On 23 December we mark 80 years since the birth of one of the symbols of Bulgarian pop music – Emil Dimitrov.

“He is in fact the first Bulgarian singer-songwriter,” said Anelia Parvanova from the Regional Museum of history in Pleven, the town where Emil Dimitrov was born, for the BTA. “He has released 30 albums, and has more than 400 songs in his repertoire, 280 of which he wrote himself. Emil Dimitrov has won a host of prestigious awards in Bulgaria and abroad. He was a member of the union of French composers, and was the first pop singer and songwriter to have included folklore elements in his music,” Parvanova says. Emil Dimitrov passed away on 30 March, 2005 at the age of 64.

An exhibition opened in Pleven dedicated to the birth anniversary of the renowned Bulgarian singer.