Todor "Tose" Proeski (January 25, 1981 – October 16, 2007) was a famous Macedonian singer who was popular across the entire Balkan area. He is considered a top act of the music scene of Republic of Macedonia.Proeski collaborated with artists including Anja Rupel, Antonija Sola, Bora Corba, Karolina Goceva, Esma Redzepova, Gianna Nannini, Goca Trzan, Grigor Koprov, Jeff Beck, Tony Cetinski, Zeljko Joksimovic and other notable musicians. Prior to his death, he was a student in his final year in the solo singing department of the Skopje Music Academy. Proeski was known for his trademark quote "Ve sakam site" (I Love You All), and was called "Elvis Presley of the Balkans" by the BBC. He died in an automobile accident in Croatia on October 16, 2007
Proeski, was born in Prilep, Macedonia, to Dominika and Nikola Proeski from Krusevo, his hometown, where he spent most of his childhood. After his musical talent was discovered, at the age of 12 he was chosen to perform at the popular children's song festival "Zlatno Slavejce" in /b>Skopje This was his first public music performance; however, his successful career began in 1996 when he participated in the teenage music festival "Melfest" in Prilep.
Following this public exposure, he was awarded for his strong vocal capabilities. This led to his rise to fame when he participated in the music festival Makfest in Stip with the song "Pusti me"("Let me go") in 1997. His fanbase quickly grew and he continued to make use of festivals, such as SkopjeFest and OhridFest, as a platform for promotion and publicity. Proeski collaborated with one of Macedonia’s acclaimed lyricists and composers, Grigor Koprov, to produce some of the greatest hits of his career such as "Usni na Usni" ("Lips on Lips") and "Sonce vo Tvoite Rusi Kosi" ("The Sun in Your Golden Hair"). In 1999, he released his debut album, Nekade vo Nokta ("Somewhere in the Night"), which contained eleven tracks. In the summer of the same year, Proeski performed his first solo concert in Skopje.
In 2000, Proeski participated in the Eurovision pre-selection for Macedonia in SkopjeFest. He sang "Solzi Pravat Zlaten Prsten" ("Tears make a golden ring"), which won the televoting from the public but he finished third overall, behind Karolina Goceva and the winners XXL. During that period, he began recording the tracks for his second album, Sinot Bozji ("The Son of God"), which was promoted by the end of June 2000. The album brought some great hits, like "Nemir" ("Restless") (a duet with Karolina Goceva), "Vo Kosi da ti Spijam" ("Sleeping in Your Hair"), "Izlazi me Uste Ednas" ("Lie to Me One More Time"), as well as "Iluzija" ("Illusion") (Grand Prix at the festival Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk ) and "Tajno Moja" ("Secret of mine"). Two songs are composed by Kire Kostov (winning second prize at the festival Suncane Skale, held in Herceg Novi, now Montenegro).
The Serbian production house BK Sound purchased the rights to release Proeski's latest album in the other former Yugoslavian republics, which led to his victory of the Oscar of Popularity in those former republics for the year of 2000, and his sell-out shows in Skopje and Belgrade. Proeski embarked on an Australian tour along with other Macedonian singers in 2001.
After spending his time in recording studios in Athens, Greece, Proeski released his third album "Ako me poglednes vo oci" ("If You Look Into My Eyes") in Macedonian and Serbian. After the release, Proeski went on a tour throughout Macedonia doing intense promotion. He also went to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bulgaria for further promotion. Proeski won "Beovizija" in Belgrade on April 2003, with "Cija si" ("To whom do you belong?"), a song which became a huge hit in Macedonia and the other former republics
To improve his singing, Proeski took classes in New York from maestro William Riley, who was also coach to famous maestro Luciano Pavarotti. When he returned, Proeski held humanitarian concerts throughout the Republic of Macedonia. He was awarded with the Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award and in 2003 he became a Regional UNICEF Ambassador.
In 2004, MKTV chose Proeski to represent Macedonia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul, Turkey, and in February, he performed eight songs, where a jury, televote, and his own opinion chose the song. The song "Angel Si Ti” ("You’re an Angel”) was chosen by all three. In April, Proeski released his album "Den Za Nas" ("A Day For Us"), which was two CDs featuring the eight songs from the Eurovision selection. In May, Proeski finished 14th with the song "Life", which was the English version of "Angel Si Ti”. Prior to the contest he was popularised by reporters due to his tremendous opera singing ability, at his press conferences.
In 2004, Proeski was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and recorded the song "This World" which became the UNICEF Anthem. Proeski signed a contract with Dallas Records so his next album could be released in Croatia and Slovenia. To establish himself in these countries, Proeski recorded "Krajnje Vreme” with Slovenian singer, Anja Rupel. In 2005, Tose’s fifth album Po Tebe ("After You”) was released all over ex-Yugoslavia. Po Tebe, was one of the most successful Balkan albums ever. It topped music charts for months in the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bozilak ("Rainbow"), was a compilation of 14 selected traditional Macedonian songs. The artist was backed up by a symphony orchestra on the album.
His latest album 'Igri bez granici' (Macedonian title)/'Igra bez granica' (Croatian title) ("Game without borders") was released all over ex-Yugoslavia in August 2007.
Apart from songs in Macedonian and the Croatian language, he also recorded one song in Slovenian, "Moja" ("Mine") (2007)and one in the Italian language, "Aria" ("Air"), with Italian superstar Gianna Nannini. List of artist who collaborated with Proeski include Anja Rupel, Antonija Sola, Bora Corba, Karolina Goceva, Esma Redzepova, Gianna Nannini, Goca Trzan, Grigor Koprov, Jeff Beck, Tony Cetinski, Zeljko Joksimovic and other notable musicians. Prior to his death, he was a student in his final year in the solo singing department of the Skopje Music Academy.
Proeski also established himself as a songwriter. He wrote several hits for himself including "Ima Li Den Za Nas" ("Is There A Day For Us"), "Slusas Li" ("Can You Hear"), "Malecka" ("Little One") and "Polsko Cvekje" ("Field Flower"). In 2004, Proeski composed "Muza" ("Muse") which was a huge hit for Martin Vucic (Macedonian Eurovision Song Contest Representative, 2005), and went on the become the title track for the young artist's second album. In interviews, Proeski stated that he has written over 100 songs but was waiting for the right moments to record them as they were still in demo form.
On October 15, Proeski gave his final interview to the Macedonian Television Station Kanal 5. He talked about his intention to finish his Musical Academy studies, his search for his soul mate, and his new album in the works.
Tose's last concert was held October 5, 2007 for the Primary Education Project for USAID. The concert raised tens of thousands of euros for the primary schools of Macedonia. The concert was attended by over 20,000 people and viewed all over the world.
TDuring the early morning of 16 October 2007, around 6.20 am, Proeski died in a car accident on the Zagreb–Lipovac highway near Nova Gradiska, Croatia. He was a passenger along with his manager Ljiljana Petrovic in a Volkswagen Touareg driven by Gjorgji Gjorgjievski. The Touareg crashed into the back of a truck and then into the median barrier, killing Proeski instantly, crushing the third vertebrae of the neck, although the truck sustained no damage. Proeski was asleep in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash. Of the other two passengers, only the driver suffered serious injuries (head trauma).
Proeski's body arrived at midnight in Skopje by helicopter of the Macedonian army, and was transported by car to his home town Kru--evo. Grieving citizens gathered to pay their last respects at the airport and also in Skopje's city square. The Embassy of the United States of America, the USAID and the Diplomatic mission of the European Union published official statements on the death of Tose Proeski. October 17 was pronounced a national day of mourning in Macedonia. The three days following his death were pronounced days of mourning in the City of Krusevo.
After his death, the government of the Republic of Macedonia, gave him the title "Honorable citizen of Macedonia"
Proeski held humanitarian concerts throughout the Republic of Macedonia. He was awarded with the Mother Theresa Humanitarian Award and in 2003 he became a Regional UNICEF Ambassador.
Appointed as a National Ambassador in 2004, Tose Proeski fulfilled his position with passion and sincerity. He held numerous humanitarian concerts and fundraising events for children with disabilities and for the rehabilitation of the children’s clinic in Skopje. His personal commitment and charisma helped to increase the awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention among young people throughout the Balkans.
As the UNICEF National Ambassador he recorded a hit single “This World” together with the choir from Dimitar Vlahov, the school for children with visual impairments. The song became a hymn among children and a symbol of his dedicated effort to raise awareness about children.
Tose Proeski spirit of supporting children’s rights will live forever in the hearts of all, especially of children and young people.
