Delfini (Zagreb band)

Delfini were formed in Zagreb in 1963 by Zdenko Rujan (vocals), Rajmond Ruić (bass guitar), Mladen Šurina (guitar), Branimir Baković (rhythm guitar), Velimir Neidhard (drums) and Vladimir Stošić (keyboards).[1] The band had their debut performance in Gavella Drama Theatre, and soon started to perform regularly on dances.[1]

On the 1964 competition of bands in Zagreb they won the second place, Crveni Koralji winning the first.[1] In 1966 the band appeared on the Zagreb Music Festival, becoming the third rock band (after Bijele Strijele and Crveni Koralji) to appear on this festival of popular music.[1] In the autumn of the same year Šurina and Stošić were replaced by guitarist Nikola Sarapa (formerly of Zlatni Akordi) and keyboardist Petko Katrandžijev (formerly of Bezimeni).[1] ' The new lineup of the band recorded their debut record, the EP Gloria, released in 1967 through Jugoton.[1] The title track was a cover of Them song "Gloria".[1] The EP also featured the song "Noćas kad si otišla" ("This Night after You Left") written by Baković, a cover of James Brown song "I'll Go Crazy" and a cover of Macedonian traditional song Kaleš bre Anđo.[1] During the same year, under the name The Delfinis, the band released a split EP with Crveni Koralji for the Belgian record label Benelux International. The EP featured Crevni Koralji's song "Napoli Guitar" and Delfini's cover of "Gloria".[1] In 1967 the band also had success with their performances on Zagreb and Opatija music festivals. Their second EP, released during the same year, featured the song "Ne pitaj me ništa" ("Ask Me Nothing"), performed on the Zagreb Music Festival, as the title track. The song was composed by Ruić and featured lyrics by poetess Maja Perfiljeva.[1] The EP also featured the songs "Najljepši dan" ("The Most Beautiful Day"), written by Ivica Krajač and Nikica Kalogjera, "Bebel", written by Krajač and dedicated to Jean-Paul Belmondo, and "Najljepša kuća na prodaju" ("The Most Beautiful House for Sale"), a cover of The Kinks' "Most Exclusive Residence for Sale".[1]

Despite their successes, the group disbanded in 1967, as the band members wished to dedicate themselves to other activities.[1]

After Delifini's disbandment, Juran started working as a music manager.[1] Ruić moved to the band Roboti, later started a career of a successful pop composer, and eventually moved to Australia.[1] Neidhart became a professor on the Zagreb Faculty of Architecture.[1] Baković became an art photographer.[1] Katrandžijev worked as a composer, sound engineer and a producer.[1] Sarapa played in clubs, and in 1978 formed the band Stop.[1]

• Gloria (1967)
• Ne pitaj me ništa (1967)

• "Napoli Guitar" / "Gloria" (with Crveni Koralji, 1967)