Willy Tokarev is an artist and Soviet performer, as well as a star of the Russian emigration. Thanks to such compositions as "Cranes", "Skyscrapers", "And life is always beautiful", the singer became popular.
How was Tokarev's childhood and youth?
Vilen Tokarev was born back in 1934 in a family of hereditary Kuban Cossacks. His historical homeland was a small settlement in the North Caucasus.
Willy grew up in a very wealthy family. And all thanks to the work of his father, who held a leadership position.
Little Vilen loved to be the center of attention. As a young man, he often attracted attention with extraordinary behavior. Even in his youth, he organized a small ensemble, where he, together with the guys, gave concerts for local residents.
After the end of the war, Willy moved to Kaspiysk with his family. Here, other opportunities opened up for Tokarev. The young man tried in every possible way to develop his passion for music. He took voice and music lessons from local teachers.
In the late 1940s, Willy Tokarev dreamed of overseas countries. To see other countries and cities, the boy got a job as a stoker on a merchant ship.
This hellish work opened up a wonderful world for Willy. He traveled to China, France and Norway.
The first steps on the big stage of Willy Tokarev
As a young man, Willy Tokarev was drafted into the army. The future star served in the signal troops. After the service, an amazing opportunity opened up before him - to do what he had dreamed of for so long.
Willy Tokarev entered the music school. The young man entered the string department, in the double bass class. Tokarev expanded his circle of acquaintances. The young talent wrote musical compositions. He was invited to cooperate with Anatoly Kroll and Jean Tatlin.
Willy Tokarev was Russian by nationality. However, they often made fun of the performer.
The Spanish appearance of Tokarev was an occasion for good jokes. He was often told that he was an adopted son, originally from Spain.
A little later, Willy Tokarev met Alexander Bronevitsky and his wife Edita Piekha. Well-known jazz musicians were blacklisted in the USSR.
They were often followed. In this regard, Willy Tokarev decided to leave Leningrad.
Murmansk became a place of calm for Tokarev. It was in this city that he embarked on a solo career. For several years of living in this city, Tokarev managed to become a local star. And one of the songs of the performer "Murmonchanochka" became a hit for the residents of the city of Murmansk.
Willy Tokarev: moving to the USA
The artist did not stop there. He dreamed of a career in the United States of America. When Tokarev was 40 years old, he went to the USA. He only had $5 in his pocket. But he just really wanted to gain fame.
Arriving in America, Tokarev took on any job. There was a time when the future star worked in a taxi, at a construction site and as a loader in a grocery store. Willy put in considerable effort to earn money. He spent the money he earned on recording musical compositions.
His labors were not in vain. After 5 years, the first album "And life, it is always beautiful" was released. According to experts, Willy spent about $25 to record his debut album. The American public received the debut album very warmly.
Two years later, Willy recorded another disc, In a Noisy Booth. Thanks to the second album, Willy gained even greater recognition among the Russian-speaking population of New York. Tokarev began to be invited to reputable Russian restaurants - Odessa, Sadko, Primorsky.
In 1980, the performer created the One Man Band label in the United States of America. Under this label, Tokarev has released more than 10 albums. At that time, the name of Tokarev competed with Uspenskaya and Shufutinsky.
In the late 1980s, Alla Pugacheva helped Tokarev organize concerts in the Soviet Union. Willy traveled to more than 70 major cities in the USSR. The return of the performer was a real triumphant event. As a result, this event was included in the documentary "Here I became a rich sir and came to ESESER."
The compositions "Skyscrapers" and "Rybatskaya" are musical works, thanks to which Willy Tokarev became popular in the Russian Federation. It is interesting that these hits still remain in the top of popular compositions among chanson lovers.
Return to Russia
After a successful tour of the cities of the USSR, Willy began to run between America and the USSR. In 2005, the performer decided to move to Russia. A popular performer bought an apartment on Kotelnicheskaya embankment. Not far from his home, Willy opened a recording studio.
The beginning of the 1990s was very fruitful for the performer. He recorded new albums. Records such as Adorero, “I loved you” and “Shalom, Israel!” enjoyed great popularity among listeners. Willy loved to experiment. He can be heard even more often in a duet with Russian stars.
In addition to a brilliant musical career, Tokarev was not opposed to participating in film projects. Willy Tokarev starred in such films as Oligarch, ZnatoKi are investigating. Arbitrator", "Captain's Children".
It is interesting that Willy's work was loved not only by a more mature audience, but also by young people. He was the most striking example that catching up with the "American dream" is quite real.
Willy Tokarev: Curtain
In 2014 Willy Tokarev celebrated his jubilee. The talented performer turned 80 years old. Fans of the artist's work were waiting for concerts from him. And the singer did not disappoint the expectations of the "fans". The singer held concerts in Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Moscow, Tallinn, Rostov-on-Don, Odessa.
Despite his considerable age and huge competition, Tokarev's popularity did not decrease. In 2017, the singer was invited as a guest to the Debriefing and Echo of Moscow programs. And in 2018, he became the main character of Boris Korchevnikov's program "The Fate of a Man", in which he shared the most significant events of his life.
Willy Tokarev continued to make plans. On August 4, 2019, his son Anton announced to reporters that his father was gone. For fans of Tokarev's work, this news came as a shock.
As of August 8, 2019, it was unknown where Tokarev's body was buried. Relatives only reported that the funeral would not take place on August 8. The reasons why the memorial service is being delayed are not reported to the press.
