Prominent Croatian musician Dubravko Vorih passes away aged 59
- by croatiaweek
- in News
ZAGREB, 12 March 2019 – Prominent Croatian bass guitarist and composer Dubravko Vorih has passed away in Zagreb at the age of 59 after a short illness, the Croatian Musicians Union announced on Tuesday.
Vorih had been the bass guitarist for the popular Croatian band Prljavo kazalište for more than a decade.
“Doctors discovered Vorih had developed cancer last spring, while Prljavo kazalište was on their Australian and American tour. After returning to Zagreb, Prljavo kazalište prepared a spectacular concert on the occasion of the band’s 40th anniversary which Dubravko did not want to miss. He played at that concert in front of 25,000 fans, and he went to hospital the next day,” daily 24sata reported.
Vorih started his career in 1976 with the group Pro Futuro. He had a big love for blues and jazz music and besides playing in bands, was a mentor to countless young bass guitarists.
At the end of the 1970s, he was called the ‘Zagreb Jaco’ in reference to Jaco Pastorius, who was for many the greatest bass guitarist of all time. He played with the legendary American bassist Stanley Clarke in Zagreb at a jazz festival Clarke was a guest at.
Dubravko Vorih won the award for best bass guitarist in 1999.