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{{Short description|Slovene composer and musician (1929–2015)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}{{Infobox musical artist
|name         = Slavko Avsenik
|image        = Slavko Avsenik 1961.jpg
|caption      = Slavko Avsenik in 1963
|background   = solo_singer
|birth_name   = 
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1929|11|26}}
|birth_place  = [[Begunje na Gorenjskem]], [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]
|death_date   = {{Death date and age|mf=y|2015|7|2|1929|11|26}}
|death_place  = Slovenia
|genre        = [[Oberkrain]] ethnic, [[polka]], [[waltz]]
|instrument   = [[piano accordion]], Vocal
|occupation   = Singer-songwriter, band leader, [[album producer]]
|years_active = 1953–2015
|website      = {{url|avsenik.com}}
}}

'''Slavko Avsenik''' (November 26, 1929 – July 2, 2015) was a [[Slovenia|Slovene]] composer and musician. Beginning in 1953 with the formation of the [[Avsenik Brothers Ensemble]], Avsenik produced more than 1,000 songs and garnered success both in [[Slovenia]] and in other parts of Europe and America, and is viewed as a Slovenian cultural icon.<ref>[[Simon Frith]], ed., ''World Music, Politics and Social Change: Papers from the International Association for the Study of Popular Music'' ([[Manchester University Press]], 1991), {{ISBN|978-0719028793}}, pp. 76–78. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SDq8AAAAIAAJ&q=Avsenik&pg=PA76 Excerpts available] at [[Google Books]].</ref><ref>Leopoldina Plut-Pregelj, Carole Rogel, ''The A to Z of Slovenia'' ([[Rowman & Littlefield]], 2010), {{ISBN|978-0810872165}}, p. 314. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Kt7NUorHcKAC&q=Avsenik&pg=PA314 Excerpts available] at [[Google Books]].</ref><ref>Dieter Schulze, ''Slowenien'' ([[Baedeker]], 2011), {{ISBN|978-3829712682}}, p. 65. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jHxP6DlbmQUC&dq=Slavko+Avsenik+1929&pg=PA65 Excerpts available] at [[Google Books]].</ref>

==Biography and career==
Slavko Avsenik was born on November 26, 1929 in the village of [[Begunje na Gorenjskem]], [[municipality of Radovljica]], in the [[Upper Carniola]] region of [[Slovenia]]. Avsenik was a self-taught musician, who entered the music business "by coincidence" in 1952.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Slavko Avsenik passed away {{!}} SIGIC |url=https://www.sigic.si/slavko-avsenik-passed-away.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Sigic.si |language=en}}</ref> In 1953 he established the [[Avsenik Brothers Ensemble]] with his brother Vilko Avensik (also spelt Ovsenik), who was a university-trained clarinet player.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Avsenik Sculpture – Momus |url=https://www.momus.si/avsenik-sculpture/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Momus.si}}</ref>

His ensemble, known as 'Ansambel bratov Avsenik' in [[Slovene language|Slovenian]] and 'Slavko Avsenik und seine Original Oberkrainer' in [[German language|German]], was already quite popular in Slovenia by 1954, but it was their 1954 hit "[[Na Golici]]" which brought them international fame and renown. When the original recording was played during 'Slovene Hour' on Klagenfurt Radio in the Austrian state of [[Carinthia]] (which has a sizeable Slovenian minority), Bavarian radio producer Fred Rauch immediately recognized the potential and signed the band to his label. They recorded a new version in 1955 in German, which became a huge hit first in the German-speaking world and then after, all around Europe. Growing in popularity, they soon began appearing in broadcasts, movies, and concerts, first in West Germany and then all over Europe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sosic |first=Vid |date=2022-09-20 |title=The Most Famous Song You've Never Heard Of |url=https://3seaseurope.com/the-most-famous-song-youve-never-heard-of/ |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=3 Seas Europe |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1960, the band landed a recording contract with [[Teldec|Telefunken-Decca]]. It appeared regularly on network television, toured continuously, logging over 400,000 miles in 1967 alone. Milestones include a 1961 performance before over 80,000 in [[Olympiastadion (Berlin)|Berlin Stadium]], tours of the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] in 1970 and 1985, and a one-hour German television network special in 1980.

The group has won numerous awards including eight television competitions, twelve from German network television, eighteen as Germany's most popular band, the recording industry's "European Oscar" in 1975, the Golden Rose Award for the most requested group on Austrian radio in 1979, and the Hermann Löns award from the German Minister of Culture.

Avsenik's influence over [[Polka in the United States#Slovenian-American|Cleveland-style polka music]] began in 1958 when Johnny Pecon's English lyrics transformed Slavko's "Tam kjer murke cveto" into a Cleveland-style Hit, "Little Fella". Since then, Cleveland-style orchestras have recorded well over 200 Avsenik songs, including nearly sixty by the Hank Haller Ensemble, and as many more by Fred Ziwich, Fred Kuhar, the Fairport Ensemble, Al Markic, [[Roger Bright]], Al Tercek, and Cilka Dolgan. Avsenik tribute bands in North America include Duke Marsic and his Happy Slovenians, the Alpine Sextet, Ansambel Veseli Godci and Veseli Farani, Marjan Kramer, and Planinski Kvintet. Many Slovenian polka/oberkrainer-style bands in Europe have also been influenced by Avsenik's music, including Slovenia's Hišni ansambel Avsenik and Gašperji/Die Jungen Oberkrainer.

The most popular song of Avsenik's band is a polka titled "[[Na Golici]]" in Slovene, "Trompetenecho" in German, and "Trumpet Echoes" in English, which is considered by some to be the most played instrumental song in the world.<ref name=":0" />

Over forty years, the Avsenik Ensemble's original "[[Gorenjska|Oberkrainer]]" sound became an example of ethnic musical expression for [[Slovenia]], [[Austria]], [[Germany]], [[Switzerland]], northern Italy and the [[Benelux]] countries, spawning hundreds of [[Alps|Alpine]] orchestras in the process.

== Death and legacy ==
Slavko Avsenik died on July 2, 2015, at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite web |title=STA: Legendary Musician Slavko Avsenik Dies |url=https://english.sta.si/2152561/legendary-musician-slavko-avsenik-dies |website=English.sta.si|access-date=July 3, 2015}}</ref> Since 2008, the Avsenik Festival has been held in his home town of [[Begunje na Gorenjskem|Begunje]] in his honor, featuring over 30 ensembles including the Sašo Avsenik Ensemble featuring his grandson Sašo Avsenik and his son Gregor Avsenik.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Avsenik Festival |url=https://www.culture.si/en/Avsenik_Festival |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=Culture of Slovenia |language=en}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190506134802/http://www.sloveniatimes.com/festival-honours-60-years-of-avsenik-brothers-music "Festival Honours 60 Years of Avsenik Brothers Music"]. ''The Slovenia Times.'' August 23, 2013.</ref> One of his other sons, [[Slavko Avsenik Jr.]], is one of Slovenia's most prominent film composers.

A monument was built by architect Klemen Rodman in 2013 to mark Avsenik's 84th birthday, near his home town in the municipality of Radovljica. It features three accordions surrounding a traditional Upper Carniolan umbrella.<ref name="auto"/>

==Albums==
{{see also|Songs by Slavko Avsenik}}
*''Goldene Klänge Aus Oberkrain'' (Telefunken, 1971)
*''Goldene Klänge Aus Oberkrain II'' (Telefunken, 1973)
*''Jägerlatein in Oberkrain'' (Telefunken, 1974)
*''Jägerlatein in Oberkrain'' (London International, 1974)
*''Es Ist So Schön Ein Musikant Zu Sein'' (2xLP, Telefunken, 1974)
*''16 Welterfolge'' (Telefunken, 1975)
*''Mit Musik Und Guter Laune'' (2xLP, Telefunken, 1975)
*''Sonntagskonzert'' (Telefunken, 1975)
*''Lustig Und Fidel'' (Telefunken, 1978)
*''He! Slavko! Spiel Uns Eins!'' (Telefunken, 1978)
*''Ein Feuerwerk Der Musik'' (Koch Records, 1986)
*''Wir Bleiben Gute Freunde'' (Koch Records, 1990)
*''Es Ist So Schön Ein Musikant Zu Sein'' (Virgin, 1990)
*''Polkafest in Oberkrain'' (CD, Koch Records, 1997)
*''Am Schönsten Ist's Zu Haus'' 
*''Mit Musik Und Guter Laune'' 
*''Auf Silbernen Spuren'' (Royal Sound)
*''Stelldichein in Oberkrain'' (Telefunken)
*''Daheim in Oberkrain'' (Telefunken)
*''Die 20 Besten'' (cass)
*''Ein Abend Mit Slavko Avsenik Und Seinen Original Oberkrainern'' (Telefunken)
*''Mit Polka Und Waltzer Durch Die Welt'' (Telefunken)
*''Im Schönen Oberkrain'' (Telefunken, Deutscher Schallplattenclub)
*''Die Oberkrainer Spielen Auf'' (10", Telefunken)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/959307-Slavko-Avsenik-Und-Seine-Original-Oberkrainer|title=Slavko Avsenik Und Seine Original Oberkrainer |website=Discogs.com|access-date=26 November 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Ivan Sivec (2015). ''Slavko Avsenik und seine Original Oberkrainer''. ICO. {{ISBN|978-961-6868-51-8}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|0043363}}
* [http://www.avsenik.com/ The Avsenik brothers' website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=avsenik&search_type=/ Avsenik videos]

{{Radovljica |state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Avsenik, Slavko}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Slovenian accordionists]]
[[Category:Polka musicians]]
[[Category:Schlager musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Slovenian composers]]
[[Category:21st-century composers]]
[[Category:Slovenian male composers]]
[[Category:People from the Municipality of Radovljica]]
[[Category:20th-century male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Slovenian male musicians]]