Joe Julian Farrugia

Joe Julian Farrugia (born 9 April 1962) is a writer, songwriter and broadcaster from Malta. He was born in Gzira but moved to Paola at the age of 5. He is te youngest sibling and only son of Francis and Beatrix. He attended St. Paul's Missionary College of Rabat Malta In 1979 Joe Julian won the Anna Muscat Azzopardi prize in the Maltese language and literature from the University of Malta.

In his thirties, Joe Julian started to publish his writings. Initially some of his poems were published in local newspapers in Maltese. Later on he started to write the lyrics of songs. He took part in many song contests in Malta and abroad. In 1995 he won the Best Lyrics Award at the Għarb Festival in Gozo with "Għajn tas-Sliem". In 1999 he won the same award in L-Għanja tal-Poplu with "Faraġ ta' Xejn". He won the Konkors Kanzunetta Indipendenza in 2005 with "Ix-Xemx mill-Ġdid "and the Festival Internazzjonali tal-Kanzunetta Maltija 2013 with "Hawn Mill-Ġdid".[1]

He represented Malta in several international song contests . He won the Discovery International Pop Music Festival of Bulgaria twice with songs Endlessly in 2003 and Time for Love in 2006.[2]

He won five times the International Festival For Children Ti Amo, held in Romania.[3] In 1999 American Airlines included one of his songs "Jekk Għada Ma Jisbaħx" on their playlist, readily available for to be played whenever any passenger requested a song in Maltese. Joe Julian also wrote two musicals and three Christmas pantos in the Maltese language.[4][5][6]

In 2005 one of his songs, "Life is a Train", sung by Karen Polidano was included by NBT Records (U.S.) in a compilation disc about trains.[7]

In 2008, Ivan and Stani of Bulgaria sang his song "You're Magic" in their country’s national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.[8]

Joe Julian wrote also several drama episodes for Maltese television series. These include popular sitcoms like Il-Prinċipal, Simpatiċi and XplaħħMalħajt.[9][10] He also has his own blog Kif Naħsibha Jien.[11]

In 1993, through One Radio, Joe Julian ventured into the field of broadcasting. Two years he switched over to television. Menz, Dr Peel, Medik, Indigo, Is-Saħħa Sabiħa and Xalamita are but some of his productions. He wrote, directed and produced the majority of the episodes of the award winning documentary biographical series "Bijografiji" and also other features for the popular Friday night TVM programme Xarabank. In this respect, he won three awards in broadcasting from the Institute of Maltese Journalists.[12]

He is currently the producer/presenter of programmes Bonġu Kafé ma' Joe Julian and Għamlu Isem on the national radio station Radju Malta.[13][14]

Joe Julian has also published a book "Għamlu Isem" . It includes biographies and material from a TV series bearing by the same name.[15]

Joe Julian is married to Marlene née Camilleri and they have two daughters: Clara, a model, and Valentina, a singer.

References

  1. ↑ On- Line: http://www.newsbook.com.mt/artikli/2013/11/10/awdjo:-il-festival-internazzjonali-tal-kanzunetta-maltija-jittella-mill-gdid-wara-hdax-il-sena.11851/ Retrieved 13Jul2016
  2. ↑ On Line: http://discoveryfest.com/about/winners/ Retrieved 13Jul2016
  3. ↑ On Line: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-07-22/news/maltese-singers-in-romania-94301/ Retrieved 13 Jul 2016
  4. ↑ On Line: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/arts/theatre_and_dance/22612/the-panto-in-maltese-at-the-catholic-institute-the-first-time-for-dame-toni-busuttil-20121112#.V4Sp7ut97nA Retrieved 13 July 2016
  5. ↑ On Line: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101229/arts-entertainment/maltese-history-according-to-ziggie-lulu.343015 Retrieved 13 July 2016
  6. ↑ On-Line: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2006-07-22/news/maltese-singers-in-romania-94301/ Retrieved 13 July 2016
  7. ↑ On Line: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2005-03-05/news/maltese-song-released-in-us-72809/ Retrieved 13 July 2016
  8. ↑ On Line: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOpvdQG2ZIs Retrieved 13 July 2016
  9. ↑ On Line: http://www.hermannbonaci.com/simpatici/ Retrieved 13 July 2016
  10. ↑ On Line: http://visionlinemalta.com/en/products/webshop/211/il-principal.htm Retrieved 13 July 2016
  11. ↑ On Line: http://joejulianfarrugia.blogspot.com.mt/ Retrieved 13July2016
  12. ↑ On Line: https://igm.org.mt/2006/12/27/press-release-archive-2006-2005-2004/ Retrieved: 13 July 2016
  13. ↑ On Line : http://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/radio-programmes/bongu-kafe/ Retrieved 13July 2016
  14. ↑ On Line : http://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/radio-programmes/ghamlu-isem/ Retrieved 13July2016
  15. ↑ on Line: https://www.midseabooks.com/publications_detail.asretriv?pid=13795#.V4S0cet97nA Retrieved 13July2016
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