Damir Kedžo
| Damir Kedžo | |
|---|---|
 Kedžo performing at the closing ceremony of tenth Ljeto na Gradini | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Damir Kedžo |
| Also known as | KEDZO |
| Born | 24 May 1987 |
| Origin | Omišalj, Croatia |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels |
Croatia Records (2003-2007) Menart (2007-2015) Unipop music (2015-) |
Damir Kedžo (born 24 May 1987, Omišalj, Croatia) is a Croatian pop singer. While he started his career in 2003 by participating in Story Super Nova Music Talent Show, he became even more famous in Croatia after winning the third season of Tvoje lice zvuči poznato, the Croatian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar.[1] He also performed in musicals.[2]
Biography
Damir Kedžo was born on May 24, 1987 in Omišalj. He finished musical school in Omišalj, and was singing in a church choir. When he was a child, besides singing, he wanted to be a gynecologist, but he gave up on that idea when signed up for the Story Super Nova Music Talent Show. Damir had a jaw surgery, because he couldn't speak or eat normally, and he had problems with pronunciation of words, which was importatnt for the profession he chose. After the surgery, he couldn't speak for a month, and the complete recovery took him three months, when he could chew normally again. He admitted that, after the surgery, he became a stronger person, and more confident in himself and his decisions.[2]
Career
He signed up for the Story Super Nova Show in 2003, where he excited the audience and the jury with his personality and attitude, and his song interpretations which took him into top 7. He was 16 at the time, and decided to compete in one of the most famous Croatian TV shows.[2]
A year after, in 2004, he became a part of the first Croatian boy band "Saša, Tin i Kedžo" along with Saša Lozar (winner of the second season of Tvoje lice zvuči poznato) and Tin Samardžić. The band sold their album “Instant” in 10.000 copies, and their biggest hit “365” was on the Croatian top for six weeks. In 2005, the band fell apart and Damir took a year break of his career.[2]
After he won an award for the best debuting artist with the song “Ki bi sad reke” in 2006 and the award for the best interpretation for the song “Kanet na vetru“ in 2007, he has seen his path in pop songs with elements of Italian canzone. That was visible in his song “Odlučio sam otići”.[2]
Damir has also appeared in Croatian performance of musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in double role, Benjamin and Potiphar. He had a great start in his acting career, he got awarded for great successes of young artists in operetta and musicals for the role of Hudi in musical "Crna kuća".[2]
In 2011, Kedžo applied for Dora 2011, Croatian national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.
2014 was a very successful year for Damir, he already sold two concerts in HKD Sušak.[2]
Biggest successes
He debuted in 2006 on MIK with the song “Ki bi sad reke” and won the best debuting artist award. In 2007, on MIK, he won the award for the best interpretation with the song “Kanet na vetru” and the first place of the juries. In 2008 he published his debuting album with his most popular songs “Sjećam se”, “Idem” and “Kažnjen u duši”. Year after on MIK, he won the second place of the jury and third place of the audience with the song “Peza od zlata”. In 2010. on a festival in Belarus “Slavianski Bazaar”, he won the Grand Prix, and on MIK in 2012, he won the best interpretation award with the song “Daj mi kapju vodi” and the first place of the juries. In 2015 he won on a Russian festival "New Wave". Since then, he started working on his songs in English. In 2016 Damir had one of his biggest concerts on International Women's Day in front of 3.500 people in Zamet Hall, Rijeka.[2]
In December 2016, Kedžo won the third season of Tvoje lice zvuči poznato (Croatian version of Your Face Sounds Familiar, the most watched Croatian TV Show). After a wide spectre of enjoyed performances (Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Britney Spears, Petar Grašo, Doris Dragović), he claimed the victory of the show as Mariah Carey.