Biography
Tomislav Goluban was born in a house by the railroad track in Grabrovec, Zabok, where he still lives, in the heart of Croatian Zagorje. He began playing the harps back in 1997, and his main drive was to revive the legacy of country/delta blues expression. This came out of hours and hours of intense listening of legendary Sonny Terry records. Over the years, Goluban has sharpened his music expression into the unique county-blues blended with Croatian traditional music.
Mississippi delta combined with its resemblance crossed over with Zagorje's traditional music is also obvious in the name of his band Little Pigeon's ForHill Blues. His nickname Little Pigeon is a liberal translation of his last name to English. Extraordinary compound ForHill (Zagorje) was a result of a leisure fun-time with English words «hill» and «for». That's just the way his music is: cheerful and free, much like his artistic interpretation approach to American music heritage.
So far, Tomislav Goluban has released four studio albums (Pigeon's Flight, Mr. B., Zagorje blues and "$200 SUN Memphis Album"), as well as two maxi-singles (Brzi vlak and Libertin Trilogy). The band's repertoire is based on rather «brave» remakes of country-blues, zydeco, ragtime and gospel tunes. In addition, there are their own interpretations of Zagorje music heritage. Everything is blended with the tones of numerous music styles and meridians.
Tomislav Goluban also acts solo with his harmonica as well as in duo with piano or guitar back-up. Those very acts were extremely successful during his major visits abroad. Namely; 25th International Blues Challenge, Memphis, USA 2009, 22nd Notodden Blues Festival, Norway 2009. In July 2010, Tomislav Goluban takes part at the Swedish blues festival, the 19th Amal's Blues Fest and in November in France at the 12th Blues sur Seine.
Tomislav Goluban also acts solo with his harmonica, and those very acts were extremely successful during his major visits abroad. Namely; 25th International Blues Challenge, Memphis, USA 2009 and Notodden Blues Festival, Norway 2009. Other international successes are: 4th place at World Harmonica Festival 2005, Trossingen, Germany; Category: solo diatonic Blues/Rock/Folk/Country, and the fact that in 2004 the German website Harp Online, specialized in harmonica, declared him «the player with the most ruthless scene performance ever».
Interestingly, Tomislav Goluban is the sole Croatian endorser of the finest and world known harmonica manufacturer Hohner of Germany.
Considering the fact that in his beginings, it was very difficult for him to obtain information, Tomislav developed an educational music program. The program's aim is to inform the children of basic terms in the world of harmonica and blues. This fun and educational program called «The harmonica in Blues» was approved by the Croatian Education and Teacher Training Agency, highest educational authority. The program is presented to the pupils of elementary and high schools all over Croatia.
In 2009, Tomislav Goluban reinforced his music identity and managed to impose his acts to a wide public. He was rewarded with two prestigious awards in Croatia. «Status» award for the highest instrumentalist's achievements, i.e. superior skills on playing harmonica. He also won the «Porin», Croatian discography award (the equivalent of a Grammy in Croatia), category: newcomer of the year. In may 2009 the City of Zabok, his hometown, honored him with Letter of thanks for his cultural and media promotion of Zabok. In October, he received a Fender Mega Music Award for the exceptional contribution to harmonica played music.
In 2010, Goluban's third album «Zagorje Blues» won «Porin» award in The Best Blues Album category. Also in the neighboring country of Bosnia and Herzegovina the same album won «Indexi» award for The Best Blues Album of the Year.
In 2010, Tomislav Goluban won the «Status» award again, for the highest instrument achievements in the category «Other instruments». Also, he won the title «Musician of the year», by the choice of all «Status» winners.
In March 2010 Tomislav was awarded with Krapina-Zagorje county medallion for extraordinary achievements in the year of 2009.
«200$ SUN Memphis Album» is awarded with «Porin» 2011 award in Best Blues Album category.