Macedonian pop star Tose Proeski, a hugely popular singer in the Balkans, has died in a car crash in Croatia.
Macedonian pop star Tose Proeski, a hugely popular singer in the Balkans, has died in a car crash in Croatia.
His fan base rivals that of Elvis Presley in the Balkans. He sang for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest.
Proeski sang for Macedonia in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest and won many awards in former Yugoslavia.
Police said the 26-year-old's car was in a collision with a lorry on a motorway near the eastern Croatian town of Nova Gradiska.
Police said the 26-year-old's car was in a collision with a lorry on a motorway near the eastern Croatian town of Nova Gradiska.
Two other people were hurt. Proeski won many awards in Balkan song contests.
In the Macedonian capital Skopje people wept in the streets. A day of national mourning will be held on Wednesday.
Reuters news agency says that in the Macedonian capital Skopje many people wept after hearing the news and a day of national mourning was called for Wednesday.
Local radio stations started playing Proeski's songs back-to-back.
Local radio stations started playing Proeski's songs back-to-back.
"We all have been blessed with such a great singer and with his immense soul filled with love," Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said.
"Macedonia and the Balkans lost an angel," said the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Archbishop Stefan.
Two other people in Proeski's car were injured.
Balkan fame
Proeski started his career aged 15, releasing his first album at 18.
When the car crashed Proeski was asleep in the passenger seat
He had several number one hits in four former Yugoslav republics - Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia.
Among Proeski's hits were Cija Si (Whose Are You?) and Ako me poglednes vo oci (If You Look Me In The Eyes).
He sang both in Macedonian and in Serbian and was seen as a bridge between people in a region often divided by ethnic hatreds, correspondents say.
What is your reaction to the death of Tose Proeski? Send us your comments with the form below:
