ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

90th anniversary of the birth of the famous folk singer Kostadin Gugov

Костадин Гугов
Photo: архив БНТ

Today we remember the famous folk singer Kostadin Gugov. Born on 12 February 1935 in Sofia to a family of refugees from Kilkis in the geographical region of Macedonia in Greece, Kostadin Gugov is still celebrated as one of the most authentic interpreters of Macedonian folk songs.

"I was lucky to grow up with the songs of my mother, Yova Trapkova. She was singing everywhere, bringing joy in the house, and I was memorizing song after song...” 

His first singing teacher was his relative Vangel Traickov, who advised him to sing with ease and without tension. He gave him more songs to learn, some of which are Kazhi, Kazhi Stara le Babo (Tell me, tell me, old woman) and Dremka Mi Se Dreme (Sweet slumber). 

The accordionist Stefan Demirev discovered the amazing voice of Kostadin Gougov and the then 18-year-old singer appeared on stage and gave concerts at home and abroad with the best singers and instrumentalists of the time, including Boris Karlov, Mita Stoicheva, Atanaska Todorova, Boris Mashalov. 

An exciting part of his repertoire are his songs with historical themes Ako Umra il Zagina (If I Die or Perish) as well as his humorous songs such as Zaiko Kukurayko, Me Sakaya (Many asked for my hand) and others. Gradually Kostadin Gugov's repertoire took shape with songs from the whole ethnographic region of Macedonia - the Aegean, Vardar and Pirin - the original Bulgarian territories, now divided into three countries.

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria Music    folklore kostadin gugov macedonia music

More from category

Celebrating 14 February with Love and Wine

Love and Wine is the title of a song released by Bulgarian pop star Yordanka Hristova in 2023, a few days before 14 February.  On this day in Bulgaria we celebrate both love and wine, as 14 February is also the day of St Tryphon - the patron saint..

published on 2/14/25 8:15 AM

"I Love You" ‎with singer-songwriter Kristina Doncheva

Love – the main inspiration for many artists – gave Kristina Doncheva the impetus for her song "I Love You" . She is also the author of the music and the lyrics, which tell a very personal story.  The words came to Kristina back in 2018 in the..

published on 2/14/25 5:05 AM
Hristo Yotsov

Prof. Hristo Yotsov – between classical music and jazz, where stories can be felt

"A concert with original music is a wonderful way for a person to celebrate his birthday," one of the most eminent and creative jazz musicians on the Bulgarian scene, percussionist Hristo Yotsov, says with a smile. For the third..

published on 2/13/25 7:19 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 6
Cloudy
Min: 2 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 3 | Max: 8
Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 5
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 7
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 11
Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 8
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 6
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 8
Overcast, rain
Min: -1 | Max: 5
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -6 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 9
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 6
Cloudy
Min: -3 | Max: 7
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -5 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -4 | Max: 11
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -2 | Max: 9
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

Celebrating 14 February with Love and Wine

Love and Wine is the title of a song released by Bulgarian pop star Yordanka Hristova in 2023, a few days before 14 February.  On this day in..

published on 2/14/25 8:15 AM

Prof. Hristo Yotsov – between classical music and jazz, where stories can be felt

"A concert with original music is a wonderful way for a person to celebrate his birthday," one of the most eminent and creative jazz..

published on 2/13/25 7:19 PM

"I Love You" ‎with singer-songwriter Kristina Doncheva

Love – the main inspiration for many artists – gave Kristina Doncheva the impetus for her song "I Love You" . She is also the author of the music and the..

published on 2/14/25 5:05 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"