Mitar Mirić

Early life

Mirić was born in January 1957, into a family of ethnic Serbs (Bosnian Serbs) in the village of Bogutovo Selo near the town of Ugljevik in the northeastern part of SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia (modern-day Bosnia and Herzegovina). He finished secondary school in Ugljevik. He began his professional musical career in 1975 and moved to Serbia in 1976, where he lives since.

Musical career

He began his professional career in 1975 with the release of his first single, Od mene je ljubav jaca, on newly established Diskoton, based in Sarajevo, followed by another single, Kad se spusti tiho vece, on national record label PGP-RTB, based in capital Belgrade, in Serbia. In 1976 he moved to Serbia, and joined recording house Diskos based in Aleksandrovac. Diskos was among the major record labels of former Yugoslavia. He began singing in a Sremska Mitrovica restaurant. An important part in his success and career was Novica Urošević, who had written for Mitar from 1979 until 1997. Another important part was Branimir Đokić's orchestra which accompanied Mirić from 1979 to 1984, with whom he recorded four singles, and five albums.

For a concert in Croatia, Mirić has a fee of 3,000 €.

Reception and popular culture

His single "Ne može nam niko ništa" became a huge hit. When the Serbia national under-19 football team won the 2013 European Championship, Ne može nam niko ništa was sung by the players during celebration, and later a video was released in which some players were guests at Mitar Mirić's house where they together sung it to the accordion.

He is the favourite singer of Serbian footballer Duško Tošić, and his hit song has been sung by Bosnian Serb politician Milorad Dodik on cultural festivals, Croatian football coach Zdravko Mamić during a TV show and a wedding.

Personal life

He lives in central Belgrade, with his wife Suzana and daughter Sanja. He was involved in a car crash on 6 May 2005, in Orašje, in which his car stopped a few metres from a mine field. His kum was Novica Urošević, who died from alcoholism in 2009. He does not speak any English. His popular nickname "Tarmi Rićmi", derived from šatrovački slang used by Serbian youth, is widespread, and he has been spoofed by Straight Jackin' in their song "Tarmi Rićmi", as well as in Beovizija entry "Ring, ring, ring" by The Breeze. He is nicknamed "Djuro" by his friends.

He appeared on the Serbian reality show Dvor, in which he was one of the most popular contestants. He scuffled with Nemanja Nikolić during the show.

Awards