16 Facts About Laza Ristovski

Lazar Ristovski was born in Novi Pazar, as his father, a Yugoslav People's Army officer, was stationed there at the time.

When Ristovski was two years old, the family moved to Kraljevo, which is where he grew up.

Laza Ristovski formed his first band, Bezimeni, when he was fourteen.

Laza Ristovski was a replacement for their regular keyboardist Vlado Pravdic, who had to serve the mandatory army stint.

At the beginning of 1978, Laza Ristovski worked with the band Vatra, but eventually returned to Smak in late 1978.

In 1980, Laza Ristovski recorded the album Rok cirkus with Smak.

Laza Ristovski stayed in Bijelo Dugme until the band broke up in 1989, releasing the studio albums Pljuni i zapjevaj moja Jugoslavijo and Ciribiribela and the live album Mramor, kamen i zeljezo with the band.

In 1990, Laza Ristovski became a joined member of the heavy metal band Osvajaci, playing keyboards on and producing their debut album Krv i led.

In 1992, Laza Ristovski took part in Smak reunion, performing with them on one Kragujevac and three Belgrade concerts, the first Belgrade concert resulting in a live album OdLIVEno.

In 1993, Laza Ristovski released his first solo album since 1986, Quit.

Laza Ristovski died in Belgrade on 6 October 2007 following a long battle with multiple sclerosis.

Laza Ristovski played on more than thousand albums of rock, jazz and folk music.

At the beginning of the 1980s, Laza Ristovski was a member of Alvin Lee Band and played on their Yugoslav and Hungarian tour.

Laza Ristovski was one of Goran Bregovic's closest associates on Bregovic's early movie soundtrack projects.

Laza Ristovski was voted the best Yugoslav keyboardist for eleven years in a row by Yugoslav music magazines.

Laza Ristovski won the Golden Medal on the 36th and the 39th animated movie festival in Belgrade.