Radoslav Lorković

Radoslav Lorkovic Croatian Islands Cruise

It seems inconceivable. After playing Gilligan to Skipper Ellis Paul, on two Caribbean cruises and one amazing Alaska Cruise, I have been promoted significantly through the ranks of the musical Navy! I am now the captain of a sold out 2019 luxury cruise on a small ship sailing the must-see islands of the unparalleled Croatian Adriatic. The good news is we are offering two more cruises next year. They are filling up, but space does remain.

Seeing Croatia from the deck of a small luxury ship is truly a unique opportunity. The treasures of are best witnessed by sea and the spectacular island passages. Lower Dalmatia (our route) is essentially a mountain range encompassed by an emerald and turquoise sea. The cultural treasures we will visit ashore encompass thousands of years of history with the finishing touches put on by none other than Venice. Imagine, if you will, miniature Venices placed within a Maxfield Parrish painting. You have Dalmatia. I will entertain along the way musically as well as offering an insiders perspective on the stunning sights and amazing culture you will be absorbing.

This is our itinerary for the Sep 12, 2020 cruise (Sep 19, 2020 cruise is the same itinerary in reverse):

Day 1, arrive Dubrovnik
Arrive at Dubrovnik pier for embarkation. Meet your fellow travelers and your cruise managers onboard for a welcome reception with Rad. Evening time to relax and take a walk through Dubrovnik’s small and vibrant streets. Overnight on board.

Day 2, Dubrovnik – Mljet – Korcula
Morning walking tour of Dubrovnik, the pearl of Adriatic, the famous city enlisted as UNESCO’s World Heritage. Inside visit to Rector’s Palace and Franciscan Monastery’s Pharmacy. Then sail to the National Park on Island Mljet.
Arrival to the heart of Mljet National Park, where you could enjoy a beautiful walk around the Great and the Small Lake. Late afternoon we will continue to Korcula, the acclaimed birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo.

Day 3, Korcula – Hvar
Morning walking tour of Korcula old town. It will take you through narrow, cobbled streets and will include a visit to the majestic Gothic-Baroque Cathedral of St. Mark. Followed by departure to Hvar island and stop for swimming. Late afternoon arrival to Hvar, Rad’s home town in Croatia. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Hvar, town with the first public theatre in Europe (older than Shakespeare Theatre in the UK), Franciscan Monastery and many more. Evening at leisure in Hvar.

Day 4, Hvar – Bol – Split
After breakfast sail to Bol that has the best beach in Croatia -Golden Horn, for a swim. Golden Horn is a vast, golden pebble beach long some 580 yards. It is unique also by changing shape and position depending on the winds. Continue sailing to Split. Walking tour of the historic inner city, built around the Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. See the remnants of Split’s Roman heritage, its Renaissance and Gothic structures, Jupiter’s Temple, the Peristyle and the Cathedral.

Day 5, Split – Trogir – Sibenik
In the morning sail to UNESCO City Trogir. Free time in Trogir to explore this unique city. Continue to Sibenik with a stop on the way for a swim. After we arrive in Sibenik, enjoy your evening at leisure.

Day 6, Sibenik – Sali
Morning departure to National Park Krka followed by a sail to Kornati where there are more than 140 islands. Afternoon next destination is Kornati National Park. Arrive in Sali. Captains dinner with local musicians onboard this evening.

Day 7, Sali – Zadar
Morning departure to Zadar, middle Dalmatia region. Stop for swimming, late afternoon arrival in Zadar followed by a city tour. Zadar’s historical center is a compact pedestrian zone, perfect to explore on foot and admire defensive walls built in 16th century by Venetians as a defense from Turks. You will see 16th century Port Gate where Venetian lion (symbol of Venice) still guards the entrance, Square of
the 5 Wells, Church of St. Donat, Roman Forum (1st century BC) and the biggest Cathedral in Dalmatia – St. Anastasia Cathedral.

Day 8, depart Zadar
Disembarkation after breakfast. Transfer to Zadar or Split airport for your flight home.

For details and to hold your cabin, see Fan Club Cruises website.

Welcome aboard. Your Captain Radoslav.

House Concerts

Radoslav Lorkovic Performing at House Concert

Radoslav Lorković is available for a limited number of private House Concerts each year. All you need is a space that comfortably seats 25 (or more) people and a tuned piano or 88 key weighted action keyboard. Please send a message through the contact page to schedule a show.

The Line Re-release

I have just released a remastered and repackaged edition of my 1991 release “The Line.” It was a fairly hasty follow up to my debut and still definitive CD “Clear and Cold.” I had written a song called Duty Free Dubrovnik. It was inspired by a New York Times article depicting the huge party the rampaging JNA (Jugoslav National Army) threw when they ‘liberated’ the duty free shop at the Dubrovnik airport. Luckily that’s about as far as they got into Dubrovnik. I built the album around this theme along with the subtext of the 1991 Iraq war which occurred around the same time. It was recorded with all the superlatives of the fabulous Studio M in St Paul. Best Steinway piano in the land and a famously well equipped and staffed studio. The remastering really brings these qualities to the surface.I have a couple weeks off. Frankly, I’m a bit bored. There is nothing I would rather do than sit on my couch and personally autograph one of these fine recordings for you. I am so bored right now, I will throw in another CD of your choice for an extra five dollars. Shipping is included (to anywhere in the US) either way. Please get me to quit napping and start signing and mailing!

Hope to see you at a show somewhere.
Xo. Radoslav

(Choose an option below before clicking the Buy Now button)

Shawn Mullins “My Stupid Heart”

It was a fabulous evening with my dear friends Judi and Larry in Florida… I confess I was buzzing from the bubbles, the shrimp, the bubbles, the smoked mullet, more bubbles, a cheese platter then a decisive blow from a fabulous margarita concoction that sent me upstairs. I entered my guest house sized suite on slightly wobbly legs and began to drift into the ether. The phone rang. I scrambled, trying to pinpoint the green circle. A deep baritone voice starts talking. I have no idea who it is or what he is saying. I respond with remarkable clarity and relevance to everything said. Then three words tied me into the conversation. Nashville and Don Conoscenti. Apparently I was speaking to Shawn Mullins! He got my number from Don. Then I hear: “Can you come to Nashville tomorrow? I’m making a record.” I sobered up immediately and agreed to everything. Shawn then added “Yeah, I usually use my B3 guy but this record is different. I was thinking accordion. Not just any accordion and I know the guy.” Evidently that was me.

I said farewell to Judi and Larry vowing to deplete their full fridge of seafood specialties upon my return. I headed for the airport… not the Tampa airport, the St Pete airport. I actually had a gig there. There was a grand opening of a new terminal. Ribbon cutting, brunch, news crews, speeches and for some reason this had to be adorned by accordion music. Awkward indeed but I plowed through it gladly and was fed a nice brunch. Then I had a bit of time before my Nashville flight so a wandered a white sand beach and collected a lovely pile of shells.

Soon enough I traversed the causeway to the massive Tampa airport. I was Nashville bound. I was astonished how far north I had to travel to get down south. Headed up the elevator I overheard two thick central Tennessee accents avering that the Nashville airport was confusing. I chimed in “aren’t they all?” I exited the elevator and worked for 45 minutes trying to find my car. Then another 30 minutes seeking the ramp exit. The dot on my phone told me I was headed due west of Nashville. I took my exit seeing a Waffle House. This, unbeknownst to me, would be my main source of food for three days. Then I meandered down a tiny road through the deep woods and found myself smack dab in a Holler. I double checked to make sure all was right. You don’t want to be in the wrong private holler round here. Darkness fell. I passed a tiny broke down shack and thought: hmmmm. Kinda small for a studio. I kept driving. Then I saw a beautifully restored barn and a shining house on the hill. Shawn came out and greeted me wearing a cammo jacket. We went inside and I was amazed and the enormity and comfort of the studio. He played the tracks. Each one was the best song I had ever heard. A bit intimidating but right up my alley.

Then we went to the Waffle House. Shawn told me they had jukeboxes with songs specifically written for them. He began to sing. “Special lady, pourin coffee at the Waffle House. She’s amazing, shoutin all those orders out.” He was on a first name basis with the waitress. We went back up to the holler and I found myself on a queen bed smack dab in the drum booth. I looked up and noticed the the ceiling was painted like the Sistine Chapel. I slept great. We went right at it the next morning. I met the producer, the lovely Lari White. I hoped the accordion would help the already perfect tracks. Evidently it did. Lari had me play freely first. Then she had me do a simple textural pass. Then a fairly busy one. By that time she had composed a part of her own and sang it to me. (She is an accomplished pianist) I played back immediately. Our rapport was spot on. This process continued through all the songs.

To my astonishment I was asked to sing harmony vocals. To my greater astonishment Lari really like what she heard and had me add multiple layers which she all brilliantly pressed into the background vocal. It sounded way better then I do! I emerged from the vocal group to find Chuck Cannon, the co-writer of the songs standing there with the head Doobie Brother. They were off in another part of the holler writing. Good lord. The HEAD Doobie Brother heard me do all my squawking in the booth!
After all the songs were loaded up with accordion I took several passes on a super cool Wurlitzer. Some of that stuck as well.
After a truly incredible recording experience I drifted back south to Tampa where shrimp, mullet, dry champagne and mystery night caps greeted a rather happy camper.

Shawn Mullins’ “My Stupid Heart” is now available on iTunes and Amazon

Join me and Ellis Paul on a Caribbean cruise!

Captain Ellis and First Mate Rad are embarking on what is sure to be a cruise not to be missed or forgotten. Experienced seamen that we are we will truly be in our in our element as we we navigate friendly Gulf waters just south of Tampa. We will shout out to Cuba and proceed through turquoise Caribbean waters to the Isla Encantada: Cozumel. I can assure you we will be even more entertaining than we would be at a landlocked concert. Lord knows that is saying something! I swear something comes alive within both of us when we are cruising tropical waters. It’s hard to explain. You just have to be there I guess. See you on the high seas January 7-11, 2016… First Mate Rad

See Fan Club Cruises for more information or booking.