Birth name Malësor Prenkoçaj Genres Albanian folk music Years active 1998–present | Origin Podgorica Occupation(s) Singer Genre Music of Albania | |
Born July 17, 1977 (age 39)
Podgorica, Montenegro ( 1977-07-17 ) Website malesori.eu/Malesori.htm | ||
Malësor Prenkoçaj (born 17 July 1977), better known by his stage name Malësori, is a famous Albanian singer.
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Career
Prenkoçaj was born and raised in Podgorica, Montenegro to Albanian parents from Trieshi (Albanian region taken by Montenegro in 1876. from Albania which was under Ottoman empire by then-Malesia e Madhe).
Malësori's passion for Albanian music began as a child. At a young age he became a member of the prestigious folk group Besa (a rehash of the traditional Albanian Besa, where he blossomed into both a singer as well as an established instrumentalist of traditional instruments such as çiftelia and sharkia. Besa was one of the best folk groups in the region of Malesia e Madhe, and was led by his uncle Dodë Gjonaj, who was known as one of the best instrumentalists of the çiftelia.
Malësori rose to fame in 2003 after he performed the song "Kthehuni", which became a great hit among Albanian circles. The song broke away from the traditional folk songs which were popular at the time, establishing Malësori as one of the founders of modern Albanian folk music.
His popularity expanded to other Albanian-speaking areas in the region after contributing a great deal of time and money to newly independent Kosovo immediately after the war. Malësori led benefits supporting the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and many Kosovo Albanian figures, such as Adem Jashari, Zahir Pajaziti. He has also performed at benefits that raised money to feed poor Albanian families in the region.
Today, Malësori is widely known among Albanians across the globe, and has performed in Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, the U.S., Germany, and Australia. He now resides in Pristina, Kosovo and attends school at the University of Pristina.