Russian singer, musician, producer and composer Mikhail Shufutinsky, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Biography of Mikhail Shufutinsky
Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky born in Moscow, into a Jewish family. His father Zakhar Davidovich- war veteran, doctor. At the age of five, Mikhail’s mother died, and his grandmother raised him Berta Davidovna and grandfather D Avid Yakovlevich. Mikhail graduated music school accordion class and, without hesitation, decided to continue my path in this field of creativity. Mikhail entered School of Music named after Ippolitov-Ivanov, where he studied in the specialties of “conductor”, “choirmaster”, and “teacher of music and singing”.
At the same time and in the same specialty with Mikhail Shufutinsky, Alla Pugacheva studied at the music school.
Creative career of Mikhail Shufutinsky
After graduating from college, Shufutinsky performed with various ensembles in restaurants in Moscow and Magadan, where he performed songs Petra Leshchenko, Alexander Vertinsky, as well as other singers famous at that time.
In 1976, Mikhail Shufutinsky became the head of the famous VIA "Leisya, song", during which the ensemble reached its peak and became popularly loved. Almost all the hits were recorded under him, for which the ensemble is still remembered.
In 1981, Mikhail Shufutinsky emigrated to the USA with his family. At first, he had to forget about his fame as a musician and work as an ordinary laborer.
“I didn’t go there to be what I was here. I didn't go there at all. I was leaving here. Big difference... When I arrived, I took courses in English- emigrant, free. They told me: we will help with the work, we will offer three options. I say: “I’m a musician...” - “What are you talking about? Forget it. There are such musicians here, such a level!..” - “But I led a famous ensemble, I know how to write arrangements, I can work in the studio...” - “No, what do arrangements have to do with it? - they answer. - Then you need to go to the conservatory and study again. You'll get better at selling insurance. Or assemble watches and solder parts. This is a profession!”
But despite all the difficulties, Mikhail managed to return to his real profession: in 1983, already as an arranger, keyboard player and producer Shufutinsky released an album in the USA Anatoly Mogilevsky « We don’t eat this in Odessa" And " I love you, madam"(1984).
About ten years in the States Shufutinsky played in various ensembles in restaurants, created his own show group " Ataman band"(after the name of the restaurant "Ataman").
Mikhail Shufutinsky: “The restaurant is a school, and only real professionals used to play in the restaurant. And in America, getting a job in a Russian restaurant was generally great...”
One day Michael came to Los Angeles for a concert and immediately fell in love with this city. It was during that period that the Russian restaurant boom in Los Angeles occurred. Mikhail, as already famous singer and a musician, were invited to work at the Hollywood restaurant "Arbat". For the emigrant performer, such popularity came as a shock - in the USA he could only count on his former compatriots.
In 1990, for the first time after emigration Mikhail Shufutinsky came to the USSR and gave several concerts. Since then, he constantly came to Russia on tour, until he finally returned to his homeland in 2003.
In 1997, Mikhail Shufutinsky received the “Silver Galosh” in the category “For specific contribution to art.”
In 1998, Shufutinsky wrote an autobiographical book: “And now I’m standing at the line...”.
In 2012, Mikhail tried himself as a voice actor for the cartoon “Brave.”
In 2013, Mikhail Shufutinsky was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Personal life of Mikhail Shufutinsky
In 1971, Mikhail married Margarita Shufutinskaya. During the marriage, the couple had two children. In 2015, Mikhail was widowed.
On this moment the singer lives in a civil marriage with Svetlana Urazova.
Eldest son David Shufutinsky(1972) graduated from the Faculty of Special International Economics and Law from Northridge University and did sound for “Star Wars” by George Lucas, worked for Ted Turner in company CNN. In Russia David successfully did the voice acting for the Disney cartoon " Anastasia", and also worked on projects directed by Timur Bekmambetov. Married Angela Petrosyan. They have three children: Anna (2006), Andrey (1997), Mikhail (2009). The family lives in Moscow.
Younger son singer Anton Shufutinsky(1976) was a US Army Special Forces officer. Married to an African American Brandi. Anton and Brandi, like David, have three children: Dmitry Shufutinsky (1996), Noah (2002) and Zakhar Shufutinsky (2009), all of them live in America, in Philadelphia.
Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky, ageless in appearance and soul, recently celebrated his 70th birthday. The singer was born in 1948 in Moscow and has Jewish roots. He lost his mother early, and his father was a doctor and devoted almost all his time to work. In this regard, Mikhail was raised by his grandparents. It was they who instilled in him a love of art, taught him to sing and play the accordion.
WITH early years Mikhail Shufutinsky attended a music school, where he ended up in the accordion class. At the age of 15, he became seriously interested in jazz, the popularity of which was just emerging in the country at that time. A huge craving for music prompted the future singer to enter the capital’s music school named after. M. M. Ippolitova-Ivanova. Here he received training as a conductor and vocal teacher. After receiving his diploma, the musician and the orchestra went to perform in Magadan, where his creative path began.
Career
Upon returning to Moscow, Mikhail Shufutinsky began performing in the groups “Leisya, Song” and “Accord”. The groups gained great popularity and gave concerts in different cities. At the same time, growing disagreement with the Soviet regime forced Shufutinsky to emigrate to the United States, where he settled in New York. There he performed in restaurants, creating his own orchestra “Ataman”, and was writing his first album “Escape”, which was released in 1983.
It was the first record with such hits as “ Winter evening" and "Taganka", will later glorify the singer in his abandoned homeland. In addition, after recording the album, Mikhail finally chose chanson as his musical direction. His performances attracted full houses not only in New York, but also in Los Angeles, and after the collapse of the USSR, the singer began to come on tour to Russia, where they listened to him with pleasure.
Mikhail Shufutinsky performed not only songs own composition, but also works from the repertoire of Alexander Rosenbaum, Vyacheslav Dobrynin, Igor Krutoy and others famous composers. It is the latter who is the author of the sensational composition “The Third of September”, thanks to which Mikhail Zakharovich is well known and remembered to this day. In the early 2000s, the singer decided to move to Russia for permanent residence. He has released more than 20 albums from 1983 to 2016, and many of his works are frequently heard on radio and television.
Personal life
Mikhail Shufutinsky is an example of a wonderful family man. In 1971, the singer married his beloved woman, Margarita, whose marriage gave him sons David and Anton. The younger brother currently lives with his family in the American state of Philadelphia, while the eldest is in Moscow, closer to his father. The Shufutinsky family often gets together in the USA.
In 2015, the famous chansonnier suffered a misfortune: his beloved wife Margarita died at the age of 66. Now Mikhail Shufutinsky is supported by his loving children and grandchildren. He continues to actively perform on stage, and in 2016 he became one of the teachers at the Academy Russian Music. The singer is also one of the regular presenters and laureates Russian Prize“Chanson of the Year”, held annually in the Kremlin.
Mikhail Shufutinsky – Russian crooner, music producer, composer and pianist, multiple winner"Chanson of the Year" award. The author managed to combine in his works the features of urban romance and bard song, leaving the most important thing in the music - sincerity.
Childhood and youth
Mikhail Shufutinsky was born in Moscow on April 13, 1948 into a Jewish family. The musician’s father, Zakhar Davidovich, was a participant in the Great Patriotic War, later worked as a doctor and devoted a lot of time to work. He turned out to be musical man– played the trumpet, guitar, sang well. The future chansonnier’s mother died suddenly when the boy was five years old, so the singer remembers her little.
Due to the father’s difficult shift work, grandmother Berta Davidovna and grandfather David Yakovlevich began raising the child, who not only taught and guided Misha, but also developed the child’s taste and love for art. Noticing his grandson's craving for music, the grandfather began to teach the child to play the accordion.
At the age of seven, Mikhail entered a music school. But due to the fact that at that time the accordion was not taught in Soviet music schools, considering this instrument an echo of bourgeois culture, Misha went to the button accordion class - folk instrument, somewhat similar to the one on which the boy began musical education.
The future singer loved and appreciated classes at the music school; after a few years he was already fluent in the instrument and was a regular participant in school orchestras and ensembles. Every week, together with his grandfather, the young man organized impromptu concerts in the courtyard of the house where his family lived. Mikhail enjoyed playing the repertoire that he liked.
From the age of fifteen, Misha became seriously interested in a new direction in music - jazz, which only began to appear on Soviet stages, and very unofficially. Thus, being just a teenager, Mikhail chose his life path. Therefore, upon completion secondary school Shufutinsky, without hesitation, submitted documents to the Moscow Music College named after Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov.
After graduating from music school, having received the qualifications of conductor, choirmaster, music and singing teacher, the musician and the orchestra leave for Magadan to perform at the Severny restaurant. There Shufutinsky first approached the microphone as a vocal performer, although out of necessity - replacing the main singers. Shufutinsky’s favorite authors were and, whose songs were included in the repertoire of the aspiring artist.
Music
Later, Mikhail Zakharovich returned to Moscow and worked in several musical groups, for example, in the then popular “Chord” and “Leisya, song”. The last ensemble was a success: the guys recorded records at the Melodiya studio, traveled around the cities of Russia, where the musicians were warmly received by enthusiastic fans.
Mikhail Shufutinsky and VIA "Leisya, song" Shufutinsky's conflict with the Soviet regime was growing, so in the early 80s the musician immigrated with his family and moved to New York through Austria and Italy.
At first, in the USA, the musician works as an accompanist, playing mainly the piano. Later he creates his own orchestra, “Ataman”, with which he regularly performs in the New York restaurants “Pearl”, “Paradise” and “National”
In 1983, Shufutinsky presented his first album entitled “Escape”. The album includes 13 compositions: “Taganka”, “ Farewell letter", "You are far from me", "Winter Evening" and others.
When the Ataman ensemble gained popularity in immigrant circles, Shufutinsky received an offer to perform in Los Angeles, where at that moment there was a boom in Russian songs in the chanson style. Then Shufutinsky's fame reached its peak.
Mikhail Shufutinsky - "Russian Autumn"Shufutinsky's music was listened to and loved not only in immigration, but also in the Soviet Union, which was confirmed by the first tours in his homeland, when the audience filled even large halls and stadiums.
In the 90s, Shufutinsky returned to Russia and after that lived permanently in Moscow. In 1997, the artist published the book “And Here I Stand at the Line...”, in which Mikhail introduced fans to the facts of his biography. Later the collection " Best songs. Lyrics and chords."
Mikhail Shufutinsky - "Left Bank of the Don"In 2002, the musician received the first “Chanson of the Year” award in his career for the songs “Alenka”, “Nakolochka” and “Topolya”. From now on, Shufutinsky receives this award every year.
During creative career Mikhail Shufutinsky wrote, performed and produced many famous hits. Songs such as “Two Candles”, “Third of September”, “Palma de Mallorca”, “Night Guest” became popular, which paradoxically gained popularity under the name “Knives Not Sharpened”, “Khreshchatyk”, “Left Bank of the Don” , “Come to see us”, “Duck Hunt”, “For lovely ladies” and others.
Mikhail Shufutinsky - "Jewish Tailor"The song “The Third of September” is so popular that with the spread of the Internet and social networks, September 3 has become the unofficial Shufutinsky Day; flash mobs are held on this day, and groups on social networks massively post memes and quotes from this song.
Shufutinsky also shot 26 music videos for his songs, as listed on the musician’s official YouTube channel. The videos were made on the compositions “The Soul Hurts”, “Mom”, “ New Year in the cabin”, “Love is alive” and others. In total, during his performing biography, Shufutinsky has released twenty-eight albums and a huge variety of different collections of songs. The singer's repertoire also includes several popular duet recordings. In addition, Shufutinsky produced records of other musicians - Maya Rozova, Anatoly Mogilevsky.
Mikhail Shufutinsky - "White Roses"Besides the main thing musical creativity, Mikhail Shufutinsky is engaged in dubbing animated films, has experience filming in a feature film, albeit in a cameo role.
In 2009, Mikhail Shufutinsky became a participant in the music show “Two Stars”, where he performed together with. The duet performed the songs “White Roses”, “A Drop of Warmth”, “Taganka” and other popular hits from the works of both Shufutinsky and other musicians.
Mikhail Shufutinsky and Alika Smekhova - "A Drop of Warmth"On April 13, 2013, Mikhail Zakharovich gave a concert in honor of his anniversary in Crocus City Hall, which was called “Birthday Concert”. Shufutinsky performed popular songs of past years: “The Third of September”, “For Lovely Ladies”, “I Adore”, “The Jewish Tailor”, “Marjanja”, “Nakolochka” and others.
In April 2016, Shufutinsky presented new album“I Just Love Slowly,” which included 14 compositions. In addition to the title song of the same name, the disc includes solo compositions “We’ll wait and see”, “Tanya, Tanechka”, “Provincial Jazz”, a duet with Eteri Beriashvili “I Treasure You”, a collaboration with Varya Demidova “Snow” and others.
Mikhail Shufutinsky - "Marjanja"On September 27, 2016, the musician was invited to become part of Russian Academy music and accept the post of academician. On December 2, 2016, Mikhail Zakharovich gave a solo concert “Chanson before Christmas” in Moscow State Theater stage.
By 2016, the discography of the “king of chanson” reached 29 albums, including collaborations with Suzanne Tepper (1989) and (2004). Shufutinsky annually won the “Chanson of the Year” award for 15 years.
Famous chansonnier Mikhail Shufutinsky In April and May 2017, the musician toured the country and gave solo concerts in Moscow, Sevastopol, Korolev, Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk, Barnaul, Novosibirsk, Kolomna, St. Petersburg and other cities.
Personal life
A stately, impressive man (Mikhail’s height is 187 cm, weight is 100 kg) has always attracted the attention of the opposite sex. But unlike many public people, Mikhail Shufutinsky is an excellent family man. The musician was married only once. In 1971, he married Margarita Mikhailovna, whom he had known for several years. In this marriage, Shufutinsky had two sons - David, born in 1972, and Anton, who was born two years later.
Now the brothers are separated by an ocean. Anton lives with his wife and four children in Philadelphia, where he teaches at a local university and is writing his doctoral dissertation. David, his wife and three children permanently live in Moscow, engaged in production activities.
To be closer to Anton, Shufutinsky bought a house not far from him. Together with his wife, Mikhail started renovations in the mansion, which lasted for long time. It was assumed that the couple would live there together, visiting relatives. But the intention could not be realized.
Mikhail Shufutinsky with his wife Margarita in his youth and now At the beginning of 2015, grief happened in the singer’s family - Shufutinsky buried his faithful life partner Margarita, who died in America while visiting the family of her youngest son. The cause of Margarita’s death was heart failure, which the woman suffered from for many years.
At the time of her departure, Mikhail was on tour in Israel. There were no signs of tragedy. When the woman stopped answering her husband’s calls, he did not attach any importance to it, because the difference in time zones was significant. After a while, the sons also noticed their mother’s disappearance. They were able to enter the apartment only with the help of the police.
Mikhail considers the death of his wife the most difficult loss in his life; for the singer, Margarita forever remained the keeper of the hearth and his personal guardian angel. The couple lived happily together for 44 years.
Mikhail Shufutinsky now
2018 turned out to be an anniversary year for the artist - in April Mikhail Shufutinsky celebrated his 70th birthday. The artist celebrated the beginning of the year with a performance at the “Chanson of the Year” concert with the song “She Was Just a Girl” and a duet with “Peter-Moscow”. Thanks to these compositions, the singer again became a laureate of the prestigious award.
Anastasia Spiridonova and Mikhail Shufutinsky - “Peter-Moscow”, Lyubov Uspenskaya and others. Now Mikhail Shufutinsky plans to visit Israel on a tour, and in the fall he will continue touring Russia.
On the eve of the anniversary, changes arose in the personal life of Mikhail Shufutinsky. In the spring, the artist introduced his beloved dancer Svetlana Urazova to the public, who turned out to be 30 years younger than the singer. This age difference does not prevent Mikhail and Svetlana from being happy, but when asked about the wedding, the singer jokes that he is still too young to get married. The couple has already appeared in public, as evidenced by joint photos of lovers in the media.
Discography
- 1982 - “Escape”
- 1983 - “Ataman”
- 1984 - “Gulliver”
- 1985 - “Amnesty”
- 1987 - “White Stork”
- 1993 - “Kisa-Kisa”
- 1994 - “Walk, Soul”
- 1995 - “Oh, Women”
- 1996 - " Good evening, gentlemen"
- 2006 - “Duets of different years”
- 2009 – “Brato”
- 2013 – “Love story”
- 2016 – “I Just Love Slowly”
"Shufutinsky Mikhail Zakharovich" A very popular pop singer, currently a US citizen. Attracts the public with a representative appearance.
His work can be called a synthesis of criminal and bard songs, and urban romance. Mikhail Shufutinsky has his own orchestra and ballet group, he performs songs by the most famous Russian composers. Born in Moscow in 1948. He graduated from a music school in the button accordion class and the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College with a degree in choir conductor. He performed with various ensembles in Moscow in the "Warsaw" and "Metropol" restaurants, accompanied the vocal and comedy duet Shurov and Rykunin, then in 1971, together with the musicians: Igor Logachev, drummer Leonid Lobkovsky, saxophonist Valery Katsnelson and singer Nikolai Kasyanov, he went to Magadan. In the Magadan restaurant "Severny" M.Z. Shufutinsky began not only to play, but also to sing. The repertoire consisted of songs by Alexander Vertinsky, Pyotr Leshchenko, and popular “thieves” songs in this environment: “Waddle Sailor”, “Track”, “Kolyma Highway:”, “Ships Will Stand”, etc. After returning from Magadan (1974. ) worked for some time as a pianist in the Accord quartet, making arrangements for this ensemble. Then M.Z. Shufutinsky became the leader of the VIA (vocal and instrumental ensemble) "Leisya, Song", which mainly performed songs by Vyacheslav Dobrynin. M.Z. Shufutinsky made arrangements and accompanied, but did not sing himself. One of V. Dobrynin’s songs - “The white bird cherry will spin:” - was recorded by Anna German with the ensemble. In 1978, VIA "Leisya, Song" took first place in All-Russian competition pop song performers in Sochi. In February 1981, M.Z. Shufutinsky emigrated to America with his family. For about ten years he played as part of various ensembles in the restaurants "Russian Izba", "Zhemchuzhina", "Arbat", "Moscow Nights", and became the most highly paid singer emigration. He acted as an accompanist for singer Nina Brodskaya. Produced two solo album Anatoly Mogilevsky, who previously worked in the ensemble "Gems" with Yuri Malikov, albums by Mikhail Gulko: "Blue Sky of Russia" and "Burnt Bridges" (emigrant-White Guard themes). M.Z. Shufutinsky created his own show - the Ataman Band (as well as the Ataman restaurant), and in 1989 the first album "Escape" was recorded at the Prince Enterprises studio. For the first time since he emigrated, M.Z. Shufutinsky came to Russia in the summer of 1990 - he performed on tour accompanied by the Express ensemble. The Melodiya company released the album "Mikhail Shufutinsky in Moscow", which included songs such as: "Roman" (A. Rosenbaum), "Old Cafe" (V. Gorbatov), "Lyusya" (S. Berezin). Since 1993, M. Z. Shufutinsky constantly comes to Russia on tour, however, he records his albums in America. At the same time, he now gives preference to pop songs. Signs a contract with the company "Russian Supply" for the release of the album "Kisa, Kitty". In the television program "Song - 93" he performed Vyacheslav Dobrynin's song "Two Candles". Begins cooperation with the company "ARS". Mikhail Shufutinsky actively collaborates with composer Igor Krutoy, performing many of his songs: “How it rains obliquely in Russia”, “September 3rd”, “Velvet Season”, “May you dream of Palma de Mallorca”, “Let go”. In 1996 - 1997 Shufutinsky is touring Russia, recording a new song album with Igor Krutoy. Mikhail Shufutinsky's repertoire includes songs by such authors as: Oleg Mityaev ("Night Guest"), Alexander Rosenbaum ("Gop - Stop", "Khreshchatyk"), Oleg Gazmanov ("Putana") and many others. Video clips were shot for the songs “Night Guest” (1993, directed by T. Keosayan), “Marina” (directed by S. Kalvarsky), “Autumn in Philadelphia.” Since 1996, he has been producing the duet "Taste of Honey", which performs at Mikhail Shufutinsky's concerts. One of the soloists, Tatyana Anis, worked in the show group of Mikhail Shufutinsky “Ataman”. The second member of the duet, Alena Ivantsova, starred in the video “Rain Man,” which was filmed shortly before the formation of the group. The family of M.Z. Shufutinsky lives in Los Angeles. The eldest son David successfully works for a large television company. The youngest son Anton lives in Hawaii, studying to become a doctor; took part in the creation of the song "Ch
black pistol" (in rap style). Mikhail Shufutinsky received the "Silver Galosh" for his contribution to show business.
Albums:
"Escape" (1989)
"Mikhail Shufutinsky in Moscow" (1991)
"Kisa - kitty" (1993)
"Best Songs - 1" (1993)
"Ataman" (1994)
"Love Island" (1994)
"Best Songs - 2" (1994)
"Best Songs - 3" (1994)
"White Stork" (1994)
"Stars of the Russian emigration sing the songs of I. Reznik" (1994)
"Love is like a dream. Creative evening of I. Krutoy" (1994)
"My One and Only" (1994)
"My Life" (1994)
"No problem (1994)
"Moscow Evenings" (1994)
Collection "Speech"? 2. Melodies of the Russian soul" (1994)
"Thank you, Sasha Rosenbaum!" (1994)
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Biography, life story of Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky
Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky (b. 04/13/1948) - pop singer, composer and poet,Childhood and youth
Born on April 13, 1948 in Moscow. Father - Zakhar Davidovich, a doctor who participated in the Great Patriotic War, Jewish by nationality. Unfortunately, Mikhail’s mother died when the boy was only five years old. Misha was raised by his grandparents, Berda Davidovna and David Yakovlevich.
Education
He graduated from a music school in the button accordion class and from the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College with a degree in choral conductor.
Career
He played in various ensembles in the Warsaw and Metropol restaurants. He accompanied the vocal-comedy duet of Shurov and Rykunin.
In the early 70s, together with musicians Igor Logachev, drummer Leonid Lobkovsky, saxophonist Valery Katsnelson and singer Nikolai Kasyanov, he moved to Magadan. He performs at the Severny restaurant, performing songs from the repertoire, and makes his first tape recordings there.
Returning from Magadan, he worked for a short time as a pianist in the Accord ensemble. Then he became the leader of the vocal-instrumental ensemble "Leisya, Song", whose repertoire was based mainly on songs. In 1978, the group took first place at the All-Russian Pop Song Performers Competition in Sochi.
In February 1981 he emigrated with his family to America. He performed as an accompanist with singer N. Brodskaya. As part of various ensembles he played in the restaurants "Russian Izba", "Pearl", Moscow Nights.
Produced two solo albums (ex-"Gems"), M. Gulko's albums "Blue Sky of Russia" and "Burnt Bridges". He assembled his own orchestra “Ataman Band” and in 1984 recorded his debut album “Escape” at the Prince Enterprises studio.
In the summer of 1990, he began touring in Russia, performing with the Express ensemble. Recorded the album "M. Shufutinsky in Moscow" at the Melodiya company. Started producing in 1996 new group"A Taste of Honey".
CONTINUED BELOW
In 1997, Mikhail Zakharovich published an autobiography book “And here I am standing at the line...”.
In 2003, Shufutinsky returned to Russia.
Personal life
On January 2, 1971, Mikhail Shufutinsky married Margarita Mikhailovna, his first and only lover. Margarita gave her husband two wonderful sons - David (born in 1972) and Anton (born in 1974). Margarita Mikhailovna passed away on June 5, 2015.
Press (interviews from previous years)
Mikhail Shufutinsky: "I got married in Magadan".
Mikhail Shufutinsky is destined to be between America and Russia. In the States he has luxury mansion in the vicinity of Los Angeles, in Moscow - no less representative, but a hotel room. In America - son Anton, who managed to acquire two charming children, in Russia - eldest son David. In the USA - his wife Margarita, with whom they lived for more than 30 years, and in Russia... work. Shufutinsky’s affair with work, or, simply put, with music, lasts several years longer than with his legal wife. It all started with a music school, where Mikhail Zakharovich studied, by the way, with the future Prima Donna herself.
“We were often turned away at the entrance to the school - we didn’t go through face control, you know. Long hair, super short miniskirt - they were very progressive. At that time we had already assembled a small orchestra: piano, double bass, drums, saxophone. Singing was not particularly cultivated then, more and more instrumentals. But if a soloist was needed, they called her along. For us, playing at a dance at Moscow State University and earning a tenner was considered happiness. That's how we worked part-time".
“After graduating from music school, did your work become more serious?” .
“The work is never frivolous. I got on the schedule at the Mosconcert. And what was it like there? There was a schedule: today you play at a bakery, and tomorrow somewhere in the construction department. Universal accompanists were required everywhere: for a gymnastic number, which singer to play along with, a satirist. Therefore, literally everyone used us: from to... And you never know where you could earn extra money at dances, in fashionable cafes: “Blue Bird”, “Aelita”, “Molodezhnoe”. Well, the restaurant is, of course, the best. what could you come up with? After all, there was a permanent orchestra there, the money was stable. And it was not at all shameful to play in a restaurant. On the contrary, many were envious - after all, the whole stage worked in restaurants.".
“If everything was going so well, why did you decide to move to distant Magadan at the age of 23?” .
“It’s very simple. I was once called to the Department of Internal Affairs. There was a man in uniform sitting there who specifically told me: “You have now graduated from music school. We can offer you Good work in Krasnoyarsk musical theater assistant conductor. We are watching you closely. Think about whether you should stay in Moscow." And Krasnoyarsk... What kind of orchestra could there be? 12 people sitting in the orchestra pit, a conductor who should have retired a hundred years ago. There is simply nothing for an assistant conductor to do there. And then It was a bad time. Nixon was supposed to arrive and everyone was shaking for their dear soul. I had to seriously think about it. Just before that I was with one. jazz singer on tour in the North. Then with the musicians, and they offered me to work in Magadan. And here's the story. I realized it’s better to leave for a while. I wasn’t even a Komsomol member, they could have just deported me...".
“And you, a pampered resident of the capital, were not frightened by the conditions of the North?” .
“Yes, the cold there is not so terrible. Of course, the winter there is colder than in Moscow, but the summer is hot. Everything is quite bearable, people somehow live there. And in general, there was romance, at that age, everyone in one place. , a man met me and took me to the city. I saw: desert and desert all around. There was simply a problem with housing: it was impossible to get an apartment for us, five musicians, in one room, just the two of us. slept on the couch".
“But they probably earned decent money?” .
“Yes, it’s a sin to complain - from a thousand to one and a half a month. We worked every day, sang everything. They played, as they say, in all keys, for all nationalities: “Lilies of the Valley”, and “Mishka, Mishka”, and “Caravan” By that time, the first records had already appeared, and these songs, of course, went with a bang.".
“What, was the clientele in Magadan restaurants so rich?” .
“Where from?! Then the rich didn’t shine, as they do today, in restaurants wearing diamond rings. It was impossible. Sailors, fishermen, prospectors went to the mines between seasons. They walked, of course, in black fashion. This is Magadan, the North, Kolyma !".
“I think you got married in Magadan?” .
“Yes. One drummer, Lenya, played with me at the Warsaw restaurant, and we became very friendly. One day he says: “I’m meeting a girl alone on Sunday, and she has a friend. Let's go together." On Sunday we meet near the Kuzminki metro station. I approach: there is no one, only some lonely girl is standing. Well, I, so impudent, approach and say: “Aren't you waiting for me?” “No,” he says, - not you, for sure." And just then Lenya and the girl appeared. “Oh,” they say, “have you met Rita yet?” It turned out to be that same friend. We went to the cinema, then took some wine. But Rita didn’t drink , she had to go to work soon for the evening shift. Well, of course, I took a taxi, I wanted to kiss her at the entrance, but she didn’t give me her phone, she just took mine. I’ll call you sometime." Well, I think it’s all over. And a few days later Rita called. We dated for about a year with short breaks. We broke up a couple of times. I was leaving for Magadan when we quarreled. And suddenly she came to the airport to accompany me. A few days later I called her from there.".
“So it’s all a matter of chance?..” .
“Yes, all the time there were some accidents that did not allow us to part. And there was no particular reason. Rita is a very flexible girl, it was I who was a daredevil, did not behave quite correctly, impudently. After all, restaurant work, musician , always in public, money, again, was around. Of course, he hung out with the girls, didn’t limit himself in anything, didn’t tie himself to anything: back and forth, taxi-maxi, cultural culture. When you’re 20, you meet one. , on the other hand, I went somewhere, you can’t spend the night at home like everyone else.”.
“And what, at one point, such a reveler decided to settle down?” .
"Well, we fell in love with each other. In the North you rethink a lot, life there is completely different. Rita moved in with me. And, interestingly, secretly. She lied to her parents that she was going to Dagomys, to a rest home. I rented an apartment for 60 rubles a month , which was considered quite decent money. They began to live together. She cooked for me, waited for me from work, and became my wife. We officially got married on January 1 (according to other sources, January 2 - editor's note) 1972. - the most successful year for a wedding, we thought everyone was free. And indeed, 22 people came, had a good time - and on August 29, David was born.".
"But calm family life it still didn't work out. I had to wander around cities and towns..." .
"We were invited to Kamchatka. The climate there is warmer, Japanese and Korean ships are interesting. Kamchatka was then a closed border zone - you can’t just come and go. They sent me someone else’s passport in the name of a certain Semyon Belfort, a saxophonist from Petropavlovsk. Apart from the beard, which I already had at that time, he and I were like twin brothers. And I left, and sent Rita and my son to Moscow. And so we lived: we left and came. And then we got tired of everything and we rushed to Sochi with the musicians. which at all times have been a Mecca for everyone who likes to walk and relax. Moreover, they paid much more in tips than in Kamchatka. But a year later I finally returned to Moscow, where by that time my second child was born.".
“Is it hard to enter the same river twice? Do you mean returning to Moscow?” .
“It didn’t cost anything, there were so many acquaintances around. I was invited to the Mosconcert: he assembled orchestras, made arrangements. And then he hired me as artistic director of the ensemble “Leisya, Song”, which sang his hits: “Farewell”, “If you want, I’ll be in your face.” ..", "Where have you been?" scary, they broke through any police barriers. scandalous group there was - there were always problems with artistic councils".
“Isn’t that when you first started thinking about leaving the country?” .
“Probably... Everything was annoying. They didn’t let me go abroad, they didn’t show me on TV. Why, one wonders, can’t I be shown on TV? Because I have a beard? But Karl Marx is allowed, right?! In ’78 we were invited to Sochi for the pop song festival. And we have a lineup: 2 trumpets, a trombone, a saxophone, a great guitarist, a supergroup. We played all of “Chicago” by heart. And now we’re playing the first round, and we’re going through to the second round. "from the Ministry of Culture with a demand to remove us from the festival because we violated the tour plan. We are removed. The entire jury is assembled under the chairmanship and suddenly they slam their fist on the table: "No! No one will take them off - or I will turn around and leave. I won’t sit on the jury." It was only thanks to us that we stayed. And then we also took first place. And when we returned to Moscow, for failure to comply with the order of the Ministry of Culture, we were removed from the tour schedule for six months and deprived of our tour certificates. This was the last straw, I’m serious I was thinking about leaving here".
“Is everything really that boring?” .
“What, do I give the impression of a frivolous person? I’m an adult, I have a family, two sons - why should I adapt to someone else all my life? But leaving at that time was incredibly difficult. Therefore, I left the team in advance. But to to submit an application, I had to get a call from relatives from Israel, whom I didn’t have, of course. My friends sent me calls, but they didn’t reach me, they ended up in the KGB. But good people taught me. I came to the Main Post Office and ordered. phone conversation with a friend in Israel and openly stated: “The call doesn’t reach me, do something.” The next day I received three calls at once. International conversations were listened to not only by the KGB... I submitted documents, but then waited another two years for permission. It was a bit difficult: I couldn’t work – I was already under the hood. The money began to run out, and both the apartment and the car were mortgaged. And when my nerves were already at their limit, they called me from the OVIR: “We are thinking here whether to let you go or not.” That's it, I realized that I was released. On February 9, 1981 we left".
“Were you afraid that you were leaving for the unknown?” .
“I dreamed of America. I knew exactly what I could lose here, but I didn’t know what I could get there. I wasn’t leaving there, but from here. My wife was afraid to go to New York. She said: “Let’s go somewhere quieter.” To Australia, for example." But I wasn’t afraid of anything. Although, when I arrived at Brighton Beach, I was a little surprised. I thought it was at least Kalininsky Prospekt. But I saw these small houses, a subway rattling around the clock and tons of garbage in the evenings near the shops. But nothing irritated me. I came to a country where, for the first time in my life, no one told me what to say, how to dress. I settled with a friend and almost immediately got a job to accompany the singer Nina Brodskaya. to go to Russian-Jewish centers - 100 dollars for a concert. Of course, I agreed. I was offered a job in A-mer-ri-ke. Without documents, without a passport, without anything. We are driving in the car, two border guards come out: “Who are you?” She asks: “We are Russians, we are having a wedding in Toronto.” They say: “Come on, it was such a shock for me.” Then we went back: Detroit. Cleveland, Chicago, Philadelphia... I earned two thousand dollars, bought tools, started working full-time in a restaurant, and the children went to school. Yes, I'm completely fine!".
“Is this the first time they started singing in the States too?” .
"Yes. One day, the singer whom I was accompanying suddenly fell ill. And the hall was full, all forty people were sitting. And I started singing, but what could I do? I sang all the songs that I knew: from Magadan, hooligan, different ones. Everyone liked it and me too. So we were paid 40 dollars, and here I was alone - 60. And I began to sing. Why did I absorb these songs with my mother’s milk? When I was five years old, I fell asleep listening to my dad’s singing, to “Taganka.” And, of course, our emigrants were drawn to everything that was prohibited here.".
“Mikhail Zakharovich, did you know then that your songs had become popular on the other side of the ocean?” .
“No, then no one here knew about them. It started later, when I started recording cassettes. I borrowed 3.5 thousand dollars, went to the studio and recorded the first album - “Escape”. Three months later I returned the money. The cassette, that It’s called “go.” And the second album “Ataman” literally bombed everyone there. I had an orchestra, the best in exile, we received the richest works, the most prestigious evenings, but we couldn’t earn a lot of money. The circulation of the cassettes was very small. The first edition was a thousand copies, and it sold slowly, for almost six months, as soon as someone bought the cassette, he immediately copied it to all his friends, and even sent it to other cities. sales were impossible. Of course, I made money, but not with this. Before coming here, I received about a thousand dollars a week. But my success then far exceeded my earnings.".
"What is the reason that you returned here? Money?" .
"Why money? Here he listens to me a hundred times more people than there. This means that I am in demand a hundred times more. Where should a person live? Where is it in demand? Is it true? In 90, I did not return to the Union yet, I just came on tour. It turned out that in three months we gave 75 concerts in stadiums. The collapse was complete! Of course, for this country I was a hero and earned much more - a completely different level.".
"At that time you had some problems with