Balady

Balady was a Romanian folk band that formed in Transylvania in the late 1960s. The group consisted of five members from the Vlad family: Nicolae on lead vocals and guitar, Ilie on accordion, Vasile on double bass, Ioan on clarinet, and Dumitru on drums. They played traditional Romanian folk music with some jazz and classical touches.

Their most well-known song is "Oy Tam Maty Syna Ozenyla," which appeared on their 1973 self-titled debut album. The track became something of a signature piece for them, a slow, mournful folk song that caught people's attention. They recorded several other albums through the 1970s and 1980s, including "Dor de Casa" in 1979 and "De la Noi la Voi" in 1983.

Balady performed during the Ceausescu era, when folk music with any hint of social commentary could draw unwanted official attention. They kept playing at weddings and private gatherings. In 1994, they released a live album recorded in New York.