Ardit Gjebrea

Ardit Gjebrea
Gjebrea at Kënga Magjike in 2009
Born (1963-06-07) 7 June 1963 (age 61)
Tirana, Albania
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, producer, presenter
ChildrenJoni Gjebrea, Anna Gjebrea
RelativesRamize Gjebrea

Ardit Gjebrea (born 7 June 1963) is an Albanian television presenter, singer-songwriter and producer.

Life and career

Gjebrea began singing at the age of five in Albanian children festivals, he was awarded prizes at local competitions for interpreting songs by Avni Mula such as "I ëmbël zëri i gjyshës" and "Kur kendoj per ty moj nënë" in the 1970s.[1]

His first composition "E Shtrenjta Toka Ime" was interpreted by Liljana Kondakçi and the text was written by Radio Television Albania editor Zhuljana Jorganxhiu during the Spring Festival of 1987, although no surviving copy of the recording is publicly available according to researcher Nicolas Tochka.[1]

On 17 December 1991, he made a breakthrough in his career, winning the Festivali i Këngës në RTSH prize with the song "Jon".[2] In 1995, he won the same prize with his song "Eja".

Gjebrea has released three albums throughout his career, beginning with the eponymous "Ardit Gjebrea" in 1992. In 1997, he released "Projekt Jon", a best-selling album in Albania. "Projekt Jon" showcased Gjebrea's artistic range as he merged influences of Albanian traditional music, Balkanic and Mediterranean sounds and instruments, as well as recent trends in international music. In 2004 he released "Ja ku jam".

Gjebrea has held some 250 concerts in Albania, as well as performances in the US, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Belgium and China.

His daughter, Anna Gjebrea, represented Albania in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[3]

Career as a presenter and producer

Throughout his career, Gjebrea has presented and produced several TV shows including TeleBingo, several editions of the annual Miss & Mister Albania, Dua më shumë Shqipërinë, Rokoloko, and Krishtlindje në Tiranë.

In 1996, Gjebrea was host of the Miss Europe Contest, held that year in Albania. In 2007, he hosted the 19th edition of the 'Miss Model of the World' contest held in China.

Kënga Magjike

Every year, in a process starting in June and ending in November, Gjebrea, through his production house JonMusic and in cooperation with KLAN Television produces and finalizes Kënga Magjike, a festival of the contemporary music for artists from Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The first Kenga Magjike was held in 1999, and the last edition took place in November 2016. Kenga Magjike is broadcast live in Albania by Klan TV, Ora News and STV, in Kosovo by RTV21, in Macedonia by Alsat and across the Balkans by the Bulgarian network Ballkanika Music Television.

E Diela Shqiptare

Since 2008, Gjebrea is the producer and host of E Diela Shqiptare (Albanian Sunday), a Sunday afternoon show. E Diela Shqiptare includes debates, ballet, live music, performances, guests, sport results, and games.

Awards and nominations

Festivali i Këngës

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1991 "Jon" First place Won
1995 "Eja" First place Won
2000 "Ante i tokes sime" First place/As Producer Won
2009 "Nuk mundem pa ty" First place/As Producer and writer Won

Kult Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005 "Ja ku jam" Album of the Year Won

Videofest

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2004 "Ja ku jam" Best Male Video Won
The Most Popular Video Won

Zhurma Show Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2004 "Ja ku jam" Best Song Won[4]
Best Album Won

References

  1. ^ a b Tochka, Nicholas (2024). Projekt Jon. 33 1/3 Europe. New York: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-5013-6306-1.
  2. ^ Guides, Rough (1999). Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Rough Guides. p. 1. ISBN 1-85828-635-2. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
  3. ^ "In the Junior Eurovision, Albania will be represented by Anna Gjebrea". Tirana Post. 24 October 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Best SONG 2004 – Ardit Gjebrea JA KU JAM – ZHURMA SHOW AWARDS 1 – ZICO TV HD". Retrieved 26 May 2020.