Alexander Gradsky is a singer, composer, guitarist, poet, music and public figure. He is a Peopleâs Artist of Russia and a laureate of the State Prize. Created together with Mikhail Turkov, the Slavs group was the third rock band in the Soviet Union. As a real creative person, he constantly needs a wonderful muse. Perhaps that is why he was repeatedly married.
Alexander Gradsky. Biography. Childhood and youth
Born in Kopeisk (Chelyabinsk region) on November 3, 1949. His mother was a dramatic tetra actress. From her, he inherited a penchant for creativity. Father was a mechanical engineer by profession.
In 1957, the family moved to Moscow. Father got a job at the factory, and mother became the head of theatrical 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 (along the line of his mother) in the village of Rastorguevo, Butovo district (in the Moscow region).
In the period from 1958 to 1965, Sasha attended a music school and studied the violin class with V.V. Sokolov. The boy was very interested in music lessons. However, he did not like to engage in many hours of exercise at home.
In a secondary school, he is interested in humanitarian disciplines. Its elements are literature and history. He read prose and poetry with great pleasure. At the age of thirteen, Sasha wrote his first verse. He early became acquainted 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. They were brought by his uncle from abroad.
In the school years, Sasha acts as a singer at school evenings, while accompanying himself on the piano or guitar. As an actor, he tries his hand at a theater club.
Family of Alexander Gradsky
- The musicianâs mother is Tamara Pavlovna Gradskaya (actress, director, literary journalist).
- Grandmother (through my mother) - Maria Ivanovna Gradskaya (Pavlova), was a housewife.
- Grandfather, Pavel Ivanovich Gradsky - master of sewing leather products.
- Uncle Boris Pavlovich Gradsky - dancer, ensemble artist, accordion player, composer.
- Dad - Boris Abramovich Fradkin (mechanical engineer).
- Grandmother (on the father's side) - Roza Ilyinichna Fradkina (Chvertkina), for fifty years she worked as a secretary-typist.
- 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 the pope. After the death of her mother (in 1963), she took her last name in memory of her.
Concerts, Performances, Music Groups
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 Slavs group. After some time, their team is replenished by Vyacheslav Dontsov (drummer) and Victor Degtyarev (bass player). Somewhere in a couple of months, Vadim Maslov (an electroorganist) joins them. âSlavsâ is the third Soviet rock band to conquer a large number of listeners. Their repertoire included the songs of the Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
In 1966, a group of buffoons was organized. The author of the songs was Alexander Gradsky himself and composed them in Russian.
Along with this, he does not stop working with Dontsov and Degtyarev. Their group "Scythians" repeatedly changed the cast.
On trips, musicians earn money on high-quality and expensive equipment. Their group "Los Panchos" conquers Moscow.
In 1969 he entered the GMPI. Gnesins and improves vocal skills. At the same time, he begins a solo career and performs with a guitar. He continues to compose musical compositions. This is "Ballad about the poultry farm", "Spain", "Song of the Fools", a small rock opera "Fly-Tsokotuha".
"Buffoons" win the first six prizes at the All-Union festival of beat groups "Silver Strings" in Gorky. Alexander Gradsky personally received three of them: âFor vocalsâ, âFor guitarâ and âFor compositionâ.
In 1972, âBuffoonsâ toured various cities (Kuibyshev, Donetsk, and many others).
In 1973, the following compositions were published: "Blue Forest", "Spain", "Buffoons", "Coal Maker's Friend".
Participation in films. Music for the cinema
Gradsky was noticed by the director Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky and offered to take part in the film "Romance of Lovers". First, Alexander was invited as a singer. Then he was assigned to become the author of songs, some poems and all music. At that time, this 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 country's most talented and popular directors.
The film was released in 1974. In the same year, Gradsky Alexander received the title âStar of the Yearâ. A photo of the already famous musician is presented below.
After this, Alexanderâs career is going up rapidly. He tours the country. At his concerts, the halls are constantly crowded with the audience, who meets him with incredible excitement.
In 1975, Gradsky fruitfully worked on several films at once. Meanwhile, he continues to record music, participates in projects of various authors. In the same year he enters the Moscow Conservatory to a wonderful teacher T. Khrennikov in composition.
In 1988, he wrote music for such films as âThe Art of Living in Odessaâ and âPrisoner of If Castleâ.
Touring and teaching
Since the end of the 70s, the musician has been actively touring. His repertoire is replenished with songs to which he writes lyrics. Some of them are very bold. He writes articles in defense of rock music. Actively polemicizes with retrograde. Thus making enemies.
At this time, he begins teaching. For several years he has been working at the Gnesins 'School, and is releasing a students' course. Then teaches at the institute. This stage of activity ended with two years of heading the vocal department. Gradsky believed that you can continue to work only if you have your own class.
Creativity of the 70s, 80s, 90s
From 1976 to 1980, Alexander composed and recorded two parts of the suite âRussian Songsâ. This is the first rock record in the Soviet Union, which was released in 1980.
One studio recording after another is released by Alexander Gradsky. Photos of the musician in the process of work can be seen below.
His vocal suites: âStar of the Fieldsâ, âConcert Suiteâ, âNostalgiaâ, âLife itselfâ, âSatireâ, âUtopia AGâ, âFlute and Royalâ. The collection of notes âReflections of the Jesterâ confirms the possibility of singing in different rock styles in Russian. The artist also works with more complex genres. He writes the opera The Stadium (libretto by A. Gradsky and M. Pushkina), the ballet The Man on the libretto of his own composition.
In 1980, Vladimir Vysotsky died. Alexander delves into tragic satire and dramatic lyrics. He writes the song "Song of Television", "Song of a Friend" and others.
In 1988, Gradsky performed the part of the Starship from the opera of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov. This is an extremely complex part of the world opera repertoire. From the auditorium of the Bolshoi Theater he received a long standing ovation.
Musical projects. Foreign trips
Under the leadership of Alexander, numerous complex projects took place. This is the organization of solo concerts in Moscow with the participation of Russian folk instrument orchestras, symphony orchestras, choirs and rock groups; release of thirteen CDs with a complete collection of his own compositions and recordings; creation of musical films (âAnti-perestroika bluesâ, âLive in Russiaâ).
Foreign trips give good results. Alexander Gradsky works in joint projects with Lisa Minelli, John Denver, Dayana Warwick and many others. He visited Greece, Germany, USA, Spain, Sweden. In 1990, entered into a contract with the leading Japanese company VMI (VICTOR) and released two CDs under its brand.
Last works
These are real events in musical life. The compact disc "Reading Book" in style reminds a suite of "Thoughts of a Jester". Here again, an attempt is made to speak out in Russian in modern genres. His opera The Master and Margarita (according to M. Bulgakov) with a unique composition of participants is also being released. The author worked on it for more than thirty years. It is excellently and originally decorated - in the form of an old book. Four discs and a complete libretto are included.
Concerts and tours are ongoing. Gradsky has been a member of the jury of the Voice project for several seasons. And it was his contestants who reached the final and became winners. In 2012 - this is Dina Garipova, in 2013 - Sergey Volchkov.
Alexander Gradsky: personal life
Companions of his life repeatedly changed. The first wife was Natalia Mikhailovna Gradskaya. He calls this marriage a "youth act." Relations did not last long with the second wife - actress Anastasia Vertinsky.
From 1976 to 1978 they were together. The official divorce took place in 1980. The longest family life was with a third wife, Olga Semenovna 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 this does not prevent him from being a businessman. Daughter Maria was born on January 14, 1986. She graduated from Moscow State University. He works as a TV presenter and art manager.
So, Alexander Gradsky was married three times. The personal life of the musician continues to seethe still. 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. Gradsky managed to attract the attention of a spectacular beauty. A cheerful and immodest question: âWould you like to touch the story?â - at least will cause a smile on 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, Gradsky Alexander and his young wife have been happy together for more than ten years.
Marina Kotashenko, like her common- law husband, is a creative person. She starred in various TV shows, comedies, detectives.
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 whether the son will follow in the footsteps of his father, whether he will become a famous musician.
Conclusion
Thus, Gradsky Alexander is revealed to us from different angles. First of all, he is a talented musician (composer, guitarist, singer) and poet, musical and public figure. Secondly, this is a fairly bold and purposeful person. He was not afraid to write satirical compositions with pronounced sarcasm, he actively stood up for rock music, without fear of making enemies. And thirdly, this is a pretty loving person who has long been looking for his one and only muse. Probably, in the person of Marina Kotashenko, he found her.