Singer Valery Leontyev: biography, personal life, family, wife, children - photo. Long relationship of Valery Leontyev Biography of Valery Leontyev singer

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. Leontiev called Maya his sister, his my own grandmother- mom, and Yakov Ivanovich - dad and bore his middle name.

Co 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 it would soon shine new star Soviet stage.

After graduating from school, he tries to enroll in a radio engineering college. However, the attempt is unsuccessful. Leontyev 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. The next goal of the future celebrity is the Gorky Philharmonic. 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";
• “The sunny days have disappeared”;
• "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 best performer and for leadership in sales of sound carriers 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, and the medical examination was not completed.

Personal life

Valery Leontyev was credited with numerous novels, including with Laima Vaikule and Larisa Dolina. However, the heart of "Casanova" 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, a serious relationship never developed. 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, at this stage they met. 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 exotic appearance and frankly 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.” For young artist it was prestigious. 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, but left the house as his own ex-wife. The artist rejects these rumors and claims that everything is fine with them, and he Family status hasn't 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- 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 not unbearable pain, Valery still goes on stage and pleases 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 health care, 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, excessive love for bright and unique costumes angered the government 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 a 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. Such suits look especially harmonious on dark skin.

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 the 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 urge Valery to stop, otherwise, this threatens the story of the Bogdanov brothers and Pete Burns.

Surgical intervention on the nose is especially noticeable. 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.

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 Arkhangelsk region. There, in the conditions of cold winters and short summer, the character of little Valery was tempered.

The first modest opportunities for creative self-expression opened up for the boy after a new move, this time to the small town on the Volga Yuryevets. There he began to actively engage in school clubs amateur performances, loved to sing and performed with pleasure 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. I must say that the audience always loved and greeted him very warmly young artist, 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. The huge city literally stunned the young man, who was 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 a higher education there is no point even thinking about a normal job and leaves again. This time to Vorkuta.

There he enters the mining institute and at the same time finds a job in one of the 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 any other 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 creative biography artist. 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 republics 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 into the spotlight 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. Moreover, in those years he had passionate romance with Laura Quint, who supported the singer in every possible way and wrote her own songs for him best songs. 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.

The popular Soviet singer Valery Leontyev is the most famous representative of domestic show business. He was one of the first on our stage to successfully combine vocal, dance and dramatic skills.

Childhood, family

Leontyev Valery was born in the Komi Republic, in the small village of Ust-Usa. His dad, Yakov Stepanovich, is a veterinarian, a specialist in keeping deer. Because of this, the future singer spent his childhood traveling. In 1961, due to the health of Yakov Stepanovich, whom doctors advised to change the climate, the family moved to the Volga town of Yuryevets. Here Valery spent his youth.

It was there that the boy went to sixth grade. Valery Leontyev became interested in drawing and dancing from the age of seven. In addition, he enjoyed attending the drama club and actively sang in the school choir. As Valery Yakovlevich himself recalls, he became a soloist because he sang louder than anyone else.

Failed exam

After graduating from eighth grade, the young man decided to enter the Murom Radio Technical College. The attempt was unsuccessful, he failed the exam and returned to Yuryevets, where he continued his studies in high school.

Dream

The biography of Valery Leontyev could have turned out completely differently. After all, from his youth he dreamed of becoming an oceanologist. He thought that he would pass exams at the Far Eastern University, where he would master this profession. But this dream was not destined to come true for the most prosaic reason. The parents did not have money to send their son to study in Vladivostok. During this period, this was not one plan that did not come true in Valery’s life.

He decided to try his hand at the theater. To do this, he went to Moscow, wanting

enter GITIS. The young man believed that this would not be difficult for him, because he had already played a lot on the stage of the local Palace of Culture. But the unexpected happened - in Moscow, a young man suddenly clearly heard his own terrible “okan”. Trying to utter as few words as possible, the failed actor took the documents. Thus, Valery Leontiev, whose photo you see in this article, was unable to fulfill another of his dreams. In a short period of time, he was twice disappointed in his choice. He had no choice but to return to Yuryevets again.

Work at a brick factory

The creative biography of Valery Leontyev did not start very well, therefore, returning to his city, the young man began working at a brick factory. He became an auxiliary worker - he rolled trolleys with raw bricks from the press to the dryers. Then he was “lucky” to work as a weaver at a weaving factory in his city. He changed many more professions that do not require special education. Soon the elder sister Valeria decided that her brother needed to get higher education.

Vorkuta

On family council it was decided that Valery would go to Vorkuta to enter the Leningrad Mining Institute, or rather, its branch. This time, nothing prevented Leontyev from becoming a student in the evening department of this university. At the same time, he worked as a laboratory assistant at a research institute, then as a draftsman at a design institute.

Amateur performance

Valery's creative nature was looking for a way out. He actively participated in research institutes and performed on the stage of the local Palace of Culture. He devoted all his time to this work. free time. Perhaps people who lived in Vorkuta at that time still remember him in the plays “The Circus Lights the Lights”, “The Blinded Apostle”, “Don Renaldo Goes into Battle”, “Black Dragon”. In the regional vocal competition “Song-71” in Vorkuta, Leontyev took an honorable second place. On April 9, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-two, the first concert in the life of the future leader of the Soviet stage took place. This event was held at the Palace of Culture in the city of Vorkuta. The aspiring singer’s repertoire consisted of songs popular at that time from the feature film “Let Them Talk.”

One more chance

In the same year, the biography of Valery Leontyev could change. The young man had the chance to go to study at a creative workshop of Soviet pop art. To do this, it was necessary to win the “We are looking for talents” competition in Syktyvkar. It must be said that while filming “The Blinded Apostle,” Valery broke his leg. This did not stop him from going to Syktyvkar, taking part in the competition and receiving a first-degree diploma. The happiness of the aspiring singer knew no bounds! He dropped out of college and once again went to Moscow to learn the secrets of creativity in the workshop of Georgy Vinogradov.

Valery was not destined to study in the capital for long. A year later, the director of the Syktyvkar Philharmonic, A. Strelchenko, came to Moscow, to the workshop, and was dissatisfied with the result. For this reason, he took a group of half-educated artists and took them to Syktyvkar to work. Thus, Leontyev, without completing his education, became a professional artist. He teamed up with the same young enthusiasts in the group “Dreamers”. With this lineup, their first professional concert took place in the village of Poyma near Syktyvkar. Then endless tours began. This is exactly the kind of life the young aspiring singer dreamed of. A few years later he received his first award - “Excellence in rural work.” A year later he became a full-time employee of the Philharmonic, a soloist of the Echo ensemble. By the way, Valery Yakovlevich still collaborates with this team.

"October"

In 1977, Leontyev discovered one of the best domestic concert halls. This is Oktyabrsky in Leningrad. His first acquaintance with the Hall occurred as a spectator at a concert. It’s hard to believe it, but exactly a year later Leontiev appeared on the stage of this legendary hall, although not with a solo concert. But, you see, it was a huge success. There is a colossal difference between the stage of a village club and the concert hall of the northern capital.

Gorky Philharmonic

There is another one important stage in the life of a popular performer. The biography of Valery Leontyev, a versatile and, undoubtedly, very talented singer, is connected with his work at the Philharmonic Society of the city of Gorky, where a year later he moved with the group “Echo”. In this city, he first received his own housing. And in August 1979 he took part in a competition in Yalta. He brought with him quite extensive material, including a ten-minute song by D. Tukhmanov based on the poems of R. Rozhdestvensky “In Memory of the Guitarist.” Leontyev is the first performance of this composition. He realized that he had made the right choice when he received First Prize for solo singing. Unfortunately, the singer’s joy was overshadowed by the sudden death of his father...

In the same year, another event occurred in the singer’s life - meeting David Tukhmanov. After the great success in Yalta, this meeting simply could not fail to take place. Famous composer recalled that in the first hours of their acquaintance he was unable to objectively assess the abilities of the young performer and did not feel a strong and energetic personality in him. However, he noted excellent singing abilities, musicality, and technical skills. From that moment their close, and I must say, fruitful cooperation began. The work continued for many years, and as a result, the viewer was presented with a whole block of magnificent songs.

Sopot 1980

Leontyev justified Tukhmanov’s hopes and International festival in Sopot “Golden Orpheus”, where he was awarded the First Prize for his performance of the song “Dancing Hour in the Sun”, as well as a special prize from the Bulgarian fashion magazine “Lada” for the most original stage costumes. Probably not everyone knows that the young performer designed and sewed them himself. It would seem that here it is - the long-awaited springboard for a powerful leap into the domestic pop elite. Leontyev had already given concerts in the capital's Palaces of Culture, in 1980 he performed on the Luzhniki stage and took part in national concerts.

At the end of the seventies, it was clear to numerous critics, and, indeed, to ordinary viewers that the new performer was very different from those pop stars who were accustomed to perception. Valery’s desire to have his own opinion did little to establish connections with the “right” people.

Already in 1981, all roads to the capital’s stages were closed for Leontyev, and television broadcasts were out of the question. For the New Year's "Blue Light" the "Disc Jockey Song" was recorded. The singer was supposed to appear on screen with her for the first time, but two hours before the broadcast she was cut out.

At the evening of composers, Leontyev was supposed to represent Tukhmanov, before last minute he was actively preparing for the performance, but he was not allowed to attend the concert. Thus, for the first time, viewers saw the already quite popular singer on a silver screen only during the broadcast of “Golden Orpheus”.

Raymond Pauls

During this difficult time for the singer, a fateful meeting took place with the famous maestro Raymond Pauls and composer Laura Quint. These people had a special influence on all his further work.

In 1981, Valery Leontyev took part in creative evening maestro. In 1982, the biography of Valery Leontyev is the life story of a successful person. He is a favorite of the public, but for the authorities he is an odious figure. Throughout that difficult period when Moscow did not accept the singer, he became a welcome guest on the stage of the Oktyabrsky concert hall. Many of his shows premiered here.

Confession

In 1987, Valery ceased to be a “forbidden” person on the Russian stage. He was awarded the title “Honored Artist of Ukraine”. Leontyev celebrated the New Year 1988 in India at the USSR festival. The singer immediately fell in love with this fairyland. After the authorities recognized the artist’s merits, he was admitted to large concert venues in Moscow. Since then, he usually presents his new shows at the Rossiya Cultural Center. This happened in 1990, when viewers saw the premiere of the show “It seems to me that I have not lived yet.” He spent the entire November of this year on tour in the USA. Then the singer gave concerts in Canada and India.

In 1997, Leontyev’s collaboration with composer I. Krutoy began. Previously, the singer knew him, but did not work. Now Valery Yakovlevich is preparing a new album, which will include all of Krutoy’s songs.

Disease

The same year 1997 was marked not only creative successes, but also an unexpected health problem. Doctors discovered a throat tumor in the singer. It was removed by the famous surgeon Ralph Raikin, brother of Arkady Isaakovich. However, for a long time the singer’s future career was in doubt. No one could say whether Leontyev would sing. It was during this period that the artist again thought about obtaining higher education. At 33, he entered the Institute of Culture. Krupskaya. Fortunately, a year later Valery Yakovlevich gave 18 sold-out concerts in Leningrad new program"I'm just a singer." By the way, he did not quit his studies.

Leontyev Valery: biography, wife

We would like to say right away that Valery Leontiev, whose personal life is often inaccessible to prying eyes, carefully protects his personal space. Perhaps for this reason his image is always shrouded in mystery. There were often rumors about his unconventional sexual orientation. In addition, Valery Leontyev’s age is also a topic of heated debate between admirers and opponents of his work. Still, some details about great love and the singer are leaking to the press.

Perhaps the most bright novel Valery Yakovlevich had a meeting with composer Laura Quint. They met in 1980. Laura was immediately captivated by the singer's charm and encyclopedic intelligence. Two creative people were experiencing a storm of emotions. Laura was incredibly jealous of Valery and gave him her best songs. Leontyev constantly abandoned her and returned only when another man appeared in her life.

Valery Leontyev is married to Lyudmila Isakovich. The singer met her back in 1972. Valery and Lyudmila never hid the fact that their marriage was more of a partnership than a love union.

Gossip

Valery Leontiev, whose personal life keeps many secrets, has always been a subject increased attention journalists. Quite often, the topic of publications is the singer’s numerous plastic surgeries. If you believe journalists, then back in the eighties he was the first of Russian singers decided to undergo rejuvenation surgery. Since then, even strict orders from doctors to stop experimenting with his appearance cannot stop him.

You can often hear a question from fans of the artist: “How old is Valery Leontyev?” And this is not surprising - he really looks much younger than his age. He had a circular facelift several times, inserted ceramic teeth, had a thigh lift, and enlarged his lips using collagen.

It must be said that the intervention of plastic surgeons was not always successful. Many remember how Leontyev first appeared in public after blepharoplasty. The surgeon damaged his muscles in the eyelid area, and one eye stopped closing. After some time, the singer had to go to the hospital because the mucous membrane of his eye was very dry. Doctors strongly recommended stopping risky experiments with your face, because everyone already knows how old Valery Leontyev is. The singer needs to stop any plastic surgery interventions, since they all have age restrictions.

Passport age

On March 19, 2014, Valery Yakovlevich turned 65 years old. The artist does not hide his age, and it is not difficult for the singer to answer the question of how old Valery Leontyev is. Looking at him on stage, you see in front of you a young, athletic, stylish performer, at the sight of whom young fans squeal with delight. According to a long-established tradition, Valery celebrated his anniversary on stage. For three days in a row he gave solo concerts in St. Petersburg, and on March 29 he gave a big festive concert in

Singer's albums

Over forty years of stage activity, Leontiev began to be respectfully called a legend of the Russian stage. The singer himself is not very happy about this title, because at heart he is still young, full of strength and creative plans. During his stage career, Valery Yakovlevich recorded more than 30 albums. They are well known. All Valery Leontiev's albums were published in huge editions.

I would like to tell you about one of them. Experts consider him one of the best. 2011 marked 40 years since the beginning creative career singer In honor of this date, the album “Artist” was released, which contains the best songs of Leontyev different years, as well as new compositions.

Valery Yakovlevich worked on the creation of this collection for two years. We can consider this a chronicle of the work of the famous artist. The album opens with the song “Looking for You.” This is one of the very first compositions with which Leontyev appeared in public. The album also contains Valery Leontyev’s famous hit “There, in September,” which made the singer famous throughout the country.

Valery Leontyev: biography, wife, children

The famous singer has been married to Lyudmila Isakovich for more than forty years. For the first twenty years they lived in a civil union, and in 1998 they decided to legalize their relationship. From time to time, rumors appear that there are children in the family, but the singer himself denies this information. His wife was always against the birth of a child, although Valery Yakovlevich dreamed about it. According to people close to the family, Lyudmila is a stern and tough woman. In the early nineties, she came to the United States with the Echo ensemble and stayed there to live. She always had a negative attitude towards the presence of children in the family, and only grinned when she heard the next rumors that her husband had become a father. All she needs to be happy is a luxurious house in Miami and a super popular husband.

The illegitimate children of the famous singer are one of the most favorite topics of journalists. There was information about illegitimate daughter Valeria, who lives in Yuryevets. They said that she was the fruit of the singer’s affair with the teacher primary classes in distant years, when a young man worked at a weaving factory. Leontyev never commented on these rumors.

True, they say that, having passed the 64-year-old age limit, Valery began to think about children. There is information that, following the example of his star colleagues, he is going to resort to the services of In one of his last interviews, Valery Yakovlevich admitted that he really regrets that he devoted his whole life to his career and did not have a little loved one. When the journalist asked Lyudmila how she would treat the baby if this suddenly happened, she replied that the child could become as dear to her as it was to her husband. Perhaps she answered this way because she sees her husband several times a year - she constantly lives in Miami, and the singer mainly lives in Russia.

In March 1998, Leontiev’s personal star was laid in front of the Rossiya Concert Hall. On this occasion, the singer gave a big concert. At the same time, the album “Santa Barbara” was released. Today we tried to tell you about the life and work of the most popular Russian pop artist. Valery Leontyev's age is not a hindrance to his work. Being one of the oldest representatives of Russian show business, he is still young, full of strength and creative plans. We hope that the singer is still long years will delight its fans with new incendiary shows and bright, memorable hits.

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, National artist RF, bright representative Russian stage. His work leaves no one indifferent, and his biography is full of secrets and mysteries. Today we will learn a little more about the personal life and creative path of “Casanova” of 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. The 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 skills– 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 GITIS faculty acting. 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 section. 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 with a large number of affairs 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 gay stars. 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 they legalized their relationship only in the late 90s.

Valery and his wife in their youth

Currently, Valeria’s wife lives in their common home 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 became 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 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.
• Leontiev 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 surgery, which 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.

Valery Leontiev celebrated his 69th birthday with a younger-looking face.

On March 19, Valery Leontyev turned 69 years old. Actress Elena Yakovleva published fresh photos of the singer on her Instagram. Leontyev’s fans had a hard time recognizing their favorite artist in the man in the photo.

However, Valery Yakovlevich had previously been able to surprise the audience not only with hits and outfits, but also with his appearance. They say that the singer was one of the first in Russian show business to go under the knife of a plastic surgeon. If we compare the artist's early photographs with today's, we see two different people: different shape of eyes, lips, different oval of the face.

« Valery Leontyev is our Russian singer Cher. No matter how old he is, he still looks fabulous in fishnet outfits. It is known that the singer more than once resorted to the help of my colleagues and cosmetologists,- says plastic surgeon Hayk Babayan. - He injected Botox into his forehead and had blepharoplasty. Most likely, there is also a lift of the lower part of the face and lip fillers. The singer does not forget about the teeth - these are veneers or full-fledged ceramics».

According to rumors, the artist trusts his appearance only to American doctors. Leontiev’s wife Lyudmila lives in Miami, so he spends his winter holidays in the States. And there, as they say, if necessary, he visits cosmetologists, a plastic surgeon and a dentist. Judging by fresh photo artist, Valery Yakovlevich continues the battle for youth.

In the late 90s, Leontyev turned into a real Casanova. To look younger, the singer had his first circular facelift. He also installed veneers for a snow-white Hollywood smile.

« Most likely, Leontiev removed Bisha's lumps - fatty deposits in the cheek area. Now this is a very popular procedure, says cosmetologist, dermatologist Marta Orlova. - But experts assess it ambiguously: some are in favor, others are categorically against».

Since then, the artist has operated on his eyelids more than once, done a facelift and pumped up his lips with fillers. A year ago, due to lipofilling, which smoothes out wrinkles, the singer’s face looked swollen and puffy.

If you look at Leontyev’s photographs from last year, his face was somewhat puffy due to his cheeks. I assume that, in addition to skin tightening, he also did lipofilling, that is, using his own fat taken from other parts of the body, he added volume to the cheekbones, nasolacrimal and nasolabial folds to give his face a more youthful shape. But, unfortunately, lipofilling often causes excessive swelling, so the face sometimes appears unnaturally voluminous. I think Leontiev and the doctor who is operating on him decided to remove subcutaneous fat in the cheek area to tighten the face.

As a result, they received an elongated oval and prominent cheekbones. People associate this with more feminine, delicate facial features. To add masculinity to the artist’s face, contour plastic surgery of the lower jaw can be done. The lower jaw will become more square, and the singer’s image will become more brutal. Although it’s a little embarrassing that the artist’s lips are pumped up with filler. This is also perceived as overly feminine. Nevertheless, it is worth recognizing that Valery Yakovlevich looks younger than his age. He clearly does not forget about sports and carefully monitors his diet.