Adi Smolar Biography: Age, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Wife, Children, Albums

Adi Smolar is a Slovenian singer-songwriter and composer celebrated for his distinctive storytelling style in music.

Known for his distinctive raspy voice, minimalist guitar accompaniment, and razor-sharp storytelling, he blends folk, pop, chanson, and social satire into timeless anthems like “Bognedaj, da bi crknu TV,” “Jst bi pa tebe,” “Daleč je za naju Pomlad,” and “Moja mačka je zakon.”

With more than twenty studio and live albums, countless sold-out concerts, and a reputation as Slovenia’s “people’s philosopher,” Smolar remains a rare artist who can fill halls with nothing but a guitar and a microphone, delivering laughter, tears, and quiet truths in equal measure.

Profile

• Full Name: Adolf “Adi” Smolar
• Stage Name: Adi Smolar
• Born: March 25, 1959
• Age: 66 years old
• Birthplace: Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
• Nationality: Slovenian
• Occupation: Singer-Songwriter, Composer
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Zinka Smolar, Adi Smolar
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Lidija Smolar (? —2010)
• Children: Jure Smolar
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $500,000

Early Life and Education

Adi Smolar was born on March 25, 1959, in Slovenj Gradec, to Zinka Smolar and Adi Smolar.

His father was a passionate accordionist and clarinetist, and young Adi learned both instruments before switching to guitar in his teens.

He might have had siblings but details about them are unknown.

He grew up in a working-class family that valued humor and music above formal ambition, and he left high school early to work odd jobs – from factory worker to gravedigger – while writing his first songs.

Entirely self-taught as a songwriter, he credits life experience and the streets of Ljubljana for his real education.

He is of Slovenian ethnicity, though her religion is unknown.

Career

Smolar began performing publicly in the late 1970s, initially in duos and small bands, but his true breakthrough came in 1981 with his first solo concert in Ljubljana’s legendary K4 club.

His debut cassette Kaj mi življenje da (1983) spread like wildfire through underground channels, and by the late 1980s he was a cult figure across Yugoslavia.

After Slovenia’s independence, he released a string of classic albums – Od šanka do šanka (1991), Jaz sem nor (1994), Nepridiprav (1997), Vse je krasno, ko te ni (2001), and the double live album Koncert (2005) – each filled with songs that instantly entered the national consciousness.

His style is instantly recognizable: simple chords, conversational lyrics, and a mix of biting satire (“Bognedaj, da bi crknu TV”), tender love songs (“Daleč je za naju Pomlad”), and philosophical musings (“Samo nasmeh je bolj grenak”).

He has released over 20 albums, including several children’s records, and continues to tour relentlessly, often playing 70–100 concerts a year – from intimate village halls to major festivals.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @adi_smolar_uradna_stran
• Facebook Handle: Adi Smolar

Personal Life

Adi was married to Lidija Smolar for over 30 years until her death from cancer in 2010 – an event that deeply marked him and inspired some of his most moving later songs.

They had one son, Jure Smolar.

Since Lidija’s passing, he has lived quietly in Ljubljana, dedicating most of his energy to music and occasional charity work.

Discography

• Kaj mi življenje da (1983)
• Od šanka do šanka (1991)
• Jaz sem nor (1994)
• Nepridiprav (1997)
• Vse je krasno, ko te ni (2001)
• Koncert (2005, double live)
• Za prijatelje (2013)
• Smolar 60 (2019, anniversary album)

Net Worth

Adi Smolar has an estimated net worth of $500,000. He earns primarily through decades of album royalties, constant live performances (often without a band, keeping costs low), publishing rights, and occasional television appearances.