Damian Drăghici

In the 2014 European Parliament election, he was one of two Roma candidates elected, along with Soraya Post. Drăghici was an MEP for the Romanian Social Democrats during his tenure as an MEP.

On 12 November 2010, he showcased his ability to perform some of the most challenging jazz tunes on pan-flute live on stage in a Bucharest concert together with clarinet player Eddie Daniels and vocalist Diane Schuur. At the 8 May 2011 Classical Meets Jazz event Drăghici and violinist Nigel Kennedy performed together in the Palace Square. The repertoire included classical, jazz and Romanian folk music. This was his last public performance as he announced his withdrawal from the music scene.

In 2006 Drăghici decided to come back to his roots with a new concept and a new group, “his gypsy brothers” as he called them. One of the purposes of “Damian & Brothers, was to change the negative perception and stereotypes of the Romani minority through their music. The impact and the huge popularity achieved during the three-year period of the project are a legacy of their common effort.

In 2004, Drăghici joined James Brown, Joe Cocker, reggae star Shaggy, Cyndi Lauper, Zucchero, Gipsy Kings, Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) and The Pointer Sisters for one of Europe's most esteemed musical events, the Night of the Proms tour.

In 1996, Drăghici auditioned for faculty members visiting Athens from the Berklee College of Music in Boston It offered him a full scholarship and he began to study with George Garzone, Jerry Bergonzi and Hal Crook.

Damian Drăghici (born 31 March 1970, Bucharest) is a Romanian musician of Romani origin.