Mariya Neikova

Mariya Neykova Мария Янкова Нейкова
Birth name	Mariya Yankova Neykova
Also known as	Girl with the Guitar
Born	21 December 1945 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Died	1 August 2002(2002-08-01) (aged 56) Sofia, Bulgaria
Genres	Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer and composer
Formerly of	Sofia Symphonic Orchestra

Mariya Yankova Neykova (Bulgarian: Мария Янкова Нейкова) (1945–2002) was a Bulgarian singer and composer.

Biography

Mariya Neykova was born on 21 December 1945, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Neikova graduated from the Academy of Music and Arts in Plovdiv. Known as the "Girl with the Guitar," she was in love with her native Plovdiv. Her career started in 1968. From 1969 to 1973, she was a soloist in the Sofia Symphonic Orchestra. Over the years, Mariya composed more than 100 songs. One of her songs, "Светът е за двама", is very popular in Bulgaria.

After surviving a plane crash, a terrorist attack and eight operations, she died suddenly at her home in Sofia on 1 August 2002. She outlived her husband Niki by only a year.

Albums

• Пролетна любов (The Green Window) (1972)
• Пролетна любов (Spring Love) (1975)
• Заръка (behest) (1975)
• За себе си и за другите (For Myself and for the Others) (1990)
• Mariya Neykova Golden Hits

Awards

• First Place in Golden Orpheus (1969) for the song "Закъснели срещи"(Late dates)
• First Place in Melody of the Year (Bulgaria, 1972) for the song "Добър вечер, лека нощ"(Good Evening, Good Night)