Yuri Kukin is a Soviet and Russian bard, singer, lyricist, musician. The artist's most recognizable piece of music is the track "Behind the Fog". By the way, the presented composition is an unofficial hymn of geologists.
Childhood and youth of Yuri Kukin
He was born in the small village of Syasstroy, Leningrad Region. He has fondest memories of this place. The artist's date of birth is July 17, 1932.
He spent most of his childhood in this colorful settlement. The main hobby of the young man was music. As a teenager, he joined the local jazz ensemble of the Petrodvorets Watch Factory.
He skillfully played the drums, and also wrote poetry. After receiving a matriculation certificate, Yuri became a student at a technical institute. He chose for himself the profession of an optician-mechanic. It lasted exactly one semester. Kukin realized that he was not attracted to classes. The young man took the documents and went to look for his true purpose in life.
A little time will pass, and he will enter the Leningrad Institute of Physical Education. P. Lesgaft. The young man faced a difficult choice: where to go for distribution. He considered that it was better than Petrodvorets and Leningrad - there was no place to be found.
The creative path of Yuri Kukin
In his youth, he trained the multiple champion of the USSR Stanislav Zhuk. He was the first to offer to take tuition fees from young skaters, and he was also the first to stage ballet on ice. The performance on the ice stage was based on the work of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
He spends his summer holidays as quietly and calmly as possible. He was not active and only suffered from this. The poet G. Gorbovsky, with whom Yuri had been close friends for several years in a row, suggested that he go on a geological expedition.
According to Kukin's memoirs, the first expedition for him turned out to be a real test. It was difficult not only physically, but also mentally. Physical training - did not save from difficulties. But already after the second expedition, he returned with several musical compositions.
From this period of time, Kukin does not stop at the achieved result. His repertoire is regularly updated with new songs. He wrote over 100 pieces of music based on his own poetry.
Yuri Kukin: the peak of the artist's popularity
At the end of the 60s of the last century, he received the title of Lenconcert artist. By this time, Kukin was already the winner of an impressive number of tourist song contests in the capital of Russia and St. Petersburg. He did not leave the main job. In parallel with writing compositions, he worked at the Meridian club.
By the way, he always treats his work with prejudice. He did not consider the main track of his repertoire a hit at all. Kukin could not even think that the composition "Beyond the Fog" would soon become the unofficial anthem of all geologists in Russia.
As confirmation that his work can be called professional with a stretch, he read out the characteristics of Gleb Gorbovsky and Bulat Okudzhava. The experts "walked" through the lyrics of the song and spoke negatively about the work. They scolded the bard for repeating several vowels in the phrase "And I'm going."
The music for the work "Beyond the Fog" was composed by the popular composer Virgilio Panzutti. When the Danish singer Jürgen Ingmann performed the composition in his homeland, millions of Europeans learned about it. Today the track is performed in several languages of the world.
Yuri Kukin: the influence of Vladimir Vysotsky
Kukin adored the work of the Soviet bard Vladimir Vysotsky. In some of Yuri's compositions, the influence of the performer can be traced. For example, the song "On the dangers of drunkenness on the water" is associated by many with Vysotsky's track "Dear Transmission" ("Kanatchikova Dacha").
Kukin did not plagiarize, but the singer did not deny that he used some tricks of Vladimir Vysotsky. However, he did not become a "copy". His tracks are original and unique.
It is impossible not to ignore other works of the artist. To feel the mood of the songs of the Soviet bard, you should listen to the songs: “But it’s a pity that summer is over”, “Hotel”, “Storyteller” (“I am an old storyteller, I know many fairy tales ...”), “Paris”, “Little Dwarf ”, “Train”, “Wizard”.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Melodiya recording studio presented several LPs with tracks by Yuri Kukin. In the same period of time, he became part of the Benefis Theater. He regularly participated in art song contests. When he was called to take the judge's chair, he always tactfully refused. Yuri was modest by nature, so he did not undertake to evaluate the work of other artists.
Details of the personal life of Yuri Kukin
He almost never talked about matters of the heart. But, one way or another, he failed to hide some facts of his personal life from journalists. Kukin was married three times.
Rumor has it that Yuri was a loving man. He revolved around beauties. Of course, in his life there were short, non-binding relationships. He was married three times, and three times he chose girls younger than him by at least 10 years. The first wife gave him a son, and the second - a daughter.
Yuri lived with his third wife for three decades. In this union, the couple had no children. The couple did not advertise, for whatever reason, they do not plan the birth of a common child.
Yuri has repeatedly mentioned that the third wife is a real gift of life. In this woman, he found not only an amazing lover, the keeper of the family hearth, but also a friend.
By the way, today Kukin is considered an icon of hikers, but he himself never went hiking. He rarely could afford fishing and "silent hunting."
Interesting facts about the artist Yuri Kukin
- A pass in the Pamirs bears his name.
- According to Kukin, his most popular track is the shortest piece of music in the world.
- He played an unremarkable role in the film "Game with the Unknown", directed by Pyotr Soldatenkov.
- The artist spoke about himself like this: “I am the last romantic on earth ... yes.”
Death of an artist
He passed away on July 7, 2011. He didn't live long enough to see his birthday. Relatives reported the death of the artist, but chose not to name the reasons that caused the death. Presumably, Kukin died due to a long illness.
Despite the fact that in recent years he felt frankly bad - Kukin did not leave the stage. He delighted fans with performances to the last. The next one was to take place in mid-July 2011. Instead, a concert was held in memory of the artist.
“He had tremendous vitality: he worked as a figure skating coach, participated in geological expeditions, created wonderful songs ...”, Anton Gubankov, chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Culture, commented on the unexpected news about the death of the artist.
He was buried in St. Petersburg. In 2012, the artist's posthumous album was published through the efforts of relatives. The LP was topped by eight dozen previously unreleased pieces of music.
