Ruja

Ruja (formed in 1971) was one of the foremost Estonian rock bands of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Band's name comes from a neologism "ruja", for fantasy, though there are people who believe that "ruja" is actually made up of the first letters of the band's important members (R - Rein Rannap, U - Urmas Alender, J - Jaanus Nõgisto and A - Andrus Vaht) The band released their first and self-titled album in 1979. Many of the original melodies of Ruja were composed by Rein Rannap. The band was created by Rein Rannap in 1971, who, while in the 11th grade, was searching for additional band members. On the first meeting, Ruja's three first members were Rein Rannap, Urmas Alender and Andrus Vaht. On September 28, 1994, the band's lead singer, Urmas Alender, died in the disaster that sank the car and passenger ferry M/S Estonia. After Alender's funeral concert a couple of weeks later, the remaining members of the band decided never to perform under the name of "Ruja" again.