Country. Some of his most well-known songs are featured in La pelota vasca ("The Basque ball"), a documentary by Julio Medem. On 11 July 2006 he gave his final performance, opening for Bob Dylan at a "Concert for Peace" held in the city of Donostia-San Sebastián. A curious feature of his album titles is the fact that they are numeric. This custom began in 1974 with the release of his two-disc Bat-Hiru (1–3). The album 2, with songs based on the writings of Brecht, had been banned by Francoist censorship. This was followed by the double LP Lau-Bost (4–5) and 6. His Lekeitios comprised albums 7 through 11, although only a compilation of these was released through low-key marketing. These were followed by 12, and Laboa skipped number 13 in homage to the group Ez Dok Amairu, whose name means "There's no 13" in Basque. Afterwards, he released 14, and his live albums 15 and 16. Not including compilations, his most recent release was 17 (Xoriek). His final collaboration was with the Pasaia group Naizroxa, where he contributed to the first and only song on the first disc, "Iqharaturic." Mikel Laboa died 1 December 2008 at a hospital in Donostia-San Sebastián at the age of 74. Discography Lau herri kanta, 1964 Ursuako Kantak, 1966 Bertold Brecht, 1969 Haika Mutil, 1969 Euskal Kanta Berria, 1972 Bat-Hiru, 1974 Lau-bost, 1980 6 (Sei), 1985 Lekeitioak, 1988 12 (Hamabi), 1989 14 (Hamalau), 1994 Mikel Laboa Zuzenean, 1997 Zuzenean II – Gernika, 2000 60ak+2, 2003 Xoriek – 17, 2005 References External links Mikel Laboa. Biography, recordings, songs, bibliography, newspaper library and other documents. Mikel Laboa Chair, created through a collaboration agreement between the University of the Basque Country and the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council Mikel Laboa in Auñamendi Encyclopaedia (www.euskomedia.org) Interview in www.euskonews.com Interview in Berria (partial) discography at Discogs Basque singers Spanish songwriters Basque-language singers 1934 births 2008 deaths 20th-century Spanish singers 20th-century Spanish male singers