Srđan Ćuković

Srđan Ćuković (born 31 March 1952) is a Serbian poet and composer. Early days Ćuković was born to a Serbian father, university professor Dr. Milan Ćuković, and to Branislava Ćuković. His grandfather’s surname was Ćuk, but in 1922 the grandfather changed it to Ćuković. He was introduced to accordion after injuring his arm in a car accident at age eight. His unwillingness to learn notes led his music teacher to suggest guitar to his parents. He got his first guitar in 1962, when his father bought him his first Beatles single. He was beginning to write poetry and learn English, mostly to sing songs by favorites such as the Beatles, the Hollies, Bob Dylan, Donovan, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys. He often jokes saying that he learned English by listening to the Beatles and Radio Luxembourg. As a secondary school student he was introduced to journalist, chess grandmaster and radio DJ Nikola Karaklajić, who sought out young musicians and had good knowledge of English and access to many recordings. Ćuković started as a songwriter and performer for the play The Punks, performed by the Dadov Youth Theatre from Belgrade, directed by Radomir Putnik and managed by Mihailo To