Zlatko Arslanagić

Zlatko "Zlaja" Arslanagić (born 22 September 1964) is a retired Bosnian and Yugoslav musician, songwriter, composer and writer, best known as former member of the popular pop rock band Crvena Jabuka.

Arslanagić started his musical career in his home city Sarajevo in the early 1980s. In the first half of the decade, he took part in the activities of the New Primitivism subcultural movement, before forming Crvena Jabuka in 1985 with vocalist and guitarist Dražen Ričl, keyboardist Dražen Žerić, bass guitarist Aljoša Buha and drummer Darko Jelčić. The band's 1986 self-titled debut album was an instant commercial success. On 18 September 1986, while on their way to Mostar to hold the first concert on the album promotional tour, the band members were involved in a car accident which killed Dražen Ričl and Aljoša Buha. The three remaining members continued the group's activity, Arslanagić taking over the role of principal songwriter and the unofficial leader of the band. From 1987 to 1991, Crvena Jabuka enjoyed large popularity in Yugoslavia, the outbreak of Bosnian War in 1992 forcing them to end their activity. Arslanagić emigrated to London and eventually to Toronto, retiring from the scene.

In addition to his work with Crvena Jabuka, Arslanagić has written songs for a number of prominent Yugoslav artists, and has published a book of poems and a book of short stories.

Early life Born to Bosnian Muslim humorist father Sead "Šišalo" Arslanagić and Bosnian Croat mother Ljubica, young Zlatko grew up in the Sarajevo neighbourhood of Koševo. After completing primary education, he began attending the city's Druga Gimnazija for his high school studies. Dabbling in prose writing, poetry, and graphic design, the youngster further developed a hobby of coming up with fictional bands' record covers with elaborate sleeves and liner notes.

Career Early years (1981–1985) Arslanagić founded his first musical group, power pop band Ozbiljno Pitanje (Serious Question), with guitarist and vocalist Dražen Ričl "Para" and Saša Kontić. Simultaneously, the band members took an active role in the Sarajevo New Primitivism movement. On the day of the concert, the band members and their small entourage left Sarajevo on their way to Mostar in three cars: Arslanagić, Ričl and Buha were in Arslanagić's Zastava 750, keyboardist Žerić and drummer Jelčić were in Žerić's Volkswagen Golf Mk1, while employees of the Zenica-based Atlas company, the organizers of the tour, were in a Zastava 1500. During the following four years, he would write all the band's songs and direct the band's music videos. In 1991, he composed music for Bora Kontić's radio show Jazz Time, awarded on the Prix Futura festival in Berlin.

Legacy The lyrics of Crvena Jabuka songs "Za sve ove godine" and "Ima nešto od srca do srca" authored by Arslanagić were featured in Petar Janjatović's book Pesme bratstva, detinjstva & potomstva: Antologija ex YU rok poezije 1967 - 2007 (Songs of Brotherhood, Childhood & Offspring: Anthology of Ex YU Rock Poetry 1967 – 2007).

Discography With Crvena Jabuka Studio albums Crvena Jabuka (1986) Za sve ove godine (1987) Sanjati (1988) Tamo gdje ljubav počinje (1989) Nekako s proljeća (1991)

Live albums Uzmi me (kad hoćeš ti) (1990)