Valery Yakovlevich Leontiev[a] (Russian: Валерий Яковлевич Леонтьев; born 19 March 1949) is a Soviet and Russian pop singer, sometimes songwriter and actor whose popularity peaked in the early 1980s. He was titled a People's Artist of Russia in 1996.[1] He is known as one of the most prominent artists of Soviet and Russian music.[2] Over the course of his decades-long career, he has recorded more than 30 albums, many of which sold millions of copies. The media refers to Leontiev as a megastar and a legend of the Russian stage.[3][4][5]
Valery Yakovlevich Leontiev was born on 19 March 1949, in Ust-Usa, a village in what is now Russia's Komi Republic. In 1961 the family moved to the city Yuryevets in Ivanovo Oblast.
Musical careeredit
Leontiev's first performance on the big stage took place in 1971, during the Vorkuta regional competition "Song-71". There, Leontiev took second place with the song "Carnaval".
In 1980 Leontiev sang in various concerts, including the Moscow Variety Theatre, Oktyabrsky and Luzhniki. In 1981, the artist won the popularity prize at the prestigious music festival Yerevan-81. American journalists who attended the event noted the expressive manner of performing of the singer and compared him to Mick Jagger.[6] In 1982, Leontiev underwent a serious operation to remove a tumor from his throat, which jeopardized his further singing career.
In 1983, the singer moves to work in the Voroshilovgrad Philharmonic (now Luhansk Philharmonic) in the Ukrainian SSR. A year later, he was given a whole section in the author's evening "Holy love of music" by composer Raimond Pauls in Moscow.[7]
The beginning of the 90s was marked for Leontiev splash touring. His concerts were held in Germany, Israel, USA, Canada, India and other countries. In 1991 Leontiev was named the "Best Selling Soviet Artist" at the World Music Awards ceremony in Monte Carlo.[8] In 1994 he performed on stage with Gina Lollobrigida[9] in Saint-Petersburg concert hall "Oktyabrskiy", and in 1996 he was awarded the title People's Artist of Russia. in March 1998 а nominal star of Valery Leontiev was opened on the Star Square in Moscow.[10] in 1999 Leontiev was awarded the "Living Legend Award" at the Russian national music award "Ovation".[11]
1983 – concert program, "I'm just a singer" (18 sold-out concerts in Leningrad)
1984 – concert program, "I run for life"
1985 – concert program, "Alone with all", which became a cult. Because queues for tickets on a few central streets of Leningrad stopped traffic. 10 concerts
1986 – concert program "Star story" Tour in Czechoslovakia.
1987 – concert program "Favorites", Tour in Bulgaria.
1988 June – 1989 November – rock opera "Giordano", more than 50 concerts in Moscow and Leningrad. Leontiev plays 3 main roles (out of 4!) – Giordano Bruno, a clown and Satan.
1988–1989 grand tour of cities of the USSR. For example, only one Novosibirsk in 1988 Leontiev gives a series of 27 recitals.[13] and in Almaty 33 solo concerts.
1990 – show "It seems to me that I have not lived" in the Olympic Stadium. Concerts in USA, India, Germany, Israel
1993 – show "Full Moon" – first super-show in Russia
1994 – show "Beauty and Casanova" – the first concert of pop star with a symphony orchestra in Russia. With the participation of the sex symbol of the 1960 Gina Lollobrigida.[14] Tour in Israel.
1996 – show "On the road to Hollywood", touring in the US, Germany, Israel, Canada
1998 – Concert on the Star Square, a solo concert at the 50 th anniversary of the State of Israel (Tel Aviv, 14 May 1998), a tour in Germany, the United States and the United Arab Emirates
1999 super-show "Photographer of Dreams", a tour to Russia, Ukraine, Israel, United States, Canada, Germany, Baltic states
2001 super-show "Unnamed Planet", a tour to Russia, Ukraine, Baltic States, United States, Germany.
2009–2010 an anniversary show of "I love you, miss you, I'm waiting". Tour in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, USA., Israel, Australia, concert in Sydney, Melbourne.
Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 3th class (21 February 2022) – for a great contribution to the development of national culture and art, many years of fruitful activity[34]
2003: Three tunes for the film Valery Leontiev (Три мелодии для фильма Валерия Леонтьева)
2009: Valery Leontiev in Komi (Валерий Леонтьев в Коми)
2009: I have not lived. Valery Leontiev (— Я ещё не жил. Валерий Леонтьев) movie channel ORT
2009: Valery Leontiev: Lost laughter (Валерий Леонтьев: Утерянный смех) movie channel Inter
2009: Benefit Valery Leontiev "The Book of Fate" (Бенефис Валерия Леонтьева "Книга судьбы") movie channel NTV
2012: Anniversary concert of Valery Leontiev "The best ever!" (Юбилейный концерт Валерия Леонтьева "Лучший навсегда!") concert channelORT
2012: "Hurtling time if a rider" ("Мчится время будто всадник") movie channel TV Tsentr
Personal lifeedit
Valery Leontiev is married to bass guitarist Lyudmila Isakovich.[46][47] The couple have been together since 1972. However, officially their marriage was registered only in 1998. The artist's wife lives in Miami.
Eurovision Song Contest 1987edit
The Soviet Union never participated in the Eurovision Song Contest, as no Soviet broadcasters were members of the EBU. In 2009 Eduard Fomin, a former employee of the Ministry of Education of the RSFSR, revealed that in 1987 George Veselov, the Minister of Education for the Soviet Union, brought forward the idea of Soviet participation in the EBU and the Eurovision Song Contest due to the number of political reforms made by the Soviet General SecretaryMikhail Gorbachev during the late 1980s. The idea was mainly a political one, with the thought that a win in the contest for the Soviet Union would impact on the relationships between the Soviet Union and the capitalist countries of the west. Valery Leontiev was suggested as a singer for the Soviet Union's first entry into the contest, but Veselov's ideas were not shared by the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, or by Gorbachev himself, believing it to be too radical a step to take, and so the Soviet Union never entered the contest before dissolving.[48]
Statements about Leontievedit
President Vladimir Putin: "You rightly recognized master of song genre, artist who reached the summits of Pop Olympus thanks to genuine talent, professionalism and hard work"[49][50]
President Dmitry Medvedev: "Over the years, the bright stage career, you not only have gained a great love of fans, but also sets a high standard of music for the new generations of artists. The songs performed by you, always lead not only in the charts, but also in the hearts of an audience of millions".[51][52]
President Alexander Lukashenko: "Great talent, unparalleled professional skills and constant creative search brought you a well-deserved fame and recognition around the world"[53]
Politician Valentina Matviyenko "You have created a stage persona which has never been on the stage and I am sure that nobody will never repeat, and you follow this image"[54]
Singer Muslim Magomayev: "Name Valery Leontiev enough just to name – and do not have any colorful definitions! Everything is clear! Living Classic of our stage".[55]
Singer Joseph Kobzon: "Tragically, we have a unit of this magnitude stars – Pugacheva, Leontiev ... Those people who for many years retain their creative person and love of the public" [56]
On account of Valery Leontiev there is even a duet with Vladimir Putin: in August 2006 in Sochi, a concert for the heads of the CIS, which Leontiev worked for a program of four songs. In the final speech, when the artist was called for an encore, he decided to perform the song "Hope." Suddenly, he was joined by Vladimir Putin, at that time president of Russia – Leontiev handed him a microphone. Star duo snatched the applause, as the leaders of CIS countries, as well as fellow artists.[62]
Nu, pogodi! Episode 16 – Valery Leontiev song Green Light was played by the Wolf when he was caught by Baba Yaga, on the magical guitar. The Wolf does escape however, but lands on the water.
^Награждён указом президента России № 366 от 9 марта 1996 года Archived 2012-01-05 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 January 2016.
^"Most famous, best Russian male singers. Top 10 list 2016. Sänger Russland". 6 June 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
^Валерий Леонтьев: Секс, шампанское и рок-н-ролл [Valery Leontiev: Sex, champaigne and rock-'n'-roll»]. Moskovskij Komsomolets. 17 March 2010.
^«В Саратове Валерий Леонтьев скрывался от поклонников» [«In Saratov Valery Leontiev was hiding from fans»]. Komsomolskaya Pravda. 19 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2012.
^Вечерняя Москва.«"Валерий Леонтьев. Книга судьбы"» Archived 2012-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
^"Tired? Nyet! Woodstock, Yerevan style". www.vl-club.ru. Retrieved 16 February 2019. Valeri Leontiev, 32, a booted, bolero-suited dancing rocker whose performance falls somewhere between those of Mick Jagger and Mikhail Baryshnikov
^Valery Leontiev video channel. "Валерий Леонтьев. Святая к музыке любовь, 1984 год". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018 – via YouTube.
^Валерий Леонтьев. "Валерий Леонтьев - Птица в клетке (live) - Премия Монте-Карло 1991г". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018 – via YouTube.
^"YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
^izyumkka. "Валерий Леонтьев Ты меня не забывай (Площадь звезд 1998)". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018 – via YouTube.
^Валерий Леонтьев. "Валерий Леонтьев. Нoминaция: ЖИВАЯ ЛЕГЕНДА (1999г.) - Премия Овация". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018 – via YouTube.
^Красный день календаря. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
^Виниловое видео: "Маргарита" - 1989 год [Vinyl video - "Margarita" - 1989 year]. 16 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
^"Lollobrigida". YouTube. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
^""New wave 2015": Alsou and other guests creative evening of Valery Leontiev - beauty and health". Archived from the original on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^"Intermedia". Archived from the original on 8 June 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
^CTVBY (11 July 2009). "ВАЛЕРИЙ ЛЕОНТЬЕВ НА СЛАВЯНСКОМ БАЗАРЕ". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2016 – via YouTube.
^"Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 21.02.2022 № 70 ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов ∙ Официальный интернет-портал правовой информации".
^Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 19.03.2005 г. № 307 Kremlin.ru.
^Валерий Леонтьев получил очередной Орден Почета [Valery Leontiev received another Order of Honour]. 8 October 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
^Путин наградил Валерия Леонтьева орденом Дружбы [Putin awarded Leontiev with the Order of Friendship]. Gazeta.ru. 31 March 2014.
^Поздравление от Президента России. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
^Валерий Леонтьев стал народным артистом Коми [Valery Leontiev became People's Artist of Komi]. Izvestia. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
^Валерий Леонтьев стал почетным гражданином Якутии [Valery Leontiev became Honorary Citizen of Yakutiya]. Moskovskij Komsomolets. 5 May 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
^За аншлаги в Сибири Леонтьева наградили медалью. Moskovskij Komsomolets (in Russian). 26 May 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
^"Valery LEONTIEV". Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
^"No Belarus names on Star Alley in Vitsebsk". Euroradio.FM. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
^Валерий Леонтьев получил "Орден Ломоносова" [Valery Leontiev received Order of Lomonosov]. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
^Tatyana Perezhogina. ""Спасательный круг" Валерий Леонтьев 1990 г". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018 – via YouTube.
^izyumkka (19 October 2008). "Валерий Леонтьев Белый снег 1990". Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2018 – via YouTube.
^Невероятно! Леонтьев должен был представлять СССР на Евровидение-87!. nnm.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
^Президент поздравил народного артиста России Валерия Леонтьева с 55-летием [President congratulated the People's Artist of Russia Valery Leontiev with 55th birthday]. Kremlin.ru. 19 March 2004.
^Владимир Путин поздравил Валерия Леонтьева с 55-летием [Vladimir Putin congratulated Valery Leontiev with his 55th anniversary]. Komsomolskaya Pravda. 19 March 2004. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^Валерию Леонтьеву, эстрадному певцу, народному артисту России [To Valery Leontiev, the stage singer, People's Artist of Russia]. Government of Russia. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^Медведев поздравил певца Валерия Леонтьева с юбилеем [Medvedev congratulates singer Valery Leontiev on his anniversary]. 19 March 2014.
^Лукашенко поздравил народного артиста России Валерия Леонтьева с 65-летием [Lukashenko congratulates People's Artist of Russia Valery Leontiev with 65th anniversary]. 22 March 2014. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^"TubeChop - Chop YouTube Videos". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
^Казанове российской эстрады Валерию Леонтьеву исполняется 60 лет. 19 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
^Maria Remizova (1 November 2005). У Валерия Леонтьева - три этажа, а Дмитрий Дюжев купил «однушку». Komsomolskaya Pravda.
^ТЕЛЕНЕДЕЛЯ (23 November 2018). «Босоногий мальчик» и другие звезды, которые живут в США, а поют в России. tele.ru.
^Maria Remizova (6 February 2002). У Юлии Бордовских две квартиры в Майами, а у Валерия Леонтьева уже четыре!. Komsomolskaya Pravda.
^Maria Remizova (23 April 2008). Валерий Леонтьев купил за 4 миллиона евро виллу в Испании [Valery Leontiev bought a villa in Spain for 4 million Euro]. Kp.ru -. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
^Певец Леонтьев заработает на аренде дома в Испании по соседству с виллой Горбачева. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
^Путин спел дуэтом с Валерием Леонтьевым. Newsmusic.ru (in Russian). 18 August 2006. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^Маргарита - Валерий Леонтьев [Margarita - Valery Leontiev]. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 9 January 2016.