Pavlina Nikaj

Pavlina Nikaj was born on 1 January 1929 in Korçë, Albania. She started her career as a singer in 1945, in the so-called Syndicate's Chorus (Albanian: Kori i Sindikatave) in Korçë, and later in Radio Korça. She was one of the first singers to record Albanian urban lyric songs for the Columbia Society in Italy in 1948. She was also a regular performer on Radio Tirana since its foundation in 1938. Pavlina Nikaj sang songs written by some of the most prominent Albanian composers, such as Kristo Kono, Pjetër Dungu, Simon Gjoni, and Çesk Zadeja. She was known for her expressive voice and her interpretation of various genres, such as folk, classical, and light music. She was awarded the title People's Artist in 1977, and received several other honors and recognitions for her contribution to the Albanian music. She died on 20 February 2005, after a long battle with cancer. She was buried in Tirana, where many fans and celebrities attended her funeral. She is remembered as one of the most influential and beloved singers in Albanian history.