Surely many at one time listened to the ensemble "Pesnyary". And what do you know about its creator? Biography of Vladimir Mulyavin, family, interesting facts - all this will be presented to your attention in the article.
Childhood
Sverdlovsk, January 12, 1941. In the family of the Mulyavins, George and Akulina, joy - the son of Volodya was born. This is the second child, there is still a son Valery (born in 1938).
Volodya’s father worked at the largest plant in the Trans-Urals — Uralmash — as a worker. The work was not easy, but it did not prevent George from engaging in guitar enthusiastically. He had good ear for music, so the music in Volodya’s life has been since childhood. Mother worked as a seamstress. There was no particular wealth in the family; they lived like everyone else: from paycheck to paycheck. The ancestors of the parents were educated people, had their own business, but with the coming to power of the Soviets, they, like many merchants, were dispossessed.
Despite the fact that George and Akulina already had three children (Valery, Volodya, Natasha), the father left the family. The mother had to support the family, working day and night. Children are early accustomed to independence, though making life easier for their mother.
Vladimir Mulyavin, whose photo you have the opportunity to see in the article, loved to listen to music, understood it, so he was able to learn the balalaika game on his own. Then he mastered the guitar and other instruments.
The family did not have the opportunity to attend musical performances, so concerts on the guitar and balalaika were arranged at home, in the courtyard. When Volodya managed to watch the opera La Traviata, he was so impressed with what he saw that it was perhaps one of the most vivid impressions of his childhood.
Adolescence
We can consider it a great luck meeting with Navrotsky Alexander Ivanovich, who graduated from the Institute of Culture in Kharkov. He was a wonderful musician who discerned talent in a young man and gave impetus to the development of this talent. They liked making music so much that sometimes, not noticing the time, they worked for several hours a day. He continued his musical education at a music school in Sverdlovsk, enrolling there in 1956. Music, new musical hobbies, playing the guitar and the piano - all this captured and carried away Vladimir. He needed a way out for ideas, he wanted to create, and together with his friends he creates a jazz group. But jazz in those years was not recognized in our country, there should not be such music in the USSR! He and the entire jazz group are expelled, but still later he was reinstated in the school.
Creative way
The study is finished, the desires and aspirations of the sea, the soul requires flight! And penniless in his pocket, in the cargo compartment under the wagon, he leaves Sverdlovsk. It can be seen that fate wished that he ended up in Kaliningrad. There Mulyavin assembled a team in which he acted as a pop artist - he played the guitar. By that time, he had already married artist Lisa Karmalskaya. Both took part in the concerts: Volodya accompanied on the guitar, Lisa performed in the original genre of artistic whistling. In 1961, the firstborn is born in a young family - daughter Marina.
In the early 60s, Volodya, as a musician, performed a lot, worked in Petrozavodsk, Kuzbass, and Orenburg. In 1963 he moved to Minsk, having received an invitation from the Belarusian Philharmonic. He played different music, but his interests were more and more inclined to folk. He was interested in the folklore of the peoples of Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Belarus. This was reflected in the music he played.
Living in Belarus, it is impossible for a musician to not know the music of this region, so Mulyavin collected folklore around the country, listened to the performances of local residents, was engaged in arranging folk music, got acquainted with the works of Belarusian classics.
In 1965 he was drafted into the army. He served not far, near Minsk. The years of service were in his work, one might say, decisive, because he continued to study music: a vocal group was created in part, and with his participation an ensemble of the Belarusian military district was organized. At the same time (everything coincided happily), Leonid Tyshko, Vladislav Misevich, Alexander Demeshko, Valery Yashkin, who later became part of the original Pesnyarov, served in this unit, only in other companies. During the service, they performed at the Officers House at concerts, at discos, and rehearsed whenever possible.
After the army, the guys did not have the opportunity to play together, everyone worked in different teams, but did not lose touch with each other. Mulyavin also worked in the team as a guitarist, musician and did not even think about a singing career. But once their team worked at a concert by Nelly Boguslavskaya, People’s Artist of Belarus, and she, hearing his voice at a rehearsal, said that he must definitely sing with such data. Perhaps this gave him reason to think of himself as a singer.
Creation of the ensemble "Pesnyary"
In 1968, members of the army team created VIA "Lyavony". At first they acted as accompanists for the Lyavoshha dance ensemble, but, having performed their concert in 1969 and having received well-deserved success, they realized that they could perform according to their program and be an independent collective. At that time, Vladimir's brother Valery (trumpet, guitar) joined them. An ensemble with this name lasted until October 1970 and changed its name to Pesnyary because the name Lyavona did not appeal to either the management or themselves. The word "songwriters" (translated from Belarusian - "singers", "poets", "storytellers") was found in Belarusian literature, and it seemed to the guys more in tune with their work.
The ensemble toured a lot in cities, in remote villages and villages, where true Belarusian music, folk songs, and local folklore were still preserved. They collected about 150 songs. Muliavin did not like the stage of that time, he did not like much, he wanted something else, real. But the folk theme was interesting, I liked the melodious Belarusian songs, the sound of the Belarusian language. He began to study it in order to understand folk songs, to understand what they sang about.
Performance in Moscow
In 1970, Pesnyary obtained permission to perform in Moscow at the IV All-Union Pop Art Competition. They didn’t get permission right away, because the management believed that their appearance did not meet the standards of that time: strict suits, short hairstyles. And they have long hair, mustaches, beards, bright costumes - everything is not like everyone else. Mulyavin had to prove that for an ensemble that sings folk songs, this is part of the image.
At the competition “Pesnyary” they performed with the forgotten Belarusian folk song “You dreamed me in the spring”. An original arrangement was made for her, the voices of the soloists were sonorous, beautiful, and the song poured over the hall, capturing the audience. The "Pesnyars" simply made a splash.
After the contest, the whole country found out about them. Belarusian songs became popular: they were sung, they were taught by heart, they began to be published in song collections, they sounded on the radio, and true connoisseurs even got acquainted with the Belarusian language in order to be closer to the work of their favorite artists.
Black line
In 1973, the group was on tour in Yalta, and there, shortly before the concert, with Volodya’s brother, Valery, there was a misfortune, one might say an absurd accident: fell and hit the stones. Upon learning of the death of his brother, Volodya did not cancel the concert, although it was incredibly difficult for everyone. The hall was full, the audience waited, and the group left, played a concert. Volodya could not sing, he only played the guitar.
Soon another grief befell Mulyavin: sister Natasha died.
Popularity in all the expanses of the USSR
In the 1970s, the ensemble became more and more popular in the USSR, they began to compare it with the Beatles, began broadcasting it on Central television, and invited them to tour around the country. The folk song “Kassiv Yas Kanyushin” in an unusual rock processing has become incredibly famous.
Seeing the ensemble’s popularity, the party leadership decided to use it to propagate patriotism, patriotic feelings and ordered songs of ideological content. These songs were performed sincerely, with soul, not crafty, therefore they listened with pleasure, they re-sing, although there were people who were rather skeptical about custom songs. Many even believed that “Birch sap” and “My Youth - Belarus” are the processing of folk songs, although they were written by order.
Vladimir Mulyavin, interesting facts about which you can read in the article, used the “need for them” for his own purposes: he helped settle everyday issues for soloists, demanded good conditions for them in hotels, good equipment, but he did not deviate from his principles in his work: I never sang in restaurants, I didn’t pay for the ensemble to be sent on tour abroad. He said so: “I don’t pay for creativity!” They were expected everywhere, and they were invited to tours abroad. Getting on tour abroad at that time was very difficult, almost impossible, but they went. Of the Soviet groups, Pesnyary were the first to perform in America. The audience applauded them standing, in the newspapers they wrote about a group from the Soviet Union.
Since the ensemble is Belarusian, the leadership wanted them to sing only in Belarusian, but Mulyavin could not do this. He did not like and did not want to interfere in the creative process, did not compromise because of the lyrics. There were times when he did not want to change the words in the song, and because of this the ensemble was not allowed to go on tour for a long time. But in spite of everything, Pesnyary was the most touring group in the USSR.
Mulyavin Vladimir (biography and photo - in the article) was a wonderful arranger, played well on different instruments, but he also had a unique voice: a clean and high tenor. He did not receive a vocal education, but he not only heard music, he felt it, felt it, paid attention to any inaccuracies. He was very demanding of himself, did not allow for performance flaws, showing his attitude to the matter as an example to the whole team. At rehearsals, he demanded the same precision from the soloists, did not tolerate falsehoods, forced him to work until the desired result, to the desired note. At concerts, he did not tolerate disrespect for the audience, he demanded a return from the artists, and the audience paid for it with love. And when the audience got up, applauding, it was deserved.
I looked for talented soloists for the group wherever possible. Hearing the voice he needed, he invited him to a rehearsal, so that the applicant understood what requirements he had to satisfy. There was nothing to do there without talent. So in the group appeared Leonid Bortkevich and Anatoly Kasheparov. About fifty musicians have been replaced in the group over the years; of course, there couldn’t be a permanent line-up. Someone came, someone left.
After ten years of ensemble activity, Bortkevich left the group, married gymnast Olga Korbut and went to America. After Kasheparov left and also left for America, he created his own business there. Later he met in Florida with Muliavin, they made joint plans, but the conversations remained conversations. The founders of the ensemble: Leonid Tyshko and Alexander Demeshko, also gradually left.
Difficult period
It was a difficult period for them, for the whole country. There were few concerts, financially very difficult. The ensemble toured with the old repertoire, sang songs that people liked, although Mulyavin has written more than ten original programs, several rock operas, and many songs since 1985 over the years of Pesnyarov’s activity. But he could record the disc only in the Netherlands in 1994, and in Russia and Belarus these works were never heard then.
The musicians had to rehearse even in schools for the deaf-mute, on any sites that they could find, with old instruments. Vladimir Mulyavin (Pesnyary) did not do nothing, wrote to the management and rather sharply, for which he was removed from the management of the group, leaving him as artistic director. In this situation, his passion for alcohol played an important role. Instead, he was appointed Vladislav Misevich (lead singer of the group). When it came to President Lukashenko, Mulyavin was returned to his former position. Misevich left the band, all the musicians left. It was not possible to save the ensemble, although Vladimir Georgievich did his best.
Gradually, he recruited a new line-up of the group, and the anniversary at thirty was celebrated at the Olimpiyskiy with a big concert, and the star of Mulyavin was laid on the Walk of Fame. In 2001, he was awarded the Order of Francis Skorina (the highest award in Belarus).
Vladimir Muliavin Biography: personal life
Karmalskaya toured with her husband, although it was not at all easy with her child. The musicians didn’t earn so much, and she, performing complex classical works (artistic whistling), is good. For the group, Lisa was a salvation during trips: she solved some domestic issues, cooked for everyone. She called Volodya “Flying” with love. Their love was reflected in many songs that were performed at concerts.
Do Vladimir Mulyavin have children? Yes. Daughter Marina Mulyavina, in memory of her father, together with Olga Brilan wrote the book "Untold ...". In the book, she shared her memories, told how he really was, how hard she survived the divorce of her parents, how she forgave her father and many other things that only she could know about.
In 1975, the second child was born in the family of Volodya and Lisa - the son of Volodya, but this marriage did not save. Upon learning of her husband's infidelities, Lisa filed for divorce.
The second wife of the musician was Svetlana Slizskaya. The daughter Olga was born in marriage in 1976. Svetlana led a free lifestyle, did not go on tour with her husband. As the biography of Vladimir Mulyavin testifies, the family broke up in 1981. How did Vladimir's personal life develop further?
On the set of the film “Going through the agony”, a future couple gets acquainted - Vladimir Mulyavin and Svetlana Penkina. They got married in 1981. A year later, the second son of Vladimir Mulyavin was born. They named him in honor of his brother Valery. For the sake of the family of Light, she left the theater, took up raising her son. Valery received a musical education, but did not want to connect his life with music, he took up computers.
Some believed that Svetlana played a role in the fact that the group broke up. Everyone knew that Volodya consulted with her, that she interfered in his affairs, in the affairs of the ensemble, but, nevertheless, Vladimir Mulyavin and Svetlana Penkina loved each other and lived together for 20 years.
The last years of the artist’s life
In May 14, 2002, Mulyavin, while driving, had a serious accident at a sharp bend near Minsk, although he was a good driver (more than a quarter century behind the wheel), and received very serious injuries (spinal cord injury, vertebral fracture, bruises, etc. .). For a while he was in Minsk, then he was transferred to Moscow, to the Burdenko hospital, for rehabilitation. His arms and legs were paralyzed, but, as the newspapers wrote, he worked on himself. Next to him was his wife - Svetlana Penkina.
For eight months, doctors fought for his life, he fought himself, but a miracle did not happen. January 26, 2006 Vladimir Georgievich Mulyavin died. Farewell to him in Moscow took place on January 27, and in Minsk on January 28. A Belarusian songwriter of Russian origin was buried at the Eastern Cemetery in Minsk.
In memory of Muliavin, a boulevard was named in the center of Minsk, a sculptural composition was opened at the Moscow Memorial Cemetery in Minsk, a memorial plaque was erected on his house in Yekaterinburg, and a stamp dedicated to him was issued in Belarus.