| Folk singer Date of Birth: 07.08.1947 Country: Ukraine |
Sofia Rotaru, a popular singer and performer, was born on August 9, 1947, in the Moldavian village of Marshintsy in the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine. However, her birth certificate contains some inaccuracies. She was registered as Sofia Mikhailovna Rotar, and her true birthday is August 7. Sofia began showing musical talent at an early age, participating in school choirs and concerts.
In 1962, Sofia won first place in a regional talent competition, which led to her participation in a national festival in Kiev. There, she caught the attention of renowned Ukrainian singer Dmitry Hnatyuk, who predicted a bright future for her. Sofia went on to study at the Chernivtsi Music School, where she specialized in conducting and choral singing. During her time at the school, she performed at the Kremlin Palace and met her future husband, Anatoly Yevdokimenko.
In 1968, Sofia graduated from the music school and represented Ukraine at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Sofia, Bulgaria. She won first place and received praise from the jury, including renowned singer Lyudmila Zykina, who predicted that Sofia would become a great singer. Sofia married Anatoly Yevdokimenko and temporarily put her artistic career on hold to accompany him to his military posting in Novosibirsk.
In 1971, Sofia starred in the musical film "Chervona Ruta" alongside young musicians Vladimir Ivasyuk and Vasily Zinkevich. This film led to the creation of the musical ensemble "Chervona Ruta," which became immensely popular throughout the Soviet Union. Sofia's career continued to flourish as she won the "Golden Orpheus" competition in Bulgaria in 1973 and achieved second place at the Sopot International Song Festival in 1974. She also collaborated with composers Evgeny Martynov and Evgeny Doga during this period.
Sofia Rotaru moved to Yalta in 1975 and continued to gain international recognition. She became the first Soviet singer to release a record with the Munich-based label "Ariola-Eurodisc GmbH" and embarked on successful European tours. In 1979, tragedy struck when Vladimir Ivasyuk, one of Sofia's collaborators, died under mysterious circumstances. Despite this loss, Sofia continued to perform and achieve success in both national and international competitions.
In 1986, Sofia changed her musical direction, parting ways with "Chervona Ruta" and collaborating with composer Vladimir Matetsky. She experimented with various styles, including European pop and even hard rock. In 1988, she was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR. Despite the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Sofia's career remained unaffected, and she continued to perform successfully in post-Soviet countries, Europe, and the United States.
In the 1990s, Sofia Rotaru began actively participating in musical films and stage productions, earning critical acclaim for her performances. She released several studio albums, including "Vremya Lyubit" in 2013. Sofia's influence and popularity have not waned over the years, and she continues to captivate audiences with her unique voice and energetic performances. In 2017, she performed a duet with Grigory Leps at the "Zhara" festival, and her concerts attract thousands of devoted fans.
Despite her busy schedule, Sofia Rotaru finds time to relax and enjoys living in her various residences, including an elite hotel called "Villa Sofia" in Yalta and a personal house in the village of Nikita. She also owns a 4-room apartment near the Sofia Cathedral in Kyiv.
As Sofia enters her later years, she has chosen to limit her performances and tours, focusing on smaller concerts in Russia and Ukraine. While rumors of her retirement have circulated, her concert director, Sergey Lavrov, assured fans that any farewell tour would happen in the future. Sofia plans to continue sharing her musical talents with audiences for as long as she can.