Ana Popovic
Encyclopedia
Ana Popović is a Serbian blues
guitarist
and singer.
, through an extensive record collection and sessions hosted at the family home. Popović founded her first band at age nineteen. Within a year, she was playing outside of her home county Yugoslavia and opening shows for American blues musicians such as Junior Wells
. Her band, Hush, released the album Hometown in 1998. The next year, Popović relocated to Amsterdam
, Netherlands
, to study jazz
and world
guitar at the Conservatory. In 2000, Popović formed the 'Ana Popovic Band' that became a fixture on the Dutch blues scene, and ventured into neighboring Germany. Popović signed with the German based Ruf Records, and released three albums; Hush! (2001), Comfort to the Soul (2003) and Ana! (2005: live CD & DVD).
In 2003, Popović was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award in the United States
.
In 2006, Popović signed a recording contract
with the Los Angeles
, California
, based EclectoGroove Records (a division of Delta Groove Music.) For EclectoGroove she recorded a further three albums: Still Making History (2007), Blind For Love (2009) and Unconditional (2011). Both Still Making History and Unconditional reached number one in the United States Billboard
Blues Chart.
Today, Popović and her four-piece band are booked all over the globe, playing major blues / jazz and rock festivals. She has shared a stage with B.B. King, Buddy Guy
, Solomon Burke
, Jonny Lang
, Sonny Landreth
, Ronnie Earl
, Koko Taylor
and Robert Cray
.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer.
Biography
Ana Popović's father first introduced her to the bluesBlues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, through an extensive record collection and sessions hosted at the family home. Popović founded her first band at age nineteen. Within a year, she was playing outside of her home county Yugoslavia and opening shows for American blues musicians such as Junior Wells
Junior Wells
Junior Wells , born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was an American Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist...
. Her band, Hush, released the album Hometown in 1998. The next year, Popović relocated to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, to study jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and world
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
guitar at the Conservatory. In 2000, Popović formed the 'Ana Popovic Band' that became a fixture on the Dutch blues scene, and ventured into neighboring Germany. Popović signed with the German based Ruf Records, and released three albums; Hush! (2001), Comfort to the Soul (2003) and Ana! (2005: live CD & DVD).
In 2003, Popović was nominated for a W. C. Handy Award in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In 2006, Popović signed a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, based EclectoGroove Records (a division of Delta Groove Music.) For EclectoGroove she recorded a further three albums: Still Making History (2007), Blind For Love (2009) and Unconditional (2011). Both Still Making History and Unconditional reached number one in the United States Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Blues Chart.
Today, Popović and her four-piece band are booked all over the globe, playing major blues / jazz and rock festivals. She has shared a stage with B.B. King, Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy
George "Buddy" Guy is an American blues and jazz guitarist and singer. He is a critically acclaimed artist who has established himself as a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, and has served as an influence to some of the most notable musicians of his generation...
, Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke
Solomon Burke was an American singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, mortician, and an archbishop of the United House of Prayer For All People. Burke was known as "King Solomon", the "King of Rock 'n' Soul", and as the "Bishop of Soul", and described as "the Muhammad Ali of soul", and as "the most...
, Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang
Jonny Lang is a Grammy award-winning American blues, gospel, and rock singer, songwriter and recording artist. Lang's music is notable for both his unusual voice, which has been compared to that of a forty-year-old blues veteran, and for his guitar solos...
, Sonny Landreth
Sonny Landreth
Sonny Landreth is an American blues musician from southwest Louisiana who is especially known as a slide guitar player. He was born in Canton, Mississippi, but soon after, his family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, before settling in Lafayette, Louisiana...
, Ronnie Earl
Ronnie Earl
Ronnie Earl is an American blues guitarist and music instructor.-Career:Earl collected blues, jazz, rock and soul records while growing up. He studied American History at C.W...
, Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor sometimes spelled KoKo Taylor was an American Chicago blues musician, popularly known as the "Queen of the Blues." She was known primarily for her rough, powerful vocals and traditional blues stylings....
and Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
.
Studio albums
- Hush! (2000)
- Comfort To The Soul (2003)
- Still Making History (2007)
- Blind For Love (2009)
- Unconditional (2011)
Awards
- 2002 — Three-way nominee for "Best Singer", "Best Guitarist" and "Best Album" at the French Blues Awards.
- 2003 — First European nominated for "Best New Artist Debut" at the W.C. Handy Award in Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. - 2003 — Nominated for "Best Blues Album’’ at the Jammie Awards in New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - 2004 — Winner of the award Jazz à Juan Revelation in Juan-les-PinsJuan-les-PinsJuan-les-PinsCountry:Region:Department: Alpes-MaritimesArrondissement: GrasseCanton: Vallauris-Antibes-OuestMunicipality: AntibesPopulation:?Coordinates:Time zone:CET, UTC+1Elevation:10 amslPostal code:06600...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. - 2006 — Nominated for 'Best Blues DVD (2005)', 'Best Live Performer', 'Best Female Blues Artist' and 'Most Outstanding Musician (Guitar)' at the 'Living Blues Awards'.
- 2007 — Nominated for 'Blues Artist of the Year' (BluesWax 2007, USA).
- 2010 — Nominated as 'Best Overseas Artist' at the British Blues Awards.
- 2011 — Winner 'Best Blues DVD' at the Blues Matters Awards (UK)