Podcast in English
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.

More from category

Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra to open new season with dazzling soloist Emanuil Ivanov and a sold-out hall

The National Philharmonic Orchestra and its chief conductor Nayden Todorov will open the 2025/2026 season on September 11 with two absolute classic hits: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 and Symphony No. 4 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – one of the..

published on 9/9/25 12:00 PM

Young Bulgarian singer Severin Georgiev releases third original song "Trace"

Although he gained media popularity mainly from his participation in the 10th season of the television format "The Voice of Bulgaria" and among more than 60 thousand followers on TikTok, the traces in the professional path of the young singer Severin..

published on 9/8/25 8:35 AM

''Sila'' and MONA's desire to make her music accessible to everyone

MONA is the stage name of Simona Petrova. Although very young, she has already traveled a long path from a shy child in her hometown of Kyustendil to a confident singer performing at competitions and music forums. Inspired by her great-grandmother, who..

published on 9/7/25 9:50 AM