Yuri Alekseevich Kukin, whose biography is considered in this article, is a once-famous poet and songwriter, a popular Soviet singer of bard song. Few people know that Kukin did not like this musical direction at all. Read about the preferences of the songwriter, his hobbies and personal life below.
Childhood and youth
Biography of Yuri Kukin takes the countdown from the seventeenth of July 1932. The future bard was born in a small village in the Leningrad region.
Jura grew up a cheerful and mischievous boy. Like all the guys, he disappeared for a long time on the street, was fond of sports. This hobby subsequently influenced the choice of a guy’s profession.
In the biography of Yuri Kukin, music did not immediately begin to occupy such a significant place.
From the age of 14, Yura became interested in playing the drums, but this was no more than a hobby. Soon, this hobby began to make money. Since 1946, Yuri Kikin, along with his comrades, began to play in restaurants, earning three rubles a night. Then he wrote his first song entitled "Caravan" on the motive of the American composition.
After school, the guy entered the Leningrad State Pedagogical University named after P.F. Lesgaft, who graduated in 1954 with a red diploma. In parallel, the young man continued to perform in restaurants and remodel American songs.
Figure skating
After graduation, the biography of Yuri Kukin for almost 20 years was associated with coaching.
In the Soviet Union, figure skating gained popularity, but it was difficult to find the masters who could train future champions.
One of them was our hero. Until 1973, Yuri coached children in sports schools throughout the Leningrad region.
It is the work of the coach that Kukin calls his profession. He participated in the creation of the first mass sports schools in figure skating. He stood at the origins of this sport in the country, preparing champions.
It is worth noting that the salary of the coach was very high. Kukin received several thousand rubles, which allowed him not only to ensure a comfortable life, but also to maintain his jazz band.
From jazz to bard song
Yes, it was with jazz that the creative activity of Yuri Kukin began, the biography of which we are considering. Youthful passion has grown into something more. The musician spent all his money on the purchase of equipment and fees to his colleagues. Yuri Alekseevich began to compose songs in his youth. At first he redid foreign hits. Then he began to take bard songs and perform them in a jazz manner. The musician admitted that he composed songs without any influence. He wrote as he feels. Moreover, according to the author, his “creations” cannot be sung correctly. These are songs written by yourself. They have nothing to do with the consumer product.
In the summer of 1963, the friend of our hero, the poet G. Gorbovsky, invited a coach and musician to a geological expedition. Kukin gladly accepted this invitation and went to rest. This was his first expedition. Mountain air, pleasant company and cozy evenings around the campfire contributed to the fact that Yuri Alekseevich wrote many songs that were very popular with tourists. So, from a jazz musician in the eyes of the public, Kukin turned into an author and performer of a bard song.
The popularity of the musician was growing, it soon became difficult for him to be torn between coaching and musical tours.
In 1968, Yuri Kukin decided to leave the sport and plunge headlong into the world of creativity. He got a job in the Lenconcert, where he regularly performed on stage, accompanied by musical groups "Funny Voices", and with "Romance".
In 1971, the musician was invited to the Leningrad Regional Philharmonic, and in 1988 to the Benefis Theater Studio in Leningrad.
In the creative biography of Yuri Kukin, there is a fact that he was very proud of: at the peak of popularity, he performed 19 times on the same stage with Pugacheva.
The popularity of Yuri Kukin was not limited to the Soviet audience. He went on tours several times to America, Germany, Poland, Israel and other countries.
Kukin about bards and burgundy festivals
In one of his last interviews, Yuri Alekseevich admitted that he absolutely does not like the bard song and does not consider himself a bard - this is a label that society has awarded him. All his life he preferred jazz, from which the musician’s career began.
The musician responded ambiguously about modern bardic artists and festivals.
A real bard, according to Kukin’s definition, is a person who can neither sing nor play, but who has a huge soul. The current musicians, he believed, are more likely performers than bards.
Speaking of festivals, he could only highlight Katun, as he was its president four times. The popular Grushinsky festival, our hero despised. He explained this by the fact that this event is more likely a rally of amateur tourists, rather than music lovers.
Nevertheless, Kukin was often invited to such events as a guest, performer and member of the jury.
He was even honored to be president of the debut bard song festival, which was held in Jerusalem.
Personal life
Not much is known about the musician’s personal life. He never advertised information about his loved ones. Kukin was closely acquainted with Vysotsky. He even bought records of our hero.
Kukin was twice married. The first chosen one was called Nina. The couple had two children. In the biography of Yuri Kukin, family and children occupy a very significant place, but he tried to hide this side of his life from the press. It is known that children did not follow in the footsteps of their father. The son of a musician defended his doctoral dissertation in electronics, his daughter learned to become a journalist.
The name of the second wife of Yuri Kukin is not mentioned in the biography of the musician. She is known to be 22 years younger than her husband. Kukin dedicated the song "Ask My Wife" to his second wife.
Death and creative heritage
The heart of Yuri Alekseevich stopped beating on July 7, 2011. This was a tragedy for his fans, friends and family. Biography of Yuri Kukin was interrupted at 79 years of age. The athlete and musician was buried in St. Petersburg.
Over the course of his life, the great bard has written over a hundred songs. During his life, two records, audio tapes and CDs with the musician’s songs were released, which were sold out not only throughout the CIS, but also in America.