Nicolae Guță (born Nicolae Linguraru; December 3, 1967) is a Romanian manele, pop, and Romani music singer and accordionist from Petroșani. Guță began a career as a singer and accordionist in the late 1980s, performing lăutărească music. Guță worked for the Romanian Railways and the Petroșani Water Authority before transitioning to a full-time musical career. Following the fall of communism in 1989, Guță performed at a restaurant in Timișoara, where he received the nickname “Regele Manelelor”. Guță released a debut album in 1992 and the mainstream hit “De când te iubesc pe tine” in 1994. In 1997, Guță released the album La Grande Voix Tzigane d'aujourd'hui = The Greatest Living Gypsy Voice. From 1998, Guță integrated Western pop and hip hop influences into manele music. Guță appeared on over 50 recordings, including Vine Mafia, Am pornit de jos, and Hiturile Anului 2015. Guță recorded numerous duets with his daughter, Nicoleta Guță, and other performers.
