Raimonds Pauls is a Latvian musician, conductor and composer. He collaborates with the most popular Russian pop stars. The authorship of Raymond owns the lion's share of the musical works of the repertoire of Alla Pugacheva, Laima Vaikule, Valery Leontiev. He organized the New Wave competition, earned the title of People's Artist of the Soviet Union and formed an opinion of an active public figure.
Childhood and youth of Raimonds Pauls
Raimonds Pauls was born on January 12, 1936 in Riga. The head of the family worked as a glass blower, and the mother devoted herself to the introduction of the household.
Raymond's father loved music. "Mihavo" is the first team in which Pauls Sr. managed to work. In the team, he sat down at the drum kit. "Mihavo" did not achieve recognition. The guys enjoyed endless rehearsals and did not pursue recognition.
Voldemar Pauls (father of the composer) from childhood instilled in his son a love of music. He taught him how to play the drums. Raymond liked the classes, and with pleasure he mastered playing this musical instrument.
With the onset of World War II, my father decided to send the family away from Riga. Raymond, together with his mother settled in a small village. The boy had to briefly leave music lessons. After the end of World War II, the family returned to their homeland. Raymond entered the music school named after E. Darzin.
Surprisingly, Raymond did not keep up with his studies. Thanks to the efforts of the teacher Olga Borovskaya, the abilities of young Pauls literally “bloomed”. Raymond recalls that the teacher motivated him to achieve results with chocolates. He mastered playing the piano to a professional level. From that moment on, Raymond does not miss the opportunity to play a musical instrument.
After graduating from high school, he became a student at the local conservatory. Yazep Vitola. In the same educational institution, he received a diploma in composition. Here Raymond writes the first pieces of music.
By the way, in high school he gravitated towards music, which has nothing to do with the classics. Pauls adored the sound of jazz. He enjoyed performing at discos and school parties. Raymond played jazz without notes - it was pure improvisation, which went with a bang to the local public.
The creative path of the composer
In the mid-60s, he became the head of the Riga Variety Orchestra. Young age did not prevent Raymond from taking such a prestigious position. The composer's musical works have become more recognizable in creative circles.
A couple of years later, the maestro's debut author's program premiered on the stage of the Latvian Philharmonic. Despite the fact that the name of Raimonds Pauls at that time was known only in close creative circles, tickets for the event sold well.
On the territory of his native country, he became famous when he wrote soundtracks for films directed by Alfred Kruklis. At that time, the first nationwide popularity came to him.
He also noted as the author of the musical "Sister Carrey", as well as a number of other musical compositions, marked by prestigious awards. Popular musicals include Sherlock Holmes and The Devil.
In the mid-70s, Raymond presented the musical composition "Yellow leaves are spinning over the city ...". Despite the fact that more than 40 years have passed since the song was written, the song does not lose popularity at the present time. At that time, the work sounded on almost all radio stations in the USSR. From this moment, a completely different part of the creative biography of Pauls opens.
Raymond Pauls: the peak of the composer's popularity
In the second half of the XNUMXth century, he began to work closely with the Primadonna of the Russian stage - Alla Borisovna Pugacheva. The collaboration of the two legends has brought fans a number of immortal pieces of music. On the radio stations every day there are songs that belong to the authorship of the composer.
At this time, he collaborates not only with Pugacheva, but also with Valentina Legkostupova, as well as with the Kukushechka children's ensemble. The works that come out from the pen of the maestro automatically receive the status of immortal hits.
Laima Vaikule and Valery Leontiev are another stars who are collaborating with the talented composer in the new century. Leontiev owes a lot to Raymond. In the 80s of the last century, his work was not approved by the Soviet authorities. Despite this, Pauls invited him to his concerts, which allowed the artist to stay afloat.
He creates musical accompaniments for Soviet films and theatrical productions. The composer's melodies are heard in films in cult films.
At the end of the 70s, Raymond tries his hand as an actor. He appeared in the film "Theater", and in the mid-80s in the film "How to Become a Star". Pauls did not have to try on extraordinary images, since in the films he played a musician.
Creation by Raimonds Pauls of the competition "Jurmala"
In the mid-80s, the composer initiated the creation of the international competition "Jurmala". For 6 years, talented musicians have delighted the audience with chic musical numbers.
At the end of the 80s, he took the post of Minister of Culture of his native country, and 10 years later he ran for the presidency of Latvia. Then he realized that he was not ready to take on such a responsibility. He withdrew his candidacy after the first round.
He devotes time to charity. Raymond bought a piece of land and built a center for talented children. He is also engaged in the restaurant business, he owns several establishments.
In the "zero" years, the premiere of several musicals took place. Ten years later, he is a composer pleased with the release of musical performances “Leo. The Last Bohemian" and "Marlene". In 2014, Raymond presented, perhaps, one of the most famous musicals, which has not lost popularity to this day. "All about Cinderella" he wrote at the request of Shvydkoy.
In the new century, he collaborated with singer Valeria, Larisa Dolina, Tatyana Bulanova. He spent most of his time in Latvia, but this did not prevent him from working closely with Russian pop stars. In addition, he took the judge's chair in the New Wave contest. He created this project with his colleague and friend - Igor Krutoy. Today the competition is held in Sochi, and until 2015 it will be held in Riga.
In subsequent years, Raymond delighted fans of his work with solo concerts. In 2018, he opened a new musical season in his beloved Jurmala.
Details of the personal life of Raymond Pauls
At the end of the 50s, the musician went on a long tour with the Riga Variety Orchestra. One of the first towns visited by the artist was sunny Odessa. In Ukraine, he met a girl named Lana. Raymond admitted that she impressed him with her beauty and charm.
At the time of their acquaintance, Lana graduated from the Faculty of Foreign Languages. She combined her studies with the work of a guide. The knowledge gained at the university helped the girl to adapt as quickly as possible in the Latvian society.
Raymond Pauls proposed to the woman, and she reciprocated. The couple did not have the means for a magnificent wedding, but this did not stop them from modestly celebrating one of the most important days of their lives. Soon a daughter was born in the family, whom the couple named Aneta.
The family supported Pauls in the darkest times. In his biography there are moments of alcohol abuse. Celebrities talked about Raymond being seriously ill. Lana and her daughter did everything to ensure that the main person of their life put an end to the habit.
It turned out that the composer is an inveterate monogamous. Journalists have repeatedly spread rumors about Pauls' novels with Pugacheva and Vaikule, but Raymond insisted on his own - there is only one woman in his life. There were no shocks in the personal life of the wife - they still look at each other with great love and respect.
In 2012, the family celebrated their golden wedding. In honor of this event, Raymond organized a gala dinner at the "Lychi" country house near Salaca. They celebrated the anniversary celebration with their closest friends and relatives.
Interesting facts about maestro Raymond Pauls
- The composer has a large country house, which he himself calls "magnificent." The purchase of a large private house was one of Raymond's most cherished desires.
- Pauls' daughter, Aneta, works as a director. Her father did not want her to master the profession of a singer.
- He composed the instrumental work "Cloudy Weather" especially for the weather forecast of the information program "Time".
- Critics constantly accuse the maestro of being too sentimental.
- Composer holder of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star.
Raymond Pauls at the present time
Raimonds Pauls lives in his beloved Riga and is waiting for the lifting of quarantine orders in the world. Like most artists, he has been forced to cancel scheduled concerts and other musical events.
On January 12, 2021, he celebrated his 85th birthday. In honor of this event, the composer planned to hold an anniversary concert. But the Riga authorities were inexorable, so Raymond was once again forced to reschedule the concert event.
One of the Latvian TV channels showed the film "Perpetuum Mobile". The film revealed the details of the creative and personal life of the maestro.
