Tonin Tërshana

Tonin Tërshana
Born(1949-06-01)June 1, 1949
Died22 September 2015(2015-09-22) (aged 66)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • actor
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals

Tonin Tërshana (Albanian pronunciation: [tɔˈnin təɾˈʃana]; 1 June 1949 – 22 September 2015) was an Albanian singer from Shkodër.[1] He was a frequent participant of Festivali i Këngës, having won 4 times, the second most in the competition after Vaçe Zela.[2]

Life and career

Tërshana was born on 1 June 1949 in Shkodër, under the then communist regime. His foray into music would start from a young age singing in competitions in Shkodër and Tirana.[3]

His first entry in Festivali i Këngës was in its fourth edition in 1965, where he would win first prize performing "Të dua o det", a song composed by Tonin Harapi with lyrics from Mark Gurakuqi.[4] After this win, he was barred from participating in the event in the future, his return being allowed only after an intervention from Petrit Dume.[5]

He returned in 1969 and would go on to participate in 18 different editions of the festival, performing 23 different songs and winning on 4 occasions (1965, 1971, 1972 and 1983).[6][7]

Among his most famous body of work are Të dua o det ("I Love You o Sea"), Kënga e nënës ("Mother's Song"), Kur vjen pranvera ("When Spring Comes"), Vajzë moj, lule moj ("O Maiden, o Flower"), Fishekzjarre në qiellin blu ("Fireworks in the Blue Sky"), Lumturia nuk dhurohet ("Happiness Is Not Gifted").[8]

Tërshana died on 22 September 2015 at the "Mother Teresa" Medical Center in Tirana after a long battle with cancer.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Tonin Tërshana ndërron jetë". gazetatema.net. September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  2. ^ "Tonin Tërshana". gazetavatra.com. September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  3. ^ "Tonin Tershana vdiq duke kenduar Erdh pranvera". shqiptarja.com. September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Festivali 4 i Këngës në Radio". rtsh.al. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  5. ^ "Tonin Tërshana: Vaçe Zela kishte pushtet, zgjidhte këngët që donte në festival". balkanweb.com. September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  6. ^ "Tonin Tërshana". teksteshqip.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "Fituesit". rtsh.al. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  8. ^ "Ndahet nga jeta këngëtari Tonin Tërshana, 3 javë më parë përfitoi banesën sociale". oranews.tv. September 22, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2023.