Ardit Gjebrea

Ardit Gjebrea
Ardit Gjebrea at Kënga Magjike 2009
Born	(1963-06-07) 7 June 1963 (age 53) Gjirokaster, Albania
Nationality	Albanian
Known for	Singer, songwriter, producer, host, showman

Ardit Gjebrea (born 7 July 1963) is an Albanian singer, songwriter, producer and television presenter.

Born in Tirana, Albania, he began singing at the age of five. He continued to sing in the Children's Festivals, and is known for songs like "I ëmbël zëri i gjyshës", "Kur kendoj per ty moj nënë" and "Balladë për pionierin dëshmor".

On 17 December 1991, he made a breakthrough in his career, when he won the Festivali i Këngës në RTSH prize with the song "Jon". In 1995, he won the same prize with his song "Eja".

Ardit has released three albums in his career, beginning with the eponymous 'Ardit Gjebrea' in 1992. In 1997 he launched "Projekt Jon", the best-selling album in Albania. "Projekt Jon" showcased Gjebrea's artistic range as he merged influences of Albanian traditional music, Ballkanic and Mediterranean sounds and instruments as well as recent trends in international music. His 2004 release "Ja ku jam", an album mostly covered in Gjebrea's musical translations of inner wandering, sentimental and melancholic moods, and rock&pop hits.

While no official data exists, Ardit Gjebrea is allegedly the highest selling singer in Albania. As a singer/song-writer he has held some 250 concerts, in Albania, as well as memorable performances in USA, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Italy, Belgium and China.

During his career, he has presented and produced several TV shows including the famous TeleBingo, several editions of the yearly Miss & Mister Albania, Dua me shume Shqiperine, Rokoloko, Krishtlindje ne Tirane etc. In 1996 he was host of the Miss Europe Contest, held that year in Albania. In 2007 Gjebrea hosted the 19th edition of the 'Miss Model of the World' contest held in China.

Every year, in a process starting in June and ending in November, Ardit Gjebrea, through his production house JonMusic and in cooperation with KLAN Television produces and finalizes Kënga Magjike, a festival of the contemporary music for artists from Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. The first Kenga Magjike was held in 1999, and the last edition took place in November 2016. Kenga Magjike is broadcast live in Albania by Klan TV, Ora News and STV, in Kosovo by RTV21, in Macedonia by Alsat and across the Balkans by the Bugarian network Ballkanika Music Television.

Since 2008, Ardit Gjebrea is the producer and host of E Diela Shqiptare (Albanian Sunday), a Sunday afternoon show that has become the favourite program of the weekend for Albanians. E Diela Shqiptare includes debates, ballet, live music, performances, guests, sport results, games etc. E Diela Shqiptare is broadcast live on Klan TV from 14.00 PM - 19.30 PM.