Alexander Gradsky: biography, creativity, personal life

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Alexander Gradsky is a singer, composer, guitarist, poet, musical and public figure. He is a People's Artist of Russia and a laureate of the State Prize. Created together with Mikhail Turkov, the group "Slavs" was the third rock group in the Soviet Union. As a real creative person, he constantly needs a wonderful muse. Perhaps that is why he has been married multiple times.

Alexander Gradsky. Biography. Childhood and youth

Born in Kopeysk (Chelyabinsk region) on November 3, 1949. His mother was a drama theater actress. From her he inherited a penchant for creativity. My father was a mechanical engineer by profession.

In 1957 the family moved to Moscow. His father got a job at a factory, and his mother became the head of theater circles. She was also a member of the literary staff of a popular magazine. Parents were too busy with work, so Alexander Gradsky lived with his grandmother (through his mother) inthe village of Rastorguevo, Butovsky district (in the Moscow region).

In the period from 1958 to 1965, Sasha attended a music school and studied violin with V. V. Sokolov. The boy was very interested in music lessons. However, he didn't like doing hours of exercise at home.

In a comprehensive school, he is fond of humanitarian disciplines. Literature and history become his elements. He read prose and poetry with great pleasure. At the age of thirteen, Sasha wrote his first poem. He got acquainted early with Western music (E. Presley, L. Armstrong, B. Haley, E. Fitzgerald). From the Soviet stage, he preferred to listen to songs performed by L. Ruslanova, K. Shulzhenko, M. Bernes.

Alexander Gradsky, a young music lover, had the opportunity to listen to rare records with amazing music. His uncle brought them from abroad.

During the school years, Sasha performs as a singer at school parties, while he accompanies himself on the piano or guitar. As an actor, he tries his hand at the theatrical circle.

Family of Alexander Gradsky

• Musician's mother - Tamara Pavlovna Gradskaya (actress, director, literary employee of the magazine).
• Grandmother (on the mother's side) - Maria Ivanovna Gradskaya (Pavlova), was a housewife.
• Grandfather, Pavel Ivanovich Gradsky, a leather craftsman.
• Uncle, Boris Pavlovich Gradsky - dancer, ensemble artist, bayan player, composer.
• Dad - Boris Abramovich Fradkin (mechanical engineer).
• Grandmother (on the father's side) - Rosa Ilyinichna Fradkina (Chvertkina), onworked as a secretary-typist for fifty years.
• Grandfather - Abram Semenovich Fradkin, worked in Kharkov as a house manager.
• Aunt – Irina Abramovna Fradkina (Sidorova).

Until the age of fourteen, Sasha bore the name of his father. After the death of his mother (in 1963), he took her last name in memory of her.

Concerts, performances, bands

Gradsky's successful career as a musician begins in 1963. Together with the group "Cockroaches" (which included Polish students), he performs at several concerts.

In 1965, Alexander Gradsky, together with Mikhail Turkov, created the group "Slavs". Some time later, Vyacheslav Dontsov (drummer) and Viktor Degtyarev (bass guitarist) joined their band. Somewhere in a couple of months, Vadim Maslov (electroorganist) joins them. "Slavs" is the third Soviet rock band that conquered a large number of listeners. Their repertoire included songs by the Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

In 1966, the group "Skomorokhi" was organized. Alexander Gradsky himself was the author of the songs and composed them in Russian.

At the same time, he does not stop working with Dontsov and Degtyarev. Their group "Scythians" repeatedly changed the performing line-up.

On trips, musicians earn money for high-quality and expensive equipment. Their group "Los Panchos" conquers Moscow.

In 1969 he entered the GMPI them. Gnesins and improves vocal skills. At the same time, he begins a solo career and performs underguitar. Continues to compose musical compositions. These are "Ballad of a Poultry Farm", "Spain", "Song of Fools", a small rock opera "Fly-Tsokotuha".

"Skomorokhi" win six first prizes at the All-Union festival of beat-groups "Silver Strings" in Gorky. Alexander Gradsky personally received three of them: "For vocal", "For guitar" and "For composition".

In 1972, "Skomorokhi" toured various cities (Kuibyshev, Donetsk and many others).

In 1973 such compositions were published: "Blue Forest", "Spain", "Buffoons", "Coal Miner's Girlfriend".

Participation in films. Film Music

Gradsky was noticed by director Andrey Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky and offered to take part in the film "Romance of Lovers". First, Alexander was invited as a singer. He was then assigned to be the songwriter, some of the poetry, and all the music. At that time it was a very rare case: a young musician who is not a member of the Union of Composers receives an order from one of the most talented and popular directors in the country.

The film was released in 1974. In the same year, Alexander Gradsky received the title of "Star of the Year". A photo of the already famous musician is presented below.

After that, Alexander's career goes up rapidly. He tours the country. At his concerts, the halls are constantly overflowing with the public, which meets him with incredible excitement.

In 1975, Gradsky fruitfully worked on several films at once. Meanwhile, he continues to record music, participates inprojects of different authors. In the same year, he entered the Moscow Conservatory to the wonderful teacher T. Khrennikov in the composition class.

In 1988 he wrote music for films such as The Art of Living in Odessa and Prisoner of If Castle.

Touring and teaching

Since the end of the 70s, the active touring activity of the musician has continued. His repertoire is replenished with songs for which he writes the lyrics himself. Some of them are very brave. He writes articles in defense of rock music. Actively argues with retrogrades. Thus, he makes enemies for himself.

At this time, he begins teaching. For several years he has been working at the Gnessin School, graduating a course of students. Then he teaches at the institute. This stage of activity ended with two years of heading the vocal department. Gradsky believed that one could work further only if one had his own class.

Creativity of the 70s, 80s, 90s

From 1976 to 1980 Alexander composed and recorded two parts of the Russian Songs suite. This is the first rock record in the Soviet Union, which was released in 1980.

Gradsky Alexander releases one studio record after another. A photo of the musician in the process of work can be seen below.

His vocal suites: "Star of the Fields", "Concert Suite", "Nostalgia", "Life Itself", "Satires", "Utopia AG", "Flute and Piano". The collection of recordings "Reflections of the Fool" confirms the possibility of singing in different rock styles in Russian. The artist works with morecomplex genres. He writes the opera "Stadium" (libretto by A. Gradsky and M. Pushkina), the ballet "Man" on the libretto of his own composition.

Vladimir Vysotsky died in 1980. Alexander delves into tragic satire and dramatic lyrics. He writes compositions "Song about television", "Song about a friend" and others.

In 1988, Gradsky performed the part of the Astrologer from the opera by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov. This is an extremely complex part of the world operatic repertoire. From the auditorium of the Bolshoi Theater he received a long standing ovation.

Music projects. Travel abroad

Under the leadership of Alexander, numerous complex projects took place. This is the organization of solo concerts in Moscow with the participation of orchestras of Russian folk instruments, symphony orchestras, choirs and rock groups; release of thirteen CDs with a complete collection of his own compositions and recordings; creation of musical films (“Anti-Perestroika Blues”, “We Live in Russia”).

Foreign trips give good results. Alexander Gradsky works on joint projects with Liza Minnelli, John Denver, Diana Warwick and many others. He visited Greece, Germany, USA, Spain, Sweden. In 1990, he signed a contract with the leading Japanese company VMI (VICTOR) and released two CDs under its brand.

Recent works

These are real event moments in musical life. The CD Reader is stylistically reminiscent of the Jester's Reflections suite. Here again there is an attempt to speak in Russian inmodern genres. His opera The Master and Margarita (based on M. Bulgakov) is also published with a unique composition of participants. The author worked on it for more than thirty years. It is beautifully and originally designed - in the form of an old book. Includes four discs and complete libretto.

Currently, concerts and tours continue. For several seasons, Gradsky has been a jury member of the Voice project. And it is his contestants who reach the final and become winners. In 2012 it was Dina Garipova, in 2013 it was Sergey Volchkov.

Alexander Gradsky: personal life

The companions of his life changed many times. The first wife was Natalya Mikhailovna Gradskaya. He calls this marriage a "youth act." The relationship did not last long with his second wife, actress Anastasia Vertinskaya.

From 1976 to 1978 they were together. The official divorce took place in 1980. The longest family life was with his third wife, Olga Semyonovna Gradskaya. Their marriage lasted about 23 years. They have two children. Son Daniel was born on March 30, 1981. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a musician, but that doesn't stop him from being a businessman. Daughter Maria was born on January 14, 1986. She graduated from Moscow State University. Works as a TV presenter and art manager.

So, Alexander Gradsky was married three times. The personal life of the musician continues to seethe to this day. In 2003, he won the heart of the charming Marina Kotashenko. They met on the street. But it was in its own way an original acquaintance. Gradskymanaged to attract the attention of a spectacular beauty. A cheerful and indiscreet question: “Would you like to touch history?” - at least will bring a smile to the face of every girl. Of course, with such a legendary personality it is very interesting and exciting, in addition, the artist knows how to love and pamper. Therefore, Alexander Gradsky and his young wife have been happy together for more than ten years.

Marina Kotashenko, like her civil husband, is a creative person. She starred in various TV series, comedies, detective stories.

A big happy event happened recently in their family. On September 1, 2014, the son of Alexander Gradsky was born, who was named Sasha in honor of his father. The birth of Marina Kotashenko took place in New York. Time will tell if the son will follow in his father's footsteps and become a famous musician.

Conclusion

Thus, Alexander Gradsky is revealed to us from different angles. First of all, this is a talented musician (composer, guitarist, singer) and poet, musical and public figure. Secondly, this is a rather brave and purposeful person. He was not afraid to write satirical compositions with pronounced sarcasm, actively stood up for rock music, without fear of making enemies. And thirdly, this is a rather loving person who has been looking for his one and only muse for a long time. He probably found her in the face of Marina Kotashenko.