Lyuben Bozhkov i Vesela Bozhkova

Na se beli, Mare (Don't whiten your face, Mara)
Ovchar sviri (A shepherd is playing)
Prochula se Rusa moma (Rusa maiden became famous)
Snoshti si pominah (Last night I passed by)
Most mi zidat (A bridge is constructed)

Doydi mi, Stoyanke (Come, Stoyanke)
Ah, kûde e moyto libe (Oh where is my sweetheart)
Snoshi doydoh (Last night I came)
Ya izlezi, stara mayko (Come out, old mother)
Bolen mi lezhi mlad Stoyan (Young Stoyan was lying sick)
Na pat si go sretnah (I met him on the road)

On March 20th, 1966 the young and still unknown singer Lyuben Bozhkov made his first recordings at Radio Sofia. Georgi Boyadjiev, the then editor of the Folk Music Department made a choice of three songs: Trûgnala e malka moma (A young maid has set off on her way), Izlezi, Vido (Come out, Vido), and Bog da Bie Ruse (God has smitten Ruse). This is the very beginning of the young singer's career and the date is a remarkable one – it is Lyuben's birthday. Nowadays his recordings kept in the music-stock of the Bulgarian National Radio are more than 100 and the number of songs included in his repertoire exceeds 300.

He was born in the village of Vinogradi, Blagoevgrad district and learnt most of his songs from his relatives, during family gatherings and working-bees. His keen mind and love for the folk songs lead him away from many other jobs and professions. Having won recognition as a talented singer, the folk song became his invariable companion. Numerous and various are the manifestations of his talent of a singer. Bozhkov sang while serving in the army, later he performed as a soloist of the Sandanski folk ensemble at many regional and district festivals. Very soon, however, chance met him with the accordionist Ivan Shibilev and Lyuben Bozhkov became regular member of the group Kudrava Antena (Crimpy Antenna). Thus started his career of a concert performer which continues until this day. Together with the group he visited the most remote part of the country and has always been a most welcome and favorite singer everywhere he went. In 1977 he toured with success in Yugoslavia. Bozhkov's accompanists are also the accordionist Ibro Lolov and the instrumental group lead by Kosta Kolev.

His repertoire includes historical songs – about Yane Sandanski, Gotse Delchev, and other Bulgarian national heros, yet prevailing are the love songs, which are most suitable for the characteristic timbre of his voice.

Lyuben Bozhkov's recordings are often to be heard over the radio and his performances are included in several single records and one LP – together with the folk singer Stoyanka Boneva (1978). In 1981 he performed for the Bulgarian Television.

The present album BHA 10821 is of a special nature. The lovers of folk songs from the Pirin region will hear for the first time the character duet Lyuben and Vesela Bozhkov.

Vesela, Lyuben's daughter, is only 16, but possesses a remarkable talent of a singer. While at school Vesela became a favorite among her classmates and teachers with her numerous participations in school festivals and during holidays.

The duet Lyuben and Vesela Bozhkov is a very successful one and probably this is the most natural way of handing over of the folk song traditions to the young generation. – Vergiliy Atanasov