The prominent singer from Durres, Qemal Kërtusha has passed away at the age of 90.

Qemal Kërtusha was born on October 27, 1931. He was involved in the amateur artistic movement of the city since 1946. In 1948 he is a participant of the Albanian Philharmonic in Tirana. In 1951, he became a member of the army ensemble. After graduating from high school in his hometown, in the period 1951-53 he studied canto with the People’s Artist Marie Kraja. He returned to his hometown and joined the “Aleksandër Moisiu” theater as an actor.

With the creation of the variety show, he becomes a professional singer and gives performances all over Albania. He has performed folk music, light music, romances, partisan songs, cantatas and opera during the entire artistic career, counting over 1000 songs.
In 1962 he participated in the first song festival on Radio, where he was honored with awards for all three songs; “The first child”, “Girl” and “Do not scold me”. He has been awarded prizes in 17 song festivals in a row. In 1963 he successfully gave the first recital concert with songs from light music festivals. In 1968 he participated in the opera “Sons of Skanderbeg”.
Seeing his great artistic and human values, in 1968 he was awarded the title “Merited Artist”. He is the winner of gold medals in variety shows of  Tirana, Peshkopia and Shkodra. His concerts in Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro have been sensational and successful.

/Klara Ruci/