Bulgarian Country Star Roy Sturn Has Died
If you ever needed an illustration for how the love and appeal for country music can span well past international borders, Bulgarian-born country music singer, songwriter, and bass player Roy Sturn was a good example.
From Sofia, Bulgaria, Roy Sturn’s real name was Tsetso Vlaikov, and he played and sang country music both in Bulgaria, the United States, as well as ships at sea as part of the entertainment on cruise ships. Roy Sturn also played bass in numerous bands for others. Jovial, funny, and animated, Roy Sturn became a fan favorite with anyone who interacted with him. Sturn passed away in Bulgaria on Sunday, February 5th.
Roy Sturn performed in bands such as The Nashville Junction, The Delta Roosters, Medicus, and other outfits. He also fronted a band of his own called Stetson. He released numerous albums, including Tear River and Catch The Bull’s Horn with Stetson, as well as White Hot Sun, all of which can be heard on SoundCloud.
“Some folks were asking me, ‘Hey Roy, how did you get involved in country music?'” Sturn says in a promotional video for The Nashville Junction. “You’re not from Texas. You’re not an American either.’ Well, I was almost 20 when I heard for the first time in my life real country, in a small bar sitting there with friends. Then I said to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do. That’s my kind of music.'”
Roy Sturn was also a comic book illustrator who went by the name Dick Benedict, and also designed album covers and did other illustrations.
Sturn is set to be buried on Thursday, February 9th at the Central Sofia Cemetery. No cause of death has been publicly announced.
February 7, 2023 @ 12:41 am
Thanks for sharing this Trigger.
As I’m not from Texas, and I’m not an American either, I can understand the feelings Tsetso Vlaykov felt about country music, and country music as a way of life.
RIP Roy Sturn, good ride!
February 7, 2023 @ 1:55 am
I’ve done a lot of searching on YouTube and elsewhere for international artists because we run an International Week a couple times a year in the r/countrymusic subreddit., There is some form of good country music from virtually every country. Uruguay has a bunch of bluegrass artists and a festival. Eswatini, formerly known as swaziland, has several country artists.. The Ukrainian rockabilly/country scene managed to scrape together enough people to have their regular rockabilly festival THIS YEAR in the middle of the war as a fundraiser for the war effort There are entire playlists of country and bluegrass music from Estonia. There’s an alt-country band from Basque country.
. There are country scenes in some places that sound like what The Country Side Of harmonica Sam is doing, with vintage American sounds and singing in English, and there are also a whole bunch of places where people sing in their own language and blend country music with their own unique folk music sounds. It’s really incredible how much of an impact country music has had around the world.
I’m sorry this man passed before his time , he sounds like he was really dedicated to meet the music.
February 8, 2023 @ 1:52 am
Stellar , as an Italian country singer/songwriter who sings in his own language i can confirm, though country music will always be a niche down here. Didn’t know Tsetso ’till now . Hope he had a good ride, R.I.P.
February 8, 2023 @ 4:55 pm
I’ve tried to find country artists from Italy and I mostly found rockabilly (I’m not going to complain, though!) are there any names you would recommend checking out for anything country?
February 10, 2023 @ 2:52 pm
write me an email : dantheman1975@libero.it
February 7, 2023 @ 9:11 am
Tsetso (Roy) looked like he thoroughly enjoyed life. Happy for him that he was able to do what he loved. Singing and making country music.
Couldn’t help but remember this fav. scene from GoldenEye, Bond film, from ’95.
https://youtu.be/aTxZeHy4kOI