Vadim Kozin is a phenomenal Soviet artist who during his life experienced the peaks of fame, oblivion, and conclusion, and then again waves of admiration and recognition. In 1930-1940 The popularity of this pop singer was fantastic, the audience adored his unusual timbre voice - lyrical tenor. But fate prepared Kozin for many more trials. We will talk about the life of an artist in an article.
Biography
Vadim Kozin was born on March 21, 1903 in St. Petersburg. His father, Alexei Kozin, was a merchant of the first guild, and his mother, Vera Ilyinskaya, was a gypsy from the choral dynasty. Vadim's dad died early, and the boy, who was studying at the gymnasium at that time, interrupted his studies to help his sisters and mother.
Kozin began his career as an artist with taper - voiced silent films. Then he began to sing and perform on stage. In 1920, he participated in the comic choir "Comor", then began to perform solo: he performed gypsy songs, works of Russian composers, romances.
Vadim Kozin became incredibly popular in Russia in the 1930s. His contemporaries recalled that long lines lined up behind the singer's records and, so that there were no disturbances, they even had to use the mounted police.
During the war
In the military years 1941-1945, Vadim Kozin traveled with concerts to parts of the Soviet army. For these purposes, he was even allocated a separate wagon. As you know, during the war, records were handed over for remelting as raw materials for the defense industry. But Kozin's records were in a separate category: they had a stamp on the ban on remelting.
In 1941, the artist prepared a program in which the patriotic composition “Moscow” was included. At the end of 1943, along with Marlene Dietrich, Iza Kremer and Maurice Chevalier participated in a concert for members of the Tehran Conference. In total, in the pre-war and war years, over fifty Vadim Kozin records were released in Gramplasttrest.
What was he sitting for?
The biography of the singer contains many sad episodes. So, in 1945, his voice disappeared from the air, and the records ceased to be released. The fact is that Vadim Kozin came into conflict with the Soviet regime: he asked his mother and sisters to be taken out of the besieged Leningrad, but they refused him for a long time, and when they finally agreed, it was too late - the artist’s family members died of starvation. After the incident, Kozin said that if he knew about such heartlessness, it would be better to emigrate from Russia to the West.
05/12/1944 an arrest warrant was issued for the singer, and on the same day he was tied up in a hotel room. For anti-Soviet agitation, Vadim Alekseevich was sentenced to eight years in forced labor camps. He served his sentence in Kolyma, but served a relatively easy term, was not involved in heavy physical labor, and worked with other prisoner artists in the Magadan Drama Theater. Kozin was responsible for amateur performances in the camp, in the evenings he worked in the regional library: compiled a file cabinet, printed lists of books. The authorities appreciated the singer: in the daytime he could walk around Magadan without a convoy, in the summer he often changed his camp uniform to ordinary clothes and went for a walk in the square.
Release and Remand
In 1950, Vadim Kozin was released ahead of schedule for good work and good behavior. The artist resumed concert activity and began to increase its former popularity. First he performed in Siberia, then in the European part of the Union. At the end of 1957, the singer gave 193 concerts in the central regions of the country, and success everywhere accompanied him, as in the thirties.
But in 1959, Kozin was repeatedly convicted under the article "sodomy." According to close friends of Vadim Alekseevich, he really was a homosexual, and did not hide his orientation. This time the artist remained in custody until 1961. After his release, he never returned to the center, but remained to live in Magadan, remaining a legendary man and a peculiar attraction for the city.
Last years
In the 1990s, Vadim Kozin was suddenly remembered and released on central television several programs about his work and talent. Interest in the forgotten singer woke up again. In 1993, a whole delegation of illustrious artists led by Joseph Kobzon arrived in Magadan to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of Vadim Alekseevich.
Vadim Kozin died on 12/19/1994 in Magadan, and was buried there, at the Marchekansky cemetery. After death, a memorial museum was opened in the singer’s city apartment, where his velvet voice still sounds. During his life, this great artist has created more than three hundred musical works, and his repertoire included more than three thousand compositions. Many songs of Vadim Kozin are popular in our days, for example, “Lyubushka”, “Autumn”. Today, on stage, they are performed by modern pop artists.
Memory
The memorial museum, created in memory of the singer, is still open to visitors. It is located in Magadan, on Shkolny Lane, building 1, apartment 9. Here Vadim Alekseevich lived and worked since 1968. The apartment has preserved the interior that has surrounded Kozin for many years: the Timbre tape recorder, the Red October piano, household items, furniture, and personal items. The personal legacy is personal diaries, home magnetic tapes, an extensive library, personal photographs, a collection of notes, posters and newspaper publications.
Today, as during the singer’s life, visiting artists, politicians, Magadans of different generations and city guests visit his apartment. There are romances and songs by Kozin, musical and literary evenings are held. The museum is a popular tourist destination in the city, about four thousand people visit it every year.
In 2013, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Vadim Alekseevich, a monument was erected to him in Magadan Square on K. Marx Street. The sculpture depicts Kozin sitting on a bench in a coat and felt boots, with a cat in his arms, and next to it is a folder with poems.