Dino Merlin is one of the most successful and popular artists of the former Yugoslavia. He was born in Sarajevo in 1962 and his real name is Edin Dervišhalidović. His musical career began in 1983 when he founded the rock band Merlin. The band released in total five albums. During the Balkan war Dino moved to Switzerland. Two band members died in the war. After the end of the war Dino came back to Bosnia & Hercegovina and started his solo career. His first appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest was in 1993 when he co-wrote the first Bosnian entry ever Sva bol svijeta.
In 1999 Dino was the runner-up in the Bosnian final for Jerusalem. Due to the disqualification of the winning entry Starac i more by Hara Mata Hari he finally received the opportunity to represent his home country in Israel. Together with the French singer Beatrice he performed the song Putnici which finished in a remarkable 7th position – the best Bosnian ranking at that time.
One year later Dino released the album Sredinom which became one of the best sold albums in the Balkan region during the last decade. In the same year he performed in front of 80.000 spectators in the Kosevo Olympic Stadium in Sarajevo.
He also wrote the lyrics for the first Bosnian national anthem (1992-1998) Jedna si jedina.
