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Valery Leontyev is a very bright and extraordinary artist, a legend of the Soviet and subsequently Russian stage, winner of many titles and prestigious awards, born on March 19, 1949.

Childhood

Valery's childhood passed so far from Moscow that, as a little boy, he could not even imagine that fate would someday bring him to the capital. He was born into an ordinary working-class family that at times struggled to make ends meet.

His father was from the Pomors, and his mother was a native of Ukraine, who miraculously ended up with the tiny village of Ust-Usa, Komi Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, where the youngest in the family, the late child Valera, was born.

The kid grew up very inquisitive and active; from childhood he loved music: he felt the rhythm well and tried to sing and dance. But where was it possible to practice dancing in the village? When he grew up a little, his parents moved to the Arkhangelsk region. There, in the conditions of cold winters and short summers, the character of little Valery was tempered.

First modest opportunities creative self-expression opened for the boy after a new move, this time to a small town on the Volga called Yuryevets. There he began to actively participate in amateur art groups at school, fell in love with singing and enjoyed performing at all concerts and other events.

He really liked the atmosphere of the stage and the audience's applause, and somewhere in the depths of his small talented soul the dream of a big stage began to flutter.

However, this dream was not the only one. Having Pomeranian roots, Valery was deeply and selflessly in love with the sea. In high school, he had a great desire to enter the Far Eastern University to major in oceanography and sail the blue expanses of the seas on a huge ship.

But when he mentioned his plans to his parents, they honestly said that they could not finance such a dream.

Having recovered from the first disappointment, but trying to escape from the Russian outback, Valery went to take exams at a technical school to major in radio engineering, hoping that this would somehow bring him closer to his dream.

Alas, these plans were not destined to come true. Not being a very diligent student, Valery simply failed the exams and returned to school, continuing to perform more than to comprehend the basics of science.

On the way to the stage

Valery returned to finish his studies at school with a firm decision to become an artist. Therefore, he tried to devote most of his time to music, singing and dancing. It must be said that the audience always loved and greeted the young artist very warmly, which gave him confidence in his own abilities. And, having received a school certificate, the boy nevertheless set off to conquer Moscow.

This was his first visit to the capital. Large city literally stunned the young man, who turned out to be unprepared for such dramatic changes. And a few days before the first exam at GITIS, where the documents were submitted, Valery takes them and returns home.

However, not for long. Having tried many different professions, he understands that without higher education there is nothing to think about. normal operation and leaves again. This time to Vorkuta.

There he enters the mining institute and at the same time finds a job in one of scientific institutions. Three years were enough to understand that he could not give up creativity, and the life of a simple engineer was boring and uninteresting for him. He again spent less and less time studying and spent more and more time on stage as part of amateur creative groups.

He was especially interested in singing. Over the course of several years, he developed an almost complete repertoire, which allowed him to perform in 1972 with an amateur, but still debut solo concert on the stage of the regional Palace of Culture. It was this day that became a turning point in the fate of the young artist.

Bathing in the spotlight and the audience's applause, Valery understands that he cannot imagine another destiny other than the career of an artist.

He decides to take part in the then popular competition “We are looking for talents” and unexpectedly turns out to be its winner. The main prize was an internship in Moscow and fate brings Valery to the capital again. Surprisingly, the city again did not accept him.

Without completing his studies, Valery returns to Syktyvkar, but not to his previous way of life. The city philharmonic society opened its doors to him, in which he quickly became the soloist of the pop group.

The creative team created an original and modern repertoire with which they toured almost throughout the entire USSR for more than 2 years. Of course, the concerts took place on modest stages of regional cultural centers, and not at prestigious concert venues.

But, invariably warmly received by the audience, Leontyev gained inner confidence in his own abilities. And in 1978, having received an official offer from the leadership of the Gorky Philharmonic to become a leading soloist, he even dared to set his own conditions - mandatory participation in the All-Union Yalta Competition of Variety Artists.

Finest hour

The artist took preparations for the competition so seriously, as if his whole life depended on victory. To a large extent this was true. Leontyev knew that the recording of the competition would be broadcast on central television and, having won it, he could quickly become famous and move to a completely different level as an artist. And so it happened. With the ballad “In Memory of a Guitarist” he received first prize.

The next milestone was the popular Bulgarian festival, which was held annually in Sopot and brought together talented performers from the countries of the former socialist commonwealth. In different years, such Soviet pop stars as, and others passed through this festival.

And in 1979, Leontyev not only confidently won it, but also received a special prize from a prestigious fashion magazine for the best stage costume, the design of which was developed by the artist himself.

At the pinnacle of glory

1980 was one of the most brilliant and successful years in the artist’s creative biography. In addition to enormous stage success, he brought the artist an acquaintance with the then-famous composer David Tukhmanov, who successfully worked with the stars. Tom liked the young performer’s extraordinary style, and from then on their long-term creative union began.

For two years, Leontyev performed at the best concert venues and in the most prestigious halls of all the republics of the former USSR. It was a tremendous success, which became the reason for the strongest blow that the artist had to endure.

Having won in Sopot, he came to the attention of international journalists, who compared him to Mick Jagger. And the Soviet censorship did not like this very much.

Overnight, Leontyev's career was in jeopardy. He was banned from speaking and stopped being shown on television. Continuous tours and extreme stress took a heavy toll on the artist’s health - he almost lost his voice.

For three long years, Leontyev disappears from the view of viewers and journalists. During this time, he managed to recover from depression, restore his voice after surgery on his ligaments, and even update his repertoire.

Triumphant return

The singer's return to the stage was triumphant. In addition, in those years he had a passionate affair with Laura Quint, who supported the singer in every possible way and wrote her best songs for him. Since then, he has become one of the recognized leaders of the Soviet stage. Not a single big concert or music show in the country can take place without Leontyev.

Over his 40-year career, Leontyev recorded 22 full-length studio albums, starred in more than 20 musicals and films, and released 30 video clips. He stopped performing actively on stage in 2014, giving several farewell anniversary concerts. Three generations of viewers grew up listening to his songs, for whom he will forever remain a favorite performer.

Outrageousness, unique style, sexually attractive appearance, beautiful and melodic voice - these qualities are so characteristic of Valery Leontyev. A bright and charming man, a talented singer is always in the spotlight. The artist’s personal life is of interest to fans, since practically nothing is known about it.

Biography

The biography of Valery Yakovlevich Leontyev dates back to the 40s. The year of birth of the singer is 1949. The date of birth of the future “voice of Russia” is March 19. Information about where Leontyev is from indicates the Komi Republic. More precisely, the place where the singer was born is the village of Ust-Usa. Nationality Russian.

Valery Leontiev with his parents

Leontyev's mother is Ekaterina Ivanovna Klyuts. However, not everyone is sure of this. There are ambiguous speculations in the media about the origin of the star.

In 2005, the singer’s fans learned that Valery Leontyev’s sister, Maya, had died. This happened on January 6 in one of the Krasnodar psychiatric hospitals. She was 74 years old. Maya first found herself in a dispensary for the mentally ill 2 years ago. Then she confidently declared that she was the sister of Valery Leontyev himself.

The medical staff received this news with skepticism, since, by virtue of their profession, “Ivan the Terrible”, “Napoleons”, “Mothers of Jesus Christ” appeared in the hospital every day. However, later workers psychiatric clinic We were convinced that the information that Maya told was true.

The medical staff had an epiphany when Valery himself came to visit his relative. Then he brought fruits and flowers to his sister. After a short stay in the ward, he left the hospital and never appeared there again.

As it turned out later, Maya is actually not Valery’s sister, but his own mother. As a resident of the village of Ust-Usa said, the girl was pretty.

The family arrived in the village in 1948 from Sakhalin. Then the reindeer herding manager needed specialists, and Yakov Ivanovich Leontyev, the singer’s father, was a livestock specialist. His wife came with him, the same Ekaterina Ivanovna Klyuts, her sister and daughter Maya.

The family was settled in beautiful house, in another part of which lived the director of a reindeer herding farm named Smirnykh. It is possible that 18-year-old Maya gave birth to him (although according to another version, the girl became pregnant by a gypsy). A charming boy was born.

After giving birth, Maya got a job as a pioneer leader at a school, and gave her son Valera to her grandmother’s care. She registered the child as her own in order to avoid shame, because the girl needed to get married and start a family. Leontyev called Maya his sister, his own grandmother - mom, and Yakov Ivanovich - dad and bore his patronymic.

With older sister Maya

After this, the family's life improved. Maya, Ekaterina Ivanovna and her sister made a living by sewing slippers, decorating curtains, and weaving napkins.

As residents of Ust-Us recall, the women were little like villagers. Instead of the popular felt boots, they wore boots. Women loved Valery, pampered him, dressed him neatly and beautifully.

The family rarely saw the head of the family. My father was always on the move. Women did all the housework, including men's work.

Maya soon left the village and went to Vorkuta. There she studied and found a job. After this, the girl got married and changed her last name from Klyuts to Rudaya.

The singer's childhood was unusual. Valery did not go to school until he was 12 years old, since it was located 7 km from his home in Ust-Usa. The boy received his first basics from his mother and her sister. In 1961, Yakov Ivanovich was again transferred for work, but to Yuryevets (Ivanovo). Here Valera goes to school and graduates.

The boy's activities were not limited to studies. He was seriously interested in drawing, dancing, and singing. The school first heard Valery’s sonorous voice when he performed as part of a local choir. No one thought then that a new Soviet pop star would soon rise.

After graduating from school, he tries to enroll in a radio engineering college. However, the attempt is unsuccessful. Leontiev returns to school again and finishes high school.

After this, Valery expresses a desire to enter the Far Eastern University at the Faculty of Oceanology. However, again the boy’s hopes are shattered, because the family did not have money for such a long trip.

Then the young man turns his attention to the music. He decides to enter the Moscow GITIS, but his fantasies of world fame are untenable; at the very last moment the young man changes his mind, takes the documents and returns home.

There he tries his hand at various professions: a builder, a brick factory worker, a postman, a tailor, an electrician. But none of them gives Leontyev any pleasure.

Then he entered the Mining Institute in Leningrad as an evening student. But here too there is a failure. Leontyev does not like his studies; he drops out of university in his 3rd year. Simultaneously with his studies, Valery works as a draftsman and laboratory assistant at the Research Institute. It is here that he shows his talent in an amateur performance group.

Fans of the artist are interested in whether he served in the army. There is little information on this matter. However, users of airborne forums call Valera one of their own and even know in which unit he served.

It is worth noting that Valery did not tell anyone the story of his origin. Rumor has it that even Lyusya, Leontyev’s wife, did not know the truth. Maya's husband Georgy Georgievich Rudoy also did not suspect that Valery was his stepson. However, the husband of Leontyev’s biological mother said that they loved Valera. He often visited them during a concert in Anapa and helped financially.

The man also admitted that Maya had been diagnosed with many diseases over the past 6 years, which were complicated by dementia.

They met in Vorkuta, then entered the pedagogical institute together. However, Maya did not become a teacher. She devoted her entire life to trade. Last years she worked as a store manager. The couple lived happily together for almost 50 years.

Ekaterina Ivanovna died in 1996. Leontyev’s dearest and most beloved woman did not live to see her 90th birthday by just one month. Valery Leontyev attended the funeral, which took place in Anapa at the city cemetery.

Yakov Stepanovich died in 1979. In 1954 he was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for his great contribution to reindeer husbandry.

Leontyev was not present at Maya's funeral due to knee surgery.

Creative career

In April 1972, Valery Leontyev's first solo concert took place. This happened in Vorkuta on the stage of the Palace of Culture of Builders and Miners. Valery decided not to stop there and in the same year took part in “Song-72” in Syktyvkar. Then he performed the composition “Carnival in the North” and became the winner.

The prize at the competition was training at the “G. Vinogradov Creative Workshop of Pop Art” in Moscow. However, Valery abandoned his studies again and moved to Syktyvkar, where he worked as a soloist in the Philharmonic. Later he created the group “Echo”.

Music

Next, Valery enters the Leningrad Institute of Culture and graduates in 1978. Next goal The Gorky Philharmonic performs for the future celebrity. There he agrees to work on the condition that he is sent to the All-Union song competition in Yalta.

Valera's dream comes true - he performs a 12-minute ballad about “In Memory of the Guitarist” on stage. The singer is awarded a prize for this song. The competition was broadcast throughout the country, and therefore Valera was noticed. The first who paid attention to the young and talented performer was Tukhmanov. Valera began to collaborate with him. Such compositions as “Beloved Country” (the first song), “There in September”, “Dancing Hour in the Sun” became known throughout the country. For the last song, Leontyev was awarded the Golden Orpheus award.

From 1982 to 1995, the singer was the vocalist of the artistic vocal-instrumental ensemble “Echo”. During the same period of time, he was awarded the Lenin Komsomol Prize, and was also awarded the title “Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR.”

In the 80s, Leontiev worked closely with composer and musician Raymond Pauls. Valery recorded songs with him:

• "Eclipse of the Sun";
• "Inactivity";
• "Green light";
• "Disappeared sunny days»;
• "Years of Wanderings"

Their collaboration did not end with the joint performance of songs. Raymond invited Valery to participate in his program “Sacred Love for Music.”

Valery becomes the guest of honor at all song programs held in Leningrad at the Oktyabrsky Hall and in Moscow at the Rossiya State Central Concert Hall.

There he performed his compositions for the first time:

• “Running through life”;
• "I'm just a singer";
• "Alone with everyone";
• "Star Plot";
• “It seems to me that I have not lived yet,” and so on.

In 1988, Leontyev was involved in the production of the rock opera Giordano. In the musical he plays 3 roles: the Jester, Satan and Giordano himself.

After 3 years, Valery receives The World Music Awards for the best performer and for leadership in audio sales in the USSR.

Later, the show in which Leonid participated together with the dance group “Todes” “Full Moon” was recognized as the best of the year. In 1977, Leontyev, together with Yuri Chernyavsky, recorded an album entitled “On the Road to Hollywood” and “Santa Barbara”. And a year later, not far from the Kremlin in the very center of Moscow on the “Square of Stars”, Valery Leontyev was awarded a personal star. A few years later she appears on the “Walk of Stars” and in Vitebsk at the “Slavic Bazaar”.

In 1999, in honor of the anniversary, Valery holds a concert called “Photographer of Dreams.”

In total, Valery released 25 studio records during his creative career. The first one, called Muse, was in 1983, and the last one was in 2017. The album is called "This is Love." Each release of the record was accompanied by a beautiful concert. Valery himself was involved in the organization, staging of dances, and selection of costumes.

Filmography

Valery Leontyev could be seen in films more than once. The famous singer’s first role was the short film “At Someone Else’s Holiday.” In this film, the actor takes a minor part, however, as in subsequent ones.

Pictures in which Valery starred:

• “Don’t go, girls, get married” - cameo;
• "Insurance agent" - a man in a restaurant;
• "Psychic" - "Chinese".

Leontyev auditioned for a role in the film, which was planned to be filmed in the Mir orbit. In the film, Valery wanted to perform his favorite song “On the Road to the Stars.” However, the singer never played the role, medical examination was not passed.

Personal life

Valery Leontyev was credited with numerous novels, including with Laima Vaikule and Larisa Dolina. However, the heart of the “Casanova” of the Russian stage was tied to one woman.

With Laima Vaikule

With Larisa Dolina

The personal life of Valery Leontyev is shrouded in secrecy. The singer carefully protects his personal space and does not allow strangers to infiltrate it. However, some points are still known to the press. So, journalists managed to find out that Valery Leontyev was having an affair with Laura Quint.

The woman was struck by the singer’s temperament and exotic appearance. However Serious relationships It didn’t work out that way. Valery left her many times, and appeared when Laura began dating other men. In the end, the woman found the strength and said “no.” Thus ended the romance of two wonderful artists.

Isakovich Lyudmila - relationship with his wife

The next passion of the famous singer was Lyudmila Isakovich, he is still married to her. The couple never hid that their relationship was more of a work relationship than a love one. Valery and Lyudmila met in the late 70s. The decision to legalize the marriage was made in 1998.

In 1971, Lyuda worked as the leader of the Syktyvkar ensemble “Echo”, and part-time as a bass guitarist. Actually, on at this stage and their acquaintance occurred. At first, the couple was connected only by work, but later both realized that they could not live without each other.

Lyudmila always spoke reverently about her husband. In one of her interviews, she said that at the beginning creative path It was difficult for Valera. The authorities tried to reject the artist’s career because of his exotic appearance and overtly bright suits (which the singer sewed himself). However, Leontyev did not stop believing in himself and step by step paved the way to Olympus.

Lyudmila recalls: “Valera took part in the filming of Ogonyok.” This was prestigious for a young artist. However, at the last moment the number was cut from the program. The husband cried all night, but did not give up. When I first saw him on TV, I screamed with joy and kissed him on the cheek.”

In the 90s, Lyudmila went on tour with the Echo ensemble in the USA. And she never returned from America.

There Lyudmila is engaged in grooming dogs. Once upon a time she was lucky to get such a job on Broadway. The woman joined easily. It started with washing first and then moved on to scissors.

Later, in one of the interviews, journalists will ask Valery a question: “Why did Luda stay in Miami, where did she get the money, what did she live on?” Leontyev then replied that he had $5,000. He gave all this money to her. Then she began to earn money herself. At first she worked as a bartender, then looked after children on trips. But my favorite pastime was dog grooming. Now she is cutting hair for dogs living in star families.

In addition, Valery told the press that Lyudmila loves to cut hair not only for animals, but also for herself. The woman does not deny herself coloring her hair. As Leontyev says: “She always pours something acidic on her head, and then the police ask her for documents.”

When asked why Valery does not live next to his wife in America, Leontyev replied that he had nothing to do there, because he was unknown there. He will be able to stay in the USA only when he earns a lot of money. And this, according to Leontyev, will not happen soon.

Valery and Lyudmila see each other only 3 months a year. The couple admits that love at a distance is difficult to sustain.

Recently there was a rumor that Valery and Lyudmila divorced. The singer allegedly lives in a Moscow apartment, and left the house to his ex-wife. The artist rejects these rumors and claims that everything is fine with them, and his marital status has not changed.

Are there children

Many people ask why the couple does not have children. This is a sensitive topic for Valery. Rumor has it that Lyudmila herself was against this. The supposedly despotic and strict woman does not accept children in the family. For a woman's happiness, a house in Miami and a famous husband are enough for her.

In general, the topic “Leontyev’s children” is a favorite topic among journalists. Many times the artist has been credited with illegitimate daughters and sons. However, Valery refutes these rumors and says that with his schedule and frivolity, he is unlikely to become a good father.

In 2007, rumors leaked to the press that a certain young man appeared in Leontyev’s entourage, who in appearance strongly resembled Valera himself. When asked who he was and what significance he had in the singer’s life, he answered: “I am Leontyev’s son.” This mysterious guy's name is Alexander Bogdanovich.

What is noteworthy is that Valery did not particularly deny this and took an active part in the life of the handsome young man. First, he hired him as a fitness instructor in his team, then appointed him as a massage therapist, administrator, and then released him on stage.

However, the singer’s “love” for the guy ended quickly when he began to become impudent and actively spend Valery’s money. The last straw was the young man’s addiction to alcoholic beverages. After this, the men quarreled greatly.

There are still rumors about who this guy is. Some believe that this is really his son, while others say that Leontyev has an unconventional orientation. Alexander admitted that Bogdanovich is a pseudonym, and his real name is Leontyev. Rumor has it that his mother once dated Valery. However, no one can confirm this information. Apparently, fans will only learn the truth from Leontyev’s autobiography.

Disease

It’s hard to believe that Valery, recognized as one of the most energetic and flexible singers on the Russian stage, is going through severe pain in the knee. It turns out that in 2012 he suffered 2 complex operations on the joint.

Considering how old the singer is (69), his old injuries are making themselves felt. It is clear that it is no longer easy for the Leontievs to move energetically around the stage. It was rumored that some concerts took place when the artist was injected with a strong painkiller on his knee. Despite the unbearable pain, Valery still goes on stage and delights fans with his creativity.

Leontyev’s wife said that she had been asking her husband to leave the stage for a long time. “I constantly tell him that health is more important, that you need to take care of yourself and, finally, finish your concert activities. But Valera is as solid as a rock.”

This attitude towards health has resulted in a new problem. In 2018, the New Wave festival took place in Sochi. Valery was supposed to perform on stage with several songs. However, this did not happen. People were wondering where the singer had gone. It turned out that he felt ill.

On Instagram, Leontyev wrote: “Dear friends, I will not perform in today’s and tomorrow’s concert. Doctors diagnosed me with pneumonia. I’m reporting this because I don’t want the disease to be surrounded by speculation and rumors.”

Journalists managed to find out that the singer did not leave the room for 2 days. An ambulance was on duty at the hotel around the clock, and doctors regularly visited Valery.

Later, Igor Krutoy also spoke about Leontyev’s illness. He said that the singer had difficulty moving around the number. He regrets that he will not be able to perform on stage.

Fans are looking forward to Leontyev's performance in honor of his 70th birthday.

Shockingness and style

Fame came to the singer not only thanks to his talented performance of songs and his ability to move on stage. Leontyev differs from other Russian pop artists in his outrageousness and original style.

As the artist admits, his excessive love for bright and unique costumes infuriated the government of the Soviet Union. The artist admits that he was constantly called “on the carpet” for wearing too revealing outfits. Valery was even forced to change into tuxedos before the concerts.

Leontiev also said that all the costumes are stored in a Moscow apartment. And since the singer’s shape, his weight (85 kg), height (175 cm) do not change over the years, the artist is happy to wear them again.

The artist does not recognize strict suits and ties that tighten the neck. Prefers free style even outside the stage. In addition, Valery likes to wear outerwear on his naked body. Leontyev loves the combination of red and black. These colors are almost always present in stage outfits.

The singer also loves white shades. On dark skin Such costumes look especially harmonious.

Leontiev does not deny himself the pleasure of showing off his pumped up body. Despite his age, the artist is in excellent shape. He often wears mesh suits.

You can often notice peculiar “rags” on Leontyev’s body. The singer made fun of himself, saying that he was “a beggar with a million in his pocket.” Rhinestones, stones, sparkles are also constant components of Valery’s stage image.

Plastic surgery

This topic is the most discussed in the press. There are legends about Valery Leontyev's numerous plastic surgeries. It is also noteworthy that the singer himself, unlike other Russian and world stars, does not hide his passion for transforming himself with a scalpel. He says that an artist must always be in shape and look appropriate, because an audience of millions is watching him.

Valery underwent his first plastic surgery back in the 90s. He was the first Russian star who agreed to go under a surgical knife for the sake of beauty. Such operations were not carried out in Russia, and therefore Leontyev went abroad. The first thing the singer wanted to change in his appearance was the relief of his face. The next target was teeth. Fans have always been interested in the question of how the artist whitened them. In fact, he replaced them with ceramic ones. That's why his smile is snow-white.

Leontyev did not forget about lips. He made them bigger and adjusted the shape.

But the artist did not stop there. Rumor has it that Leontyev corrected the hips and corrected the contour of the abdomen. The singer has more than 10 operations on his account. Plastic surgeons they urge Valery to stop, otherwise, this threatens the story of the Bogdanov brothers and Pete Burns.

Especially noticeable surgical intervention On the nose. In youth, its shape was sharp, but after the operation it became rounded and neat. Changes in the lips are also visible to the naked eye. Before surgery they looked thinner. Now upper lip thicker than the bottom.

The changes also affected the eyelids. Leontiev turned to blepharoplasty more than once. Thanks to this procedure, the artist managed to get rid of the “dangling eyelid.” The gaze became open. However, the last operation was unsuccessful. For some time after it took place, the artist could not close his eyes. During the program on Channel One, viewers noticed how Leontiev instilled the solution 2 times. Then doctors forbade Valery to wear contact lenses.

Unsuccessful surgery performed on the face. At a Miami clinic, the artist's skin was stretched to such an extent that one ear became higher than the other. In order to hide this flaw, the artist always performs with her hair down.

Today the singer is 69 years old, and the years are taking their toll. As a result of the operations, Valery’s face is far from ideal and without makeup resembles a doll’s.

Name: Leontyev Valery

Age: 70 years old

Place of Birth: Ust-Usa, Russia

Height: 1.75 m

Family status: married

Valery Leontyev is a popular singer, People's Artist of the Russian Federation, a prominent representative of the Russian stage. His work leaves no one indifferent, and his biography is full of secrets and mysteries. Today we'll learn a little more about personal life and the creative path of “Casanova” in the 80s.

Biography

Valery Leontyev first saw the light of day in a small village located in the Komi Republic. His parents were far from creative and worked as livestock specialists. Valera became a late child; at the time of his birth, his mother was 43, and the family was raising the eldest child, Maya, born in 1930.

Valery Leontyev in childhood

Interesting! Leontyev’s father passed away back in 1979, his mother in 1996, his sister in 2005.

Until the age of twelve, the future singer Valery Leontyev practically did not study; in the village where the biography of the star was written, there was no school. Nearest educational institution was located seven kilometers away in a neighboring village. After the family moved to the town of Yuryevets, Ivanovo region, the boy entered school.

Leontyev in his youth

Since childhood, Valera showed creative abilities - he was fond of drawing and dancing, sang in the school choir, and participated in amateur performances.

Interesting! Oddly enough, his parents did not approve of the boy’s creative inclinations. As Leontyev himself admitted, he was punished more than once by his elders for showing his talents.

Despite his craving for art and obvious talents, a boy from a deep province and, to put it mildly, a poor family, did not even have to dream of a career as an artist.

After eighth grade, Valery tries to become a student at the Murom Radio Engineering College, but luck was not on his side. The boy returns to his native village, where he continues his studies at school. After ten classes, Leontyev dreams of entering the Far Eastern University and studying to become an oceanologist. However, the family did not have enough money to buy a ticket to Vladivostok.

Then Valery decides to go to the capital and enter the acting department at GITIS. However, the young man lacks self-confidence, and he takes the documents.

Returning home, Leontyev tries his hand at many different professions. The guy works as a laborer at a brick factory, tries himself as a tailor, electrician and even a postman.

After some time, Valery goes to Vorkuta, where he becomes an evening student at the St. Petersburg Mining Institute. However, after studying for three years, the future Russian pop star understands that this is not for him. While visiting couples in the evening, during the day Leontyev works as a draftsman and laboratory assistant at various research institutes. The years of study in Vorkuta can be considered the beginning of his pop career, because it was at this time that Valery began to actively participate in amateur performances.

Career

Valery's creative biography began in 1972. Then his debut solo performance took place in Vorkuta. Inspired by his success, the young musician took part in one of the prestigious regional competitions. Unexpectedly for himself, Leontiev became the first and, as a reward, received the opportunity to study for free in the capital in Vinogradov’s creative studio. However, even here the study did not last long. The reason for leaving is unknown. The guy returns to Syktyvkar.

Valery Leontyev and the group "Echo"

The next step in the musician’s career was work in the group “Echo”, with which he traveled to almost all cities of the USSR. Despite its popularity, the team gathered small halls, limiting itself to local cultural centers.

Leontyev held his first major concert in 1978, performing on the stage of a large hall in Gorky. Valery was seen necessary people and was invited to work at the Philharmonic. The guy agreed, however, on the condition that he would participate in the Yalta All-Union Musicians Competition. Having performed the composition “In Memory of the Guitarist,” Leontyev received the main prize.

Interesting! At the same time, Valery appears on stage in an unusual designer costume, for which he receives a special prize from a Bulgarian fashion magazine.

A series of competitions and victories began. In the early 80s, everyone knew Leontyev. He was invited to participate in most of the national concerts.

In 1983, the artist participated in the author’s evening of R. Pauls, who gave the rising star an entire department. In the early 90s, Valery received the Music Awards in the category of the best performer in terms of the number of music media sold in the vastness of the USSR.

Interesting! By 1993, Leontyev had released eleven albums, which sold millions of copies.

In 1996, the artist received the title of People's Artist, and in 1998, his personal symbol was laid on the Moscow Square of Stars.

Gossip scandals

Valery Leontyev does not really like to talk about his personal life, so the singer’s biography is full of inaccuracies, discrepancies and gossip. There have always been a lot of rumors around his person.

• According to unofficial information, Valery’s mother was his “sister” Maya, who was 16 years old at the time of the boy’s birth. In order not to discredit her daughter’s name, the “grandmother” adopted the baby. Regarding the father, according to one version he was a gypsy, according to another - a fellow villager.

Valery with his older sister Maya

Interesting! There are rumors that Valery himself learned the secret of his birth in 2005, from Maya before her death.

• On the Internet you can find information that Leontyev’s nationality is not Russian, but Mansi.
• The singer was credited big number novels with the most famous Russian pop singers.

Alla Pugacheva and Valery Leontyev

His “mistresses” included Vaikule, Dolina, Diva, Laura Quint. However, only the latter did not deny the rumors.

Irina Alegrova and Valery Leontyev

• Several years ago, journalists announced that Leontyev has children - adult daughter in the singer’s homeland, but the artist himself did not confirm this information.
• Also, more than once in the media there was information about the star’s unconventional orientation. At the same time, Leontyev himself speaks somewhat ambiguously about this.

His shocking appearance, bright costumes and unusual style of performance more than once became the causes of scandals surrounding Leontyev’s person, especially at the beginning of his creative career. So, in the early 80s, having won a festival in Yerevan and received a prize for popularity, the singer fell out of favor with officials and disappeared from television screens for three years. The reason was comments from the American media, which compared Valery’s performance style to Micky Jagger.

Personal life

Popularity and many non-existent novels did not prevent Valery from building a personal life. According to official data, Leontyev has a wife - musician Lyudmila Isakovich. They have been together since 1972, but only legalized their relationship in the late 90s.

Valery and his wife in their youth

IN this moment wife Valeria lives in their common house in the USA.

Interesting! There are rumors that the couple have not lived together for several years, and even that the couple has officially ended their relationship. But, like everything around the artist’s personal life, this information is also shrouded in mystery.

The spouses have no children. According to Leontyev himself, a busy tour schedule and a special creative character made his fatherhood impossible. And Valeria’s wife, according to information available in the media, did not particularly want to burden herself with motherhood.

Leontiev with his wife Lyudmila now

• At the beginning of his career, Leontyev did not manage to get on television for a long time. This opportunity presented itself only after meeting D. Tukhmanov, who helped make a performance for the Blue Light. However, the artist’s shocking appearance was the reason that the number was cut from the air.
• At the start of the 80s, the crisis affected not only Valery’s creativity, but also his health. At this time he transfers major surgery on his throat, a tumor is being removed. But soon the voice is restored.
• Having gained popularity and fame, the singer at some point remembers that he never received a higher education. Valery enters the St. Petersburg Institute of Culture, where he receives a degree in mass production.

Interesting! During his next student, Leontyev does not waste his time, but gives more than twenty concerts in the Northern capital, which attract full houses of fans.

• Over the years of creative activity, the artist has released twenty-six albums. The first one was released in 1983 and was called “Muse”.
• In Leontyev’s career there was even room for a duet with Putin. In 2006, at a concert for the heads of the CIS countries, the artist was called for an encore, where he performed the composition “Nadezhda” in a duet with the head of the Russian Federation.

• The artist stages each concert independently. The costumes used during the performance are original.
• Leontyev is also a talented actor; he has starred in a number of feature films and documentaries.
• Fans have repeatedly reproached the artist for large quantities plastic surgeries that made the singer almost unrecognizable (see photo). However, Leontyev himself claims that he resorted to the services of surgeons only a few times, and attributes the complaints of fans to makeup, without which he almost never appears in public.

Leontiev Valery Yakovlevich (b. 1949) - popular Soviet and Russian singer, actor, has the title of People's Artist Russian Federation.

Childhood

Valera was born on March 19, 1949 in a small village called Ust-Usa, located in the Komi Republic.

Dad, Yakov Stepanovich, originally came from the Arkhangelsk region, worked as a veterinarian, specialized in deer. Mom, Ekaterina Ivanovna (maiden name Klyuts), was of Ukrainian origin, was involved in raising children, and the family also had an eldest daughter, Maya. Mom gave birth to her son quite late, at that time she was 43 years old, and the difference between the boy and his sister was 19 years (Maya was born in 1930, she is no longer alive, she died in 2005). Due to his father’s profession, the family often changed their place of residence, moving from one village to another. Valery Leontyev's childhood years were already spent in the village of Verkhnie Matigory, it was located in the Kholmogory district of the Arkhangelsk region.

The boy grew up incredibly sociable and playful, he needed everything. Quite in early age he got it from both the goat and the dog (the first gored him, the second bit him), and all because Valera cared about everything, he could not calmly walk past the animals. Even at preschool age, Valera began his first performances in front of reindeer herders: he climbed onto a stool and read poetry.

When I went to school, I immediately began singing in the choir from the first grade, and very soon I was already its soloist. The boy was very good at singing, but he just couldn’t stand calmly on stage during a performance; he was constantly spinning and waving his arms. The teachers made comments to him, but in vain, he was a very active boy, and it was impossible to keep him in one place.

Despite the fact that the family lived very modestly financially, in addition to the school choir, Valera was engaged in dancing and drawing, went to a drama club and to a music school for piano class.

When Valery was 12 years old, his father began to have health problems, and doctors advised him to change the climate. So the Leontyev family moved to the picturesque bank of the Volga, in the Ivanovo region, the city of Yuryevets.

Studies

In Yuryevets, Valery graduated from eight classes of school and decided to continue his studies at the Murom Radio Engineering College. Despite his talents in amateur performances, plasticity and artistry, Leontyev never dreamed of becoming a singer or artist. And for further study he chose an earthly, completely masculine profession.

However, he failed the entrance exams to the radio technical school, and he had to return home, where he completed two more years of high school.

At school, Valery Leontyev studied well; his favorite subject was “Russian Literature”; he was very fond of poetry. Many years later, this childhood hobby will result in wonderful songs written to poems by Akhmatova, Blok, and Tsvetaeva.

In the meantime, he had a dream to connect his future destiny with work at sea, he even chose the educational institution where he wanted to enter after receiving a certificate of secondary education - Far Eastern University, Faculty of Oceanology. But a family with a modest income could not afford such a long departure for their son; the dream remained unfulfilled. And perhaps this is why, after so many years, the maritime theme occupies so much space in Valery Leontyev’s work.

Then Valery decided to go closer to Moscow, where he submitted documents for admission to GITIS. However, the huge and bustling capital put pressure on the provincial young man; at the last moment, due to indecision and confusion, he took the documents and returned home.

In Yuryevets, Valera immediately began working; he had to work hard in different places and master many professions - electrician, operator at a dairy factory, laborer at a brick factory, tailor and postman, ribbon operator at a flax spinning factory.

However, it was necessary to receive at least some kind of education; the older sister insisted on this. And then the young man moved to Vorkuta, there was a branch of the Leningrad Mining Institute, Valery became his student. In the evenings he studied, and during the day he worked part-time in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Foundations and Underground Structures, and later worked as a draftsman at a design institute.

The beginning of a creative journey

In Vorkuta, Valera combined his studies and work with participation in amateur performances. At the local Palace of Culture he appeared on stage as a singer in theatrical productions. His first works were musical performances in plays:

• "Circus lights up";
• "Black dragon";
• "The Blinded Apostle";
• "Don Renaldo goes into battle."

At the end of 1971, a regional competition “Song-71” was held in Vorkuta, where Valera participated with the musical composition “Carnival in the North” and eventually became second.

Already in 1972, Valery Leontyev’s first solo performance took place at the Vorkuta House of Culture for Builders and Miners. This was in the spring, and towards the end of the year he went to Syktyvkar for the competitive festival “We are looking for talents,” which was held among creative amateur youth, where he won.

The winner was entitled to a prize - training with Georgy Vinogradov in his creative workshop of pop art. Leontyev again went to the capital, but did not finish his studies and returned to Syktyvkar, where he began to solo in the local philharmonic with the musical group “Dreamers”.

In 1974, for his performances with the “Joy on the Road” program, Valera was awarded the first honorary title - “Excellence in rural work.”

Team "Echo"

Since 1975, Leontyev began collaborating with another group, Echo. The musicians’ repertoire included two programs, “Carnival in the North” and “Smile of the Northern Land,” with which they traveled almost all over Soviet Union, only they performed not on big stages and stadiums, but in local Houses of Culture.

Even then, Valery’s repertoire was different from all the performers available on the Soviet stage. He didn’t sing patriotic songs or go on stage in a formal suit. He himself came up with concert clothes, designed them, drew sketches and took them to the House of Public Services to sew them. Local dressmakers laughed at him and twisted their fingers at his temple. Then he took everything and made the costumes himself.

In 1978, the group performed on the big stage for the first time, it was the Oktyabrsky concert hall in the city of Gorky. A year later, Leontyev and his group began working under the auspices of the Gorky Philharmonic. In this city, the singer got his first own apartment.

From here, in 1979, the singer was sent to Yalta for the first all-Union competitive festival, which brought together the best singers of songs from the countries of the socialist commonwealth.

Leontyev performed the musical ballad “In Memory of a Guitarist” for 12 minutes, with lyrics by Robert Rozhdestvensky and music by David Tukhmanov, for which he was awarded the main prize. The festival was broadcast on All-Union television. Valery was filled with joy, but soon it gave way to pain and bitterness, as his father died.

After the competition, Valery met the composer David Tukhmanov, which subsequently resulted in a long and fruitful collaboration.

Having received the first prize in Yalta, a year later Leontyev went to Sopot for the 16th International Festival of Pop Songs “Golden Orpheus”, where he won the main prize for the musical composition “Dancing Hour in the Sun”. And the Bulgarian fashion magazine “Lada” awarded him a special prize, appreciating the original concert costume of his own design.

Leontiev became popular, and many national concerts were not complete without his participation; he sang on the stage of the Variety Theater and Luzhniki, gradually conquering Moscow, and with it the whole country.

The thorny path to the top of glory

In 1981, a prestigious music festival was held in Yerevan, at which Valery won the popularity prize. But journalists from America who covered this event wrote that the singer was very expressive and looked like Mick Jaeger, which did him no good. This did not please the highest ranks on the Soviet stage and during three years Valery was no longer invited to concerts in the capital and broadcast on television.

Along with creative problems, health problems arose. In 1982, the singer had a throat tumor removed. His singing career was under threat, and Leontyev decided to get a diploma after all. higher education, he began training as a director of mass performances at the Leningrad Institute of Culture named after N.K. Krupskaya.

In 1983, Leontyev began working at the Voroshilovgrad Philharmonic in Ukraine, and the composer Raymond Pauls, who by that time was already quite an influential person in the world of Soviet show business, helped him return to the big stage.

In 1984, Pauls’s creative evening “Holy Love for Music” took place in the Moscow concert hall “Russia”, where Leontiev was allocated an entire section.

Already in 1985, Leontyev received the Lenin Komsomol Prize for his work. Soon, together with other artists, he gave concerts in Afghanistan, in next year in Chernobyl, and in 1987 he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine.

Leontyev's creative activity amounts to almost 30 released albums, among which the most famous are:

Album release year	Album title
1983	"Muse"
1984	"Dialogue"
1986	"The Velvet season"
1990	"Sinful Path"
1992	"There in September"
1993	"Full moon"
1995	"On the Road to Hollywood"
1998	"Santa Barbara"
1999	"Everyone wants to love"
2001	"Augustine"
2004	"Night Call"
2005	"I'm falling into the sky"
2009	"Years of Wandering"
2011	"Artist"
2014	"Love-trap"

His best songs, which every listener of the former USSR, present-day Russia and the CIS countries knows, have more than once made it to the finals of the “Song of the Year” and occupied the top lines of the charts:

• "The dark side";
• “Hang gliding flight”;
• "Green light";
• "Verooka";
• "Eclipse of the Heart";
• “The sunny days have disappeared”;
• "Margarita";
• "Casanova";
• "Treasures of the Black Sea";
• “Don’t forget me”;
• “Everyone wants to love”;
• "Augustine".

Leontyev is the stage director of all his concert shows and the creator of the original costumes.

Personal life

Valery Leontyev never gave interviews about his personal life, which gave rise to many rumors. They also talked about his unconventional orientation, about his affair with the Russian pop diva Alla Pugacheva, and about the fact that he has a child.

In fact, the singer lived in a civil marriage with bass guitarist Lyudmila Isakovich since 1972. In 1998, they officially got married.

The singer's wife permanently resides in Miami. Valery is still busy with a very busy tour schedule. The couple never hid from their loved ones that their marriage is more of a partnership than a love marriage.