) is a Serbian turbo-folk singer and musician. Active since 1994, he has released eight studio albums and become one of the prominent figures in Serbian folk music. In late 2013, he competed in the first season of the Serbian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar. After the 12 weeks, he claimed 7th place, but was a public favourite, with a wide spectre of enjoyed performances as Aca Lukas, Bijelo Dugme, Riblja Čorba, Snežana Babić Sneki and many more.

Early life and career Željko Šašić was born on 31 October 1969 in Zemun, Belgrade, then part of SFR Yugoslavia. He began his professional music career in 1994 with the release of his debut album Gori more, recorded with the Futa band and released by Lucky Sound.

The album's title track "Gori more" became an immediate hit, along with other songs including "A tebe nema," "Crna ženo," and "Ima dana i kafana." The album also featured a notable duet with Ceca Ražnatović titled "Ko na grani jabuka," which achieved significant success.

Musical career

1995-1999: Early success In 1995, Šašić released his second album Na istoj talasnoj dužini,

During the competition, Šašić gained widespread acclaim for his versatile performances. His imitation of Aca Lukas was particularly successful, winning the fourth episode and earning €1,000 for children's oncology charity. Lukas himself praised the performance, calling it "šmekerski" (cool/slick).

Other notable performances included imitations of Željko Bebek (Bijelo Dugme), members of Riblja Čorba, Snežana Babić Sneki, and Zvonko Bogdan. Despite finishing 7th overall, fellow contestants including Nenad Knežević Knez, Aleksa Jelić, and Goca Tržan expressed disappointment that he didn't reach the finals, with Knez stating that Šašić's "character and work were one of the essential imitations of this show." This special edition featured contestants from previous seasons competing as pairs. Šašić was teamed with Knez, forming Team 5.

Throughout the season, Šašić showcased his imitation skills once more, with their team achieving considerable success. Team 5 ultimately placed second in the season finale.

Other television appearances Šašić has appeared on various programs on Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), including "Na večeri kod" (2022) and "Leto u Srbiji."

Musical style and influence Šašić is recognized as a prominent figure in the Serbian turbo-folk genre, which emerged in the 1990s as a fusion of traditional Serbian folk music with contemporary pop and electronic elements. His work is situated within the broader context of newly composed folk music that has been extensively studied by ethnomusicologists.

Personal life Šašić was married to Sonja Šašić from 1994 to 2007. His music is also available on Apple Music and other international platforms. He maintains an official Instagram account and YouTube channel