A legend of Yugoslavian music, singer and songwriter Djordje Balasevic, died on Friday aged 67 from pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, Serbian media reported.

Balasevic died while receiving treatment for Covid-19 in the Clinical Centre Vojvodina, the Serbian public broadcaster RTS confirmed.

“The doctors did everything in their power, but (Balasevic’s) condition did not improve. On Friday afternoon, his condition deteriorated further due to pre-existing chronic health problems,” Vojvodina broadcaster, RTV, reported.

He died three months before his 68th birthday.

A giant of the regional music scene, Balasevic was a singer, songwriter, poet, writer, actor, and director. He was born in 1953 in the Serbian town of Novi Sad and began his musical career in the 70s in bands such as “Zetva” (Harvest) and “Rani Mraz” (Early Frost), switching to a solo career in 1982.

His album “Jedan od onih zivota” (One of Those Lives), published in 1993 during a devastating economic crisis caused by the war, is inspired by war tragedies. His live performances at the time were marked by strong criticism of the Slobodan Milosevic’s regime, Nova.rs wrote.

Balasevic wrote 12 albums and hundreds of his hits became classics among fans of all generations throughout former Yugoslavia.

Two years ago, Balasevic suffered a heart attack, and earlier this week he was admitted in the Vojvodina clinical centre to be treated for pneumonia.

He is survived by his wife Olivera and their three children – son Aleksa and daughters Jovana and Jelena.

The news of his death spread through social media quickly, with fans from all corners of former Yugoslavia honouring him by quoting the lyrics of his songs and celebrating his work as “timeless.”