Jadranka Stojakovic

Early life

Born in Sarajevo to a family of school teachers (her father Milan is from Doboj, her mother from Dalmatia), Stojakovic's first years were spent in a small village near Bosanski Novi where her parents got assigned to teach.

Her parents soon divorced and she moved with her mother to Sarajevo, before soon continuing on to Dubrovnik, Gradac na Moru, Vares, small towns which experienced shortages of primary school teachers where her mother would get work. They eventually settled in various villages around Sarajevo, which is where Stojakovic spent a notable part of her childhood.

Career

At the age of 16, Stojakovic joined her uncle Vukasin Radulovic's jazz group and performed with them throughout the country as well other parts of Europe (mostly Germany).

In 1981 she sang backing vocals with Ismeta Dervoz for Yugoslav representative Vajta at the 1981 Eurovision Contest in Ireland.

At the 1984 Winter Olympics, held in her native Sarajevo, she sang the official theme song of the Games. Around that time, she was awarded the prize for SFR Yugoslavia's best artist. She was among the country's most talented and admired singers and songwriters.

Stojakovic resided in Japan from 1988 until 2011 when she suffered an accident on stage, tripping over a cable during a concert, therefore suffering motor neuron disease. After receiving a small compensation for her injury, Stojakovic moved back to Bosnia and continues to battle the disability that potentially threatens her life. In addition, Stojakovic is in dispute with Bosnian officials to regain her property, an apartment in Sarajevo that was taken away from her while she was abroad. Nonetheless, she retains her positive attitude and is determined to compose and write more music.

Discography

1. Dawn, LP 8018, 18.06.1981., Diskoton, Sarajevo
2. To rest a little soul, LP 8052, 1982., Diskoton, Sarajevo
3. I love you more and more, LP 3149, 1985., Sarajevo, Sarajevo disk
4. I believe, LP 2122677 03.02.1987., Beograd, PGP RTB
5. Baby Universe, 1996, Croatia Records

In 1997, she performed the ending theme for Konami's video game, Vandal Hearts on the Sony PlayStation.