The star ascended the pop Olympus when the singer had already reached significant heights in other areas. Mikhail Poplavsky is an active public and political figure, scientist, rector of the National University of Culture and Arts, author of books on management and economics. But in the show business of Ukraine for the "singing rector", as people like to call him, there was a place. And today he is a popular performer with memorable numbers and soulful lyrics.
Its audience of listeners is wide - from students to people in old age. Everyone finds something in his songs that touches the most delicate strings of the soul. According to Poplavsky, his vocation is to make Ukrainian show business popular and work to make young people in the country proud to be Ukrainians.
The childhood and youth of the singer
The artist was born on November 28, 1949 in the small village of Mechislavka, in the Kirovograd region. His parents are ordinary workers with an average income. After graduating from high school, the guy applied to the technical school in the city of Gorlovka. And for several years of study, he received a diploma as an electric locomotive driver. He even managed to work for several months as an assistant engineer on the railway.
The guy was not afraid of difficulties in life and optimistically dreamed of a happy future and fame. Service in the ranks of the Soviet army only tempered Poplavsky's character and gave him self-confidence. Only after the army did the young man decide to fulfill his secret dream. And he entered the 1st year at the School of Culture in the city of Kirovograd (now Kropyvnytsky).
After graduation, in 1979, he became a student at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, of which he is the rector. Poplavsky did not stop developing in the field of science. And already in 1985 he defended his Ph.D., and in 1990 - his doctoral dissertation.
The beginning of creative activity
During his studies, Poplavsky managed to establish himself as a creative and outstanding personality. The guy was always active and was in the spotlight. Therefore, at the university, he was elected head of the trade union. In 1980, the young man received the position of deputy head of the Republican Organization of Folk Art.
Since 1985, he worked at the State Institute of Culture (now the National University of Culture) in various positions, ranging from a simple teacher to the dean of the faculty. And in 1993, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine appointed Mikhail Poplavsky as the rector of this university. The main goal of the new rector considered qualitative changes in the educational institution. Therefore, from the first days in his new position, he began tough reforms that not everyone liked.
Poplavsky began to be accused of corruption and embezzlement of state property. But the man managed to enlist the support of students who adored the new leader. After a series of lawsuits, the rector managed to restore his good name. In a few years, Poplavsky managed to raise the prestige of the university of culture to unprecedented heights.
He multiplied the material well-being of the university, opened new departments and faculties, and increased the number of students. In order to attract even more public attention, Mikhail Poplavsky decided to become an artist and sing on the big stage, for which he received the joking title of “singing rector” among the people.
Artist career Mikhail Poplavsky
To break all stereotypes and get closer to his students, Poplavsky makes a PR move and goes on stage with the song "Young Eagle". The number made a splash, and for several weeks the track was heard from all radio stations in the country. And the university under the leadership of the "singing rector" in 1998 was recognized as the best higher educational institution in the country.
Mikhail Poplavsky decided not to stop at one concert number. This was followed by other successful works: "Nettle", "Mom's Cherry", "My Son", "My Ukraine", "In Memory of a Friend", etc. The artist's song arsenal includes more than 50 works.
All of them are very popular and have their target audience. The artist not only gives concerts from time to time, but also organizes large tours around the country. It also attracts its best students to participate in them.
The repertoire of the performer is different. He performs both comic songs ("Dumplings", "Salo", "Vera plus Misha"), and deep, affecting the soul. But Poplavsky does not consider himself a professional in the field of music and does not take offense at criticism regarding his vocal abilities.
Poplavsky did not stop at his singing career and seriously engaged in producing successful musical projects. The artist is the general producer, chief director. He is also a philanthropist and author of the country's most popular children's song contest "Step to the Stars". Subsequently, the artist created the Gifted Children of Ukraine fund and helped young talents to succeed.
In 2008, Poplavsky was awarded the title of "People's Artist of Ukraine" for his significant contribution to the development of Ukrainian culture.
Other projects of the artist Mikhail Poplavsky
Mikhail Poplavsky tried himself as an actor and starred in two feature films: "Black Rada" and "Big Vuyki". The works were very successful. The actor wanted to play in more serious roles.
Together with his relatives, the famous rector opened a network of restaurants of Ukrainian cuisine "Parent's House". The brand won the Eco category in 2015. The next business step was the release of their own brand of vodka. And on the bottle labels, he posted a photo of his mother.
Poplavsky also realized himself as a TV presenter. His culinary show "Chef of Ukraine" on one of the domestic TV channels has become very popular. The artist invited celebrities from different spheres to the program and cooked their favorite dishes with them.
Political activity
Since Poplavsky is a very famous person, his political career did not bypass him. In 1998, the rector took part in the elections to the Verkhovna Rada as a candidate for deputies of Ukraine. But it didn't get enough votes. Mikhail Poplavsky managed to get into the Rada only in 2002. In the same year, he became deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Culture and Spirituality. And in 2004, he took the position of president of the international public project "Unification of Ukrainians of the world."
In 2005, Mikhail Poplavsky became a member of the political Agrarian Party of Ukraine, led by Volodymyr Lytvyn.
Personal life of Mikhail Poplavsky
The "singing rector" was officially married twice. His first relationship began immediately after the end of his military service, but did not last long. According to Poplavsky, he was then very passionate about his career. And there was no time left for relationships and housing arrangements.
Mikhail Poplavsky divorced his second wife (Lyudmila) in 2009, having been married for almost 30 years. The artist does not comment on the break in relations, he avoids questions about his personal life. The celebrity lives near Kiev in a beautiful mansion, often attends social events and continues to develop his creativity.
