Valery Leontiev is a true legend of Russian show business. The image of the performer cannot leave the audience indifferent.
Funny parodies are constantly filmed on the image of Valery Leontiev. And by the way, Valery himself does not at all upset the comic images of the artists on stage.
In Soviet times, Leontiev entered the big stage. The singer brought the traditions of musical and theatrical shows to the stage, in a short time the performer turned from a modest provincial boy into an international star.
Valery Leontiev is number one on the domestic, Russian stage. He will never be replaced. What are the outfits of the performer, which attract attention with their brightness and originality.
The singer regularly shocks the audience with open outfits, where the amazing forms of the performer are visible.
Despite the fact that Leontiev’s age has long crossed the “50” mark, this does not prevent the singer from maintaining an ideal physical shape.
Childhood and youth Valery Leontieva
Valery Leontiev is the real name of the singer, not a stage name.
The boy was born in March 1949 in the village of Ust-Usa. The family of the future star had nothing to do with music, the Leontievs lived very modestly, and even poorly.
Father Yakov Stepanovich was a Pomor from the Arkhangelsk region, was engaged in reindeer breeding and worked as a veterinarian. The boy's mother was from Ukraine.
It is known that my mother gave birth to Leontiev at the age of 43. Valery was a late child. In addition to Valery, parents were engaged in raising their eldest daughter Maya.
Parents saw that Valery was drawn to music and drawing. Leontiev Jr. was good at redrawing pictures.
In addition, he constantly took part in school performances. His parents did not have enough money to pay for a young talent in a music school, so he attended a drama club.
After graduating from the 8th grade, Valery Leontiev submits documents to one of the technical schools in the city of Murmansk. He does not pass the exams, so he has to return to his homeland again.
Most likely, the genes of the Pomor father affected, so Leontiev Jr. is increasingly beginning to dream of work that is connected with the sea.
Dreams of Valery Leontiev about oceanology
In high school, Leontiev decided to leave home for Vladikavkaz. There he wanted to get the profession of an oceanologist, but, unfortunately, his parents, due to their poverty, could not pay for their son's studies.
In the same period of time, Leontiev recalled another cherished dream, he dreamed of connecting his life with the stage.
In 1966, he submits documents to GITIS, but at the last minute he changes his mind and takes the documents. He lacked confidence and determination.
The young man had to return to Yuryevets. There Valery immediately went to work, because there was absolutely not enough money for anything.
In his youth, Valery worked as an electrician, a postman, a laborer at a brick factory, and even a tailor. He helped his family and saved a little for education.
Valery Leontiev in Vorkuta
A little more time will pass and Valery will become a student at the Mining Institute in Vorkuta.
But even here it was not so smooth. Valery Leontiev studied at the university during the day, and worked part-time in the evenings. In the third year, he was finally convinced that the Mining Institute and the future profession were not his.
He is dropping out of high school and now dreams of becoming an artist.
This decision greatly upset his parents. Mom said that the career of a singer is not serious.
The father put pressure on his son, and wanted him to receive a diploma of higher education.
But, Leontiev made a decision and did not want to abandon it. He was afraid to take steps, but he understood that he definitely wanted to connect himself with music.
The beginning of the musical career of Valery Leontiev
The beginning of Valery Leontiev's musical career falls on 1972. The debut solo concert took place on April 9 at the House of Culture of Vorkuta.
The artist's first performance was so successful that he could no longer imagine himself without music. The victory motivated him for further performances.
A little more time will pass, and he will become the winner of the regional competition "We are looking for talents" in Syktyvkar.
He received his victory, and at the same time a solid prize "Valerie".
They gave me the opportunity to study in Moscow at the All-Union Creative Workshop of Variety Art Georgy Vinogradov. However, Valery did not stay long in the capital.
Soon he returned to his native Philharmonic in Syktyvkar.
A little more time will pass and Valery Leontiev will become soloists of the Echo musical group.
The soloists of the musical group, together with the rest of their members, made up two concert programs, with which they traveled almost the entire Soviet Union.
Concerts of musicians were held in ordinary houses of culture. So far, there could be no talk of a big stage.
The rise of Valery Leontiev's popularity
In 1978, the Russian singer first performed on the stage of the concert hall in Gorky. The performance was more than just brilliant. He was immediately offered to work in the city philharmonic society.
The singer gave the go-ahead, but on the condition that he be sent to the Yalta All-Union Music Competition. The organizers agreed. The singer successfully performed in Yalta and received a prestigious award.
The competition was broadcast throughout the country, so Leontiev was able to expand the audience of his fans.
A year later, Valery Leontiev won a new, resounding victory - the main prize at the 16th International Pop Song Festival "Golden Orpheus" in Sopot. By the way, it was at this festival that the Russian singer first appeared in an original costume that he sewed on his own.
In the early 1980s, Valery Leontiev was already a recognizable personality.
His performances were not just a "demonstration" of musical composition, but a demonstration of his image. Before each of his performances, Leontiev thought out his image to the smallest detail.
At one of the music festivals, Leontiev met the talented producer David Tukhmanov. It was a very positive acquaintance for both parties.
Together, the guys shoot a number, which was later to be shown on the Blue Light. However, the audience did not manage to see Leontiev's brilliant number, as he was cut from the program.
Valery Leontiev and Mick Jagger
They were not without a black stripe. After the music festival, which took place on the territory of Yerevan, American journalists accused Valery Leontiev of being very similar to the foreign performer Mick Jagger in his manner of performance.
These rumors also reached the Soviet officials, who did everything to ensure that Leontiev was no longer shown on TV.
For 3 years, persecution was directed at Leontiev. In addition, during this period of time he underwent surgery. The doctor removed a tumor in his throat.
Still managed to restore his magical voice, Valery.
Return to the stage of Valery Leontiev
Valery Leontiev returned to the stage thanks to the efforts of Raymond Pauls. The artists and up to this point were in pretty good, friendly relations.
Raymond had influence on Leontiev, so he recommended that he get a higher education. This time, he entered and graduated from the Institute of Culture in Leningrad, where he received a diploma in the specialty "Director of mass performances."
In 1983, the Russian performer, according to a good tradition, again bathes in fame and popularity.
And again thanks to the composer Raymond Pauls. It was during this period of time that such famous musical compositions appeared as “There, in September”, “Where the circus went”, “Hang-gliding”, “Singing mime”.
In 1988, the first video clip of Valery Leontiev was released, which he shot for the musical composition "Margarita".
The performer tries himself in different genres. He sings both lyrics and songs with sarcasm and lyrical musical compositions. A little later, such top compositions as "Augustin" and "Casanova" will appear in the singer's repertoire.
In the early 90s, the Russian singer became the owner of The World Music Awards as the best selling sound carrier in the USSR.
People's Artist Valery Leontiev
By 1993, Leontiev managed to release 11 worthy albums. But, the most successful year for the artist was 1996. It was in this year that Leontiev received the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
The fact that Valery Leontiev composes his concert programs and shows on his own deserves great attention. His original costumes are also author's.
The Russian singer also noted in the cinematography on his account the paintings “At someone else's holiday”, “I want to love”, “The Colonel's Daughter” and others.
Valery Leontiev now
Valery Leontiev is a creative person. He says that self-education, strict discipline, sports and reading books help him stay at the top of popularity.
The Russian performer maintains his blogs on Facebook and Instagram. He admitted that not so long ago he mastered the iPad, so now he does not carry a whole bunch of his favorite books with him.
In 2018, the artist's repertoire was replenished with such musical compositions as "Like Dali", "Time Does Not Heal".
He is met with a full house at the best venues in the country - at the festivals "New Wave", "Song of the Year", "Legends of Retro FM".
In the spring of 2019, Leontiev presented his fans with the concert program "I'll be back."
Judging by how the concert went, Valery is not going to leave the big stage. He is in excellent physical shape and full of enthusiasm and creative ideas.
Valery Leontiev in 2021
On March 19, 2021, the Russian singer presented the mini-disc "On the Wings of Love". The premiere of the collection is timed to coincide with Leontiev's birthday. The studio headlined 5 tracks.
