Vakhtang Kikabidze is a versatile popular Georgian artist. He gained fame thanks to his contribution to the musical and theatrical culture of Georgia and neighboring countries. More than ten generations have grown up on music and films of the talented artist.
Vakhtang Kikabidze: The beginning of a creative path
Vakhtang Konstantinovich Kikabidze was born on July 19, 1938 in the Georgian capital. The young man's father was engaged in journalism and passed away early, and his mother was a singer. Due to belonging to a creative family, the future musician was destined to become part of the art world from childhood.
He often sat in the auditorium at various concerts and performances. And he was also dedicated to the behind-the-scenes life of artists. However, in his early years, he showed no significant curiosity about music. More exciting for Vakhtang was the fine arts.
Only in high school Vakhtang Kikabidze began to show interest in vocals. The young man became a permanent member of the school ensemble. He played the drum set and also occasionally sang, replacing occasionally his cousin, who was the soloist in the local musical ensemble.
In 1959, the future young artist was enrolled in the Tbilisi Philharmonic. Two years later, the guy entered the Institute of Foreign Languages. The young man was inspired to take such a step by his love for music - the Georgian liked the nature of the performance of songs by foreign musicians. Therefore, the singer's repertoire included songs not only in his native language.
The musician performed songs in English and Italian. The charismatic young man did not graduate from both universities because of his strong desire to perform on stage in front of the public. In addition, this fact did not prevent the successful development of his career.
Musical career
Vakhtang Konstantinovich gathered with friends a musical ensemble called "Orera" in 1966. In the group, the artist was the drummer and main vocalist. The ensemble actively performed in the cities of Georgia, releasing one bright composition after another. The most recognizable hits were:
- "Song about Tbilisi";
- "Juanita";
- "Love is beautiful";
- "Motherland".
In collaboration with Kikabidze, the team released eight albums, after which the main vocalist decided to develop solo. Thanks to the artist's first songs "The Last Carrier", "Mzeo Mariam" and "Chito Grito", which became the most recognizable singles (the film "Mimino"), Kikabidze was very popular.
The singer's first solo music album "While the Heart Sings" was presented to the public in 1979. Then immediately the artist released the album "Wish", which contains songs from the composer and friend of Kikabidze - Alexei Ekimyan. In the 1980s, the fame of the charismatic Georgian artist reached its peak. Photos of Vakhtang Konstantinovich were printed on the front pages of the main news newspapers.
After the music industry switched to recording albums on magnetic media and CDs, Kikabidze's successful collections were also released in the new format. The most purchased records were: “My years”, “Letter to a friend”, “I want Larisa Ivanovna” and an album consisting of two parts, “Georgia, my love”. The last collection of songs "I do not rush life" (2014) was the last in her singing career. Then, the last video clip of the musician was shot for the song "Seeing off Love".
Movie roles Vakhtang Kikabidze
As for the acting creativity of the talented Georgian, it has also always developed successfully. In 1966, even before Vakhtang Kikabidze became a popular singer, the debut role of a Georgian in the musical film "Meetings in the Mountains" appeared on television.
After a successful first appearance on the screens, the aspiring actor starred in several more successful films, such as:
- "I, the investigator";
- "TASS is authorized to announce";
- "The Lost Expedition";
- "Do not be sad";
- "Completely lost."
The most important role, thanks to which the artist and singer is recognized to this day, is the role of a pilot in the film "Mimino". This work is the epitome of classic Soviet cinema. Thanks to his participation in this film and in many others, Vakhtang Kikabidze was popular and received many awards, including: the title of People's Artist of Georgia and Honored Artist of Ukraine.
In addition, he was awarded the orders of honor and victory. A bright patriot of his homeland is an honorary resident of Tbilisi. The artist was dedicated a "star" on the territory of the main philharmonic society of the city.
Vakhtang Kikabidze starred in more than 20 films. The last known works of the charismatic Georgian were the films: “Love with an Accent”, “Fortune” and the animated film “Ku! Kin-dza-dza ”, in which he worked on dubbing.
The singer's family
The charismatic singer was popular with the opposite sex. But from 1965 to the present, the wife of the prima ballerina of the capital's theater, Irina Kebadze, has remained the only love of the Georgian artist. The couple raised two children - a common son, Konstantin, and a daughter, Marina (from her first marriage).
The children of the famous Georgian also realized themselves in creative professions. The son became professionally interested in painting, and the daughter became a teacher at the theater university. The people's artist, despite his age, continues to give concerts all over the world. His main hits are still recognizable and loved.
