"Merry Fellows" is a cult group for millions of music lovers living in the post-Soviet space. The musical group was founded back in 1966 by pianist and composer Pavel Slobodkin.
A few years after its founding, the Vesyolye Rebyata group became the laureate of the All-Union Competition. The soloists of the group were awarded the prize "For the best performance of a youth song".
In the late 1980s, the Ministry of Culture of the USSR awarded the collective the status of a musical theater for entertainment and artistry. For the absolute record in the USSR in terms of album sales, the group in 2006 was awarded the highest award "Platinum Disc No. 1".
Composition of the group Cheerful guys
Music lovers who had to listen to the compositions of the Vesyolye Rebyata group know that many domestic and already “promoted” stars have visited the team at one time.
Alla Pugacheva, Alexander Gradsky, Vyacheslav Malezhik, Alexander Barykin, Alexey Glyzin and Alexandra Buinova united not only by the love of music, but also by the fact that they began their career with the Vesyolye Rebyata group.
The history of the team dates back to the 1960s of the last century. Over the years since its founding, a lot has changed, starting with the original composition and ending with the repertoire and performance style. Some soloists left, new ones came, giving new energy and style of performance.
The birth of the ensemble
As already mentioned, the date of birth of the Vesyolye Rebyata group was 1966. The group was founded on the site of the Mosconcert. Pavel Slobodkin, who stood at the origins of the cult group, could not even think about what momentum the team created by his “hands” would pick up.
The initial composition included performers of pop and jazz groups. The charming Nina Brodskaya was invited to the place of the soloist. After working in the team for one year, Nina left the rest of the soloists and went to work at the Tula Philharmonic.
Yuri Peterson performed with the group "Merry Fellows" until 1972. It was Yuri who performed the first musical compositions of the band. However, in the team, Peterson felt uncomfortable. In 1972, he joined the Gems team.
In the early 1970s, the group's repertoire changed slightly. Now in the tracks they observed lightness and freedom. The change of repertoire is associated with a decrease in the pressure of the ideological machine.
Brodskaya was replaced by Svetlana Ryazanova. Fans remember Svetlana for her performance of David Tukhmanov's composition "White Dance". After winning the Golden Orpheus international competition in 1972, Svetlana decided to leave the team.
Going beyond the boundaries of the ideological framework allowed Pavel Slobodkin to pay attention to the West. He swung not the repertoire of the Beatles. Slobodkin lured vocalist Leonid Berger from Orpheus.
Leonid in the manner of performance is somewhat reminiscent of Ray Charles. Soon he received the status of a pioneer of Russian rock. Soon, the Vesyolyye Rebyata group was replenished with another member - guitarist Valentin Vitebsky.
The matter is small. Pavel was looking for a person who would take responsibility for organizing the group's concerts. Soon the position of the organizer was taken by the famous Mikhail Plotkin, who already had experience working with Soviet groups.
Cheerful guys and Alexander Gradsky
In the early 1970s, a talented person came to the team Alexander Gradsky. Previously, he worked in the group "Skomorokhi". In the team, Alexander lasted only three years.
He was replaced by Fazylov, who was remembered by music lovers for his performance of the song "Portrait by Pablo Picasso". During this period of time, Valery Khabazin joined the Cheerful Guys group.
In 1970, the musicians presented their debut album. The album included the composition "Alyoshkina Love". After the presentation of the debut collection, guitarist Alexei Puzyrev joined the band.
In 1971, the musical group visited the territory of Czechoslovakia. There, the group "Vesyolyye Rebyata" recorded the song "You are not more beautiful."
The year 1972 was not very rosy for the guys. Berger, Fazylov and Peterson left the team. The group was on the verge of collapse, and only Pavel managed to unite it and force it to create.
Alexander Lerman joined the team, becoming the main soloist for two years.
The group's debut album was released with a circulation of 15 million copies. This allowed the team to receive a prize from the BBC Corporation. The British Ambassador presented a well-deserved award to the founder of the team, Pavel Slobodkin.
In the early 1970s, the Veselye Rebyata group included the following vocalists: Slava Malezhik, Sasha Barykin and Anatoly Alyoshin. Soon the keyboard player Alexander Buinov joined the guys. Soon the team presented the energetic hit "Old Grandmothers".
Creative way
In 1974, the group's discography was replenished with the album Love is a Huge Country. Music critics called this collection the best work of the group.
This year is also notable for the fact that Alla Borisovna Pugacheva joined the team. The prima donna worked in the group for two years. She was replaced by Lyudmila Barykina.
In 1980, the group "Merry Fellows" presented the album "Musical Globe" to numerous fans. The collection includes hits and hits from the Western stage. Then Alexey Glyzin (guitarist) joined the band.
In the early 1980s, the group was called not VIA, but neutrally - a collective. Pavel decided to reduce the composition. The tracks released during this period were included in the album "Banana Islands". The collection returned the band to the top of the musical Olympus.
The beginning of the 1980s gave the group the Bratislava Lira award. Thanks to the performance of the musical composition "Wandering Artists", the group "Jolly Fellows" was very popular.
In 1987, on the night before the New Year, a presentation of the new song "Don't Worry, Aunt" took place. The track became a real hit, in addition, it was included in the new album with the laconic title "Just a Minute".
In 1988, two members left the team at once - Glyzin and Buinov. For a while, the group "Merry Fellows" stopped giving concerts. The decline in popularity is due to the fact that the new soloists could not bring a fresh stream to the work of the team.
And only in 1991, fans of the group received a new album “25 years. Best songs". This collection drew a line under the glorious and popular past of the band.
Music group Cheerful guys
The group "Veselye Rebyata" at one time became the founders of such a musical direction as a vocal and instrumental ensemble.
The first repertoire consisted of folk and patriotic songs, but then fans could enjoy foreign tunes.
"Disco 80s" is not complete without the good old songs of the group. Youth in the 1970s-1980s knows some musical compositions by heart.
Group Funny guys now
The group "Vesyolye Rebyata" still takes the stage today. The latest news about the cult group can be seen on the official website.
Since 2005, Ilya Zmeenkov and Andrey Kontsur have been in the team. Two years later, vocalist and trumpeter Mikhail Reshetnikov joined the group. Since 2009, Cherevkov and Ivan Pashkov have been in the group.
In 2017, the one who stood at the origins of the group, Pavel Slobodkin, passed away. Fans took the loss hard.
