Mikhail Shufutinsky

Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky (Russian: Михаи́л Заха́рович Шуфути́нский;) Born in Moscow on 13 April 1948 in a Jewish family, son of a Great Patriotic War veteran, is a Russian pop singer, was a citizen of the United States in period 1990-2003, now lives in Russia. He is the pre-eminent current singer of Russian chanson music. Meritorious Artist of Russia (2013)

Biography

Born on 13 April 1948 in Moscow, in a Jewish family of a Great Patriotic War veteran doctor Zakhar Davidovich Shufutinski. When Mikhail was 5 years old, his mother died, and therefore he was raised by his grandmother Berta Davidovna and grandfather David Yakovlevich.

Majoring in the accordion, Shufutinsky graduated from the music college named after Ippolitova-Ivanova with specialization coryphaeus. Alla Pugacheva graduated at the same time with Mikhail, with same specialisation.

He appeared with different bands in Moscow’s and Magadan's restaurants (performing Alexander Vertinsky's and Petr Leschenko’s songs), and later became leader of the instrumental band "Leisia Pesnia", which usually played Viacheslav Dobrynin’s songs.

At some time, Mikhail visited Los Angeles for a concert and immediately fell in love with the city. These were the times of booming Russian restaurant business in Los Angeles. As a famous singer and musician, Mikhael was offered a job in a Burbank restaurant Arbat. Mikhael had a surprising success as an emigrant performer, in contrast to expectations which predicted interest limited to ex compatriots only.

In 1981 he and his family immigrated to the USA. Over a span of 10 years he had appeared with different bands in different restaurants, and created his own show – band "Ataman-band" (named after the restaurant Ataman). He also goes to Russia with tours regularly. In 1990, he accepted an invitation to visit Russia and sang at 75 packed stadium concerts.

In 1998 he wrote an autobiography called I vot stoiu ia na puti… ("And so, I'm standing on the path…")

In 2003 Mikhail returned to Russia as a permanent resident.

His repertoire contains songs by such songwriters as Vyacheslav Dobrynin ("Dve svechi" - "Two candles"), Igor Krutoy ("Tretie sentiabria" - "The 3-rd of September"; "Palma de Maiorka" - "The Majorca palm"; "Moskovskoie taksi" - "Moscow taxi"; "Moskva slezam ne verit" - "Moscow doesn’t believe in tears"), Oleg Mityaev ("Nochnoi gost" - "Night guest"), Aleksandr Rozenbaum ("Khreschatik", "Zakhodite k nam na ogoniok", "Visit our place", "Gop-stop"), Oleg Gazmanov, Igor Zubkov, Vatslav Lisovskii, Olesia Atlanova, Karen Kavaleryan, and many others.^[1]

Discs

• 1982 — «Побег» (Escape)
• 1983 — «Атаман» (Ataman)
• 1984 — «Гулливер» (Gulliver)
• 1984 — «Атаман — 2» (Ataman 2 was not issued in USSR)
• 1985 — «Амнистия» (Amnesty)
• 1986 — «Атаман—3» (Ataman 3)
• 1987 — «Белый аист» (White Ciconia bird)
• 1988 — «Нет проблем» (No problems)
• 1989 — «Ты у меня единственная» (You are my only, together with Suzanne Tepper)
• 1990 — «Подмосковные вечера» (Moscow nights)
• 1991 — «Моя жизнь» (My life)
• 1992 — «Тихий Дон» (Quite river Don)
• 1993 — «Киса — киса» (Kisa, Kisa)
• 1994 — «Гуляй, душа» (Have a good time, my sole)
• 1995 — «О, Женщины» (Oh, women)
• 1996 — «Добрый вечер, господа» (Good evening, gentlemen)
• 1998 — «Однажды в Америке» (Once in America, songs by Igor Krutoi)
• 1999 — «Ну и ради Бога» (For god's sake)
• 2001 — «Я родился в Москве» (I was born in Moscow)
• 2002 — «Наколочка» (Tattoo)
• 2003 — «Бум-Бум» (Boom-boom)
• 2004 — «Пополам» (Half-half, together with Irina Allegrova)
• 2005 — «Соло» (Solo)
• 2006 — «Дуэты разных лет» (Duets of various years)
• 2007 — «Москва-Владивосток» (Moscow-Vladivostok)
• 2009 — «Брато» (Brato)
• 2010 — «Дуэты разных лет 2» (Duets of various years)
• 2013 — «Love Story»
• 2016 — «Я просто медленно люблю» (I simply slowly love)

Films

Roles

• 1984 — Moscow on Hudson

Soundtracks

• 2012 — Brave in heart — king Fergus (Original voice - Billy Conolli)
• 2014 — Vacation of little Nicole - director of school (original voice - Francis Perren)

Books

• 1997 — Михаил Шуфутинский. «И вот стою я у черты...» (Here I stand at a line) (Thrien publishing — ISBN 5-7961-0013-0)
• 2004 — Михаил Шуфутинский. «Лучшие песни. Тексты и аккорды» (Best songs. Texts and accords) (ISBN 985-13-2098-6)

Recognition and Awards

• 2013 — honorary title of recognized Russian performer («Заслуженный артист Российской Федерации»), for artistic achievements.
• 1997 — Silver Rubber Shoe award «Серебряная калоша»

References

External links

• Shufutinsky's home page
• Biography at Foreign Language School ZNATOK
• Mikhail Shufutinsky discography at Discogs