Alexander Gradsky: biography, creativity, personal life

Alexander Gradsky is a singer, composer, guitarist, poet, music and public figure. He is People's Artist of Russia and State Prize laureate. Created together with Mikhail Turkov, the group "Slavs" was the third rock band in the Soviet Union. As a real creative person, he constantly needs a beautiful museum. Perhaps that is why he was repeatedly married.

Alexander Gradsky. Biography. Childhood and youth

He was born in Kopeysk (Chelyabinsk Region) on November 3, 1949. His mother was an actress of a dramatic tetra. From it, he inherited a propensity for creativity. Father by profession was a mechanical engineer.

In 1957 the family moved to Moscow. My father settled into the factory, and my mother became the head of the theater circles. She was also a member of the literary staff of the popular magazine. Parents were too busy with work, so Alexander Gradsky lived with his grandmother (in the line of his mother) in the village of Rastorguevo, Butovskiy district (in the suburbs).

In the period from 1958 to 1965, Sasha attended a music school and studied violin at VV Sokolov's. He was very interested in music lessons. However, he did not like to study at home for hours.

In the general education school, he is fond of 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 got to know early Western music (E. Presley, L. Armstrong, B. Haley, E. Fitzgerald). From the Soviet stage, I preferred to listen to songs performed by L. Ruslanova, K. Shulzhenko, M. Burns.

Alexander Gradsky, a young music lover, had the opportunity to listen to rare records with stunning music. They were brought by his uncle from abroad.

In the academic years, Sasha appears as a singer at school evenings, while accompanying himself on the piano or guitar. As an actor, he tries his hand at a theatrical circle.

Family of Alexander Gradsky

• The musician's mother is Tamara Gradovskaya (actress, director, literary journalist).
• Grandmother (on the line of the mother) - Maria Ivanovna Gradskaya (Pavlova), was a housewife.
• Grandfather, Pavel Ivanovich Gradsky - a master in leather goods.
• Uncle, Boris Pavlovich Gradsky - dancer, ensemble artist, accordion player, composer.
• Father - Boris Abramovich Fradkin (engineer-mechanic).
• Grandmother (along the line of the father) - Rosa Ilinichna Fradkin (Chvertkina), for fifty years she worked as a typist-typist.
• Grandfather - Abram Semenovich Fradkin, worked in Kharkov as the managing house.
• Aunt - Irina Abramovna Fradkin (Sidorova).

Until fourteen, Sasha wore the surname of the pope. After the death of his mother (in 1963) took her name in memory of her.

Concerts, performances, musical groups

Gradsky's successful career as a musician begins in 1963. Together with the group "Cockroaches" (which consisted of Polish students), he performs at several concerts.

In 1965, Alexander Gradsky, together with Mikhail Turkov, created the group "Slavs". After a while their team is replenished by Vyacheslav Dontsov (drummer) and Victor Degtyarev (bass player). Still somewhere in a couple of months Vadim Maslov (an electricorganist) joins them. "Slavs" - the third Soviet rock band, which won a large number of listeners. Their repertoire included songs by the Rolling Stones and The Beatles.

In 1966, the group "Skomorokhi" was organized. The author of the songs was Alexander Gradsky himself and composed them in Russian.

Together with this he does not stop working with Dontsov and Degtyarev. Their group "Scythians" repeatedly changed the performers.

On trips musicians earn money for high-quality and expensive equipment. Their group "Los Panchos" conquers Moscow.

In 1969 he entered the GMPI them. Gnesin and improves his vocal skill. At the same time, he starts a solo career and plays the guitar. Continues to compose musical compositions. This is "The Ballad of the Poultry Farm", "Spain", "The Song of Fools", a small rock opera "Mukha-Tsokotukha".

"Skomorokhi" win six first prizes at the All-Union festival of beat bands "Silver Strings" in Gorky. Three of them were personally awarded to Alexander Gradsky: "For Vocals", "For Guitar" and "For Composition."

In 1972 Skomorokhy toured to different cities (Kuibyshev, Donetsk and many others).

In 1973 such compositions were released: "Blue Forest", "Spain", "Skomorokhi", "Coal Girlfriend".

Participation in films. Music for Movies

Gradsky was noticed by the director Andrei Mikhalkov-Konchalovsky and suggested taking part in the film "Romance of the Lovers". At first Alexander was invited as a singer. Then he was instructed to become the author of songs, some poems and all music. At that time it 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 most talented and popular filmmakers of the country.

The film was released in 1974. In the same year, the title "Star of the Year" was awarded to Gradsky Alexander. The photo of the already famous musician is presented below.

After that, Alexander's career goes swiftly up. He toured the country. At his concerts, the halls are constantly crowded with the audience, who meets him with incredible excitement.

In 1975, Gradsky fruitfully works on several films at once. Meanwhile, he continues to record music, participates in projects of different authors. In the same year, he entered the Moscow Conservatory for a remarkable teacher, T. Khrennikov, in composition class.

In 1988 he wrote music for such films as "The Art of Living in Odessa" and "The Prisoner of the Castle of If."

Tour and teaching activities

Since the late 70's continued active touring musician. His repertoire is replenished with songs, to which he himself writes texts. Some of them are very bold. He writes articles in defense of rock music. Actively polemic with the retrogrades. Thus, it makes enemies.

At this time, he begins teaching. For several years he has been working at the Gnessin School, and is releasing a course of students. Then he teaches at the institute. This stage of activity ended with two years of vocal department management. Gradsky believed that you can continue working only if you have your own class.

Creativity of the 70's, 80's, 90's

From 1976 to 1980, Alexander composed and recorded two parts of the suite "Russian Songs." This is the first rock album in the Soviet Union, which was published in 1980.

One studio recording after another is released by Gradsky Alexander. Photos of the musician in the process of work can be seen below.

His vocal suites: "Star of Fields", "Concert-Suite", "Nostalgia", "Life itself", "Satires", "Utopia AG", "Flute and Grand". The collection of entries "Reflections of the Fool" confirms the possibility of singing in different rock styles in Russian. Works and the artist and with more complex genres. He writes the opera "Stadium" (libretto by A. Gradsky and M. Pushkina), ballet "Man" on the libretto of his own work.

In 1980 Vladimir Vysotsky died. Alexander deepens into tragic satire and dramatic lyrics. He writes songs "Song about Television", "Song of a Friend" and others.

In 1988 Gradsky performed the role of Zvezdochet from the opera by NA Rimsky-Korsakov. This is an extremely complicated part of the world opera repertoire. From the auditorium of the Bolshoi Theater he received a long standing ovation.

Musical projects. International travel

Under the leadership of Alexander, numerous complex projects were held. This is the organization of solo concerts in Moscow with the participation of orchestras of Russian folk instruments, symphony orchestras, choirs and rock bands; The release of thirteen compact discs with a complete collection of their own works and records; The creation of musical films ("Anti-perestroika Blues", "Live in Russia").

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, the USA, Spain, Sweden. In 1990 he signed a contract with the leading Japanese company VMI (VICTOR) and produces under its brand two compact discs.

Last works

These are real events in the musical life. The CD "Reader" in style resembles the suite "Reflections of the Fool". Here again there is an attempt to speak in Russian in modern genres. His opera "The Master and Margarita" (according to M. Bulgakov) with a unique composition of participants is also published. The author has been working on it for more than thirty years. It is beautifully and originally designed - in the form of an old book. The set includes four discs and a full libretto.

Currently, concerts and tours continue. For several seasons Gradsky is a member of the jury of the project "Golos". And it is his contestants who reach the final and become winners. In 2012 - this is Dina Garipova, in 2013 - Sergey Volchkov.

Alexander Gradsky: personal life

The companions of his life changed many times. The first wife was Natalia Mikhailovna Gradskaya. He calls this marriage a "youth act". The relationship with his second wife, actress Anastasia Vertinskaya, did not last long.

From 1976 to 1978 they were together. The official divorce was held in 1980. The longest family life was with his third wife, Olga Semenovna Gradskaya. Their marriage lasted about 23 years. They have two children. Son Daniil was born on March 30, 1981. He followed in the footsteps of his father and became a musician, but this does not stop him from being a businessman. Daughter Maria was born on January 14, 1986. She graduated from Moscow State University. Works as a TV presenter and art-manager.

So, Alexander Gradsky was married three times. The personal life of the musician continues to bubble up to now. In 2003, he conquered 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 the spectacular beauty. A cheerful and indiscreet question: "Do you want to touch history?" - at least a smile on the face of each girl. Of course, with such a legendary personality is very interesting and exciting, in addition, the artist knows how to love and pamper. Therefore, Gradsky Alexander and his young wife are happy together for more than ten years.

Marina Kotashenko, like her civil husband, is a creative person. She starred in various TV series, 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 after 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, Alexander Gradsky is revealed to us from different sides. First of all, this is a talented musician (composer, guitarist, singer) and poet, music and public figure. Secondly, he is quite a bold and purposeful person. He was not afraid to write satirical compositions with pronounced sarcasm, actively supported the rock music, not fearing to make enemies. And thirdly, it's quite a loving person who has been searching for his unique and unique muse for a long time. Probably, in the person of Marina Kotashenko, he found it.