Staniša Stošić (born on July 26, 1945) was a Serbian folk singer from Vrbovo specializing in the vranjanski melos tradition. Referred to as the “Serbian Pavarotti” and “Father of the Southern Melodies”, Stošić began his career in 1963 as a performer for Radio Belgrade. In 1966, he won the Zlatiborski Narcis festival with the recording “Stojanke, Bela Vranjanke”. Stošić recorded his most recognized song, “Lela Vranjanka”, in 1972. His discography included the albums Antologija Vranjanskih Narodnih Pesama, Moje Najlepše Pesme, and Žal Za Mlados’. Throughout his career, he performed at festivals such as the Beogradski Sabor and Ilidža. In 2007, the Serbian Ministry of Culture presented Stošić with a Special Lifetime Award for his role in preserving Serbian musical traditions. Stošić died on April 8, 2008, in Belgrade. In 2012, a monument was erected in his honor in Vranje.
