Muslim Magomayev (musician)

Muslim Magomayev
Муслим Магомаев
PAU
Magomaev on a postage stamp of Azerbaijan
Born Muslim Mahammad Oğlu Magomayev
(1942-08-17)17 August 1942
Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Status Deceased
Died 25 October 2008(2008-10-25) (aged 66)
Moscow, Russia
Resting place Alley of Honor, Baku, Azerbaijan
Occupation Singer, composer, actor
Years active 1962-2008
Title People's Artist of the USSR (1973)
Spouse(s)
Ofelia (m. 1960–1961)

Tamara Sinyavskaya (m. 1974–2008)
Children 1
Relatives Muslim Magomayev (paternal grandfather)
Awards
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • Piano

Muslim Magometovich Magomayev[1] (Azerbaijani: Müslüm Məhəmməd oğlu Maqomayev, 17 August 1942 – 25 October 2008), dubbed the "King of Songs"[2] and the "Soviet Sinatra" [3] was a Soviet Azerbajiani baritone operatic pop singer.[4] He achieved iconic status in Russia and the post-Soviet countries for his vocal talent and charisma.[5]

Early life

Muslim Magomayev represented one of the most respected artistic dynasties in Azerbaijan. His grandfather Muslim Magomayev (1885–1937), a friend and contemporary of the prominent Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov, was one of the founders of modern Azerbaijani classical music. Magomayev's father, Mahammad Magomayev, who died two days prior to the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II while serving as a soldier in the Soviet Army, was a gifted scenic designer; and his mother, Aishet Kinzhalova, was an actress, who deserted him with his grandmother when he was less than a year old.[6] Magomayev's father was of mixed origin whose parents moved to Azerbaijan from Chechnya and Georgia respectively, whereas his Adyghean-born mother was of mixed Turkish, Adyghe and Russian descent.[7] However, when asked about his ethnicity, Magomayev considered himself Azerbaijani.[8]

Abandoned by his mother after his father's death, Magomayev was raised by his paternal grandmother. He learned to play the piano as a child, and began to take voice lessons at the age of 14. As a teenager, he became interested in Italian songs, American jazz, and other styles of popular music. He majored in piano and composition at the Baku Conservatoire.[6]

Musical career

He was 19 when he first performed at an international youth music festival in Helsinki.[6] His performance was noted by Yekaterina Furtseva, then Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union, who offered him to be a soloist at the Bolshoi Theatre. Magomayev declined the offer.[9] In 1962, at the age of 20, Magomayev first appeared in Moscow where he performed during the Days of Azerbaijani Culture.[6] He sang an aria from Gounod’s Faust, and the song "Do the Russians Want War?" in a gala concert at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, and became a celebrity on the spot.[6] A year later, he gave his first solo concert in the Moscow Tchaikovsky Concert Hall to a full house and became a soloist of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. Muslim earned fame in the USSR as an opera singer with his performance in Rossini's "Barber of Seville". He also became known for his arias from Puccini's "Tosca", Hajibeyov's "Koroghlu" and "Shah Ismayil", which was composed by his grandfather.[10]

In 1964 and 1965, Muslim was a visiting artist at La Scala in Milan, but turned down the invitation to sing in the Moscow Bolshoi Theater upon his return. Instead, the singer turned to popular music, becoming a pop idol for several generations of music lovers in the Soviet Union. Muslim Magomayev's popularity in the USSR was overwhelming. He quickly became a cult figure and gave three concerts a day filling huge arenas all across the Soviet Union, while his albums sold millions.

In 1966 and 1969, Magomayev performed in Paris Olympia with great success. The director of Olympia Bruno Coquatrix offered him a contract, and Magomayev was seriously considering an opportunity to pursue an international career, but Yekaterina Furtseva refused to grant the Ministry of Culture's permission, claiming that it needed Magomayev to perform at government concerts. In 1969 he received the MIDEM Gold Disc Award in Cannes for album sales of over 4.5 million units. In 1973, at the age of 31, Muslim was awarded the Soviet Union's highest artistic title: People's Artist of the USSR.[11]

Magomayev moved to Moscow in the early 1970s. He became the art director of the Azerbaijan State Bandstand-Symphonic Orchestra in 1975 and toured in Italy, France, Bulgaria, Finland, Canada, United States, Cuba and other countries.

Magomayev was also known as a composer, writing several film soundtracks and songs. In addition, Magomayev acted in films and hosted television and radio broadcasts devoted to prominent musicians of the 20th century.

Magomayev was an influence on many important Soviet musical figures including Alla Pugacheva, who often spoke fondly of him.[12]

Personal life

Magomayev married when he was 19, but the union did not last a year.[6] His daughter from that first marriage, Marina,[13] lives in the United States.[6] He eventually remarried, this time to the opera singer Tamara Sinyavskaya.[6]

In later life, Magomayev struggled with a serious heart condition.[6]

Later years

In the early 2000s, Magomayev officially stopped his musical career and gave only a few performances, together with his wife. He died on 25 October 2008 in his flat in Moscow from a heart attack.[14][15] He was buried in the Alley of Honor in his native city of Baku, next to his grandfather, on 29 October.[16][17] The funeral ceremony was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Magomayev's widow Tamara Sinyavskaya, his daughter Marina, as well as state officials and international delegations.[13] Thousands of people came to pay a final tribute to the singer.[13][18]

Honours and awards

Unveiling of monument to Muslim Magomayev in Moscow. 15 September 2011.
Concert Hall Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk named after Muslim Magomayev.
Orders
Titles
  • People's Artist of USSR (1973) [19]
  • People’s Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1964)
  • Honoured Artist of Azerbaijan SSR (1971)
  • Honoured Artist of Chechen-Ingush ASSR
Awards

In 1997, a minor planet of the solar system, 4980 Magomaev, was named in his honor.[16]

Muslim Magomayev receives the Order of Honour from Russian President Vladimir Putin. 26 December 2002
  • "Azerbaijan" ("Azərbaycan")
  • "Melodia" ("Мелодия") - Melody
  • "Noktyurn" ("Ноктюрн")
  • "Verni mne muziku" (""Верни мне музыку") - Return the Music to me
  • "Koroleva krasoty" ("Королева красоты") - The Queen of the Beauty
  • "Svadba" ("Свадьба") - Wedding
  • "Luchshyj gorod Zemli" ("Лучший город Земли") - The Best City on Earth
  • "Blagodaryu tebya" ("Благодарю тебя") - Grateful to You
  • "Chertovo koleso" ("Чертово колесо") - Devil's Wheel
  • "Serdce Na Snegu" ("Сердце на снегу") - Heart on the Snow
  • "Golubaya Tayga" ("Голубая тайга") - Blue Taiga
  • "Nam ne zhit' drug bez druga" ("Нам не жить друг без друга") - We Can't Live Without One Another
  • "Luch Solnca Zolotogo" ("Луч солнца золотого") - Sunbeam of the Golden Sun
  • "Sinyaya Vechnost" ("Синяя вечность") - Blue Eternity
  • "Solncem opyanennyy" ("Солнцем опьяненный")

References

  1. ↑ Azerbaijani: Müslüm Məhəmməd oğlu Maqomayev, Мүслүм Мәһәммәд оғлы Магомајев, [myˈslym mæˈhæmːæt ɔˈɣlə mɑɡɔˈmɑjɛf]; Russian: Муслим Магометович Магомаев, [muˈslim maɡɐˈmʲetɐvit͡ɕ maɡɐˈmajɪf]
  2. ↑ "Ozon article on Magomayev's death". Ozon.ru. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Soviet Sinatra dies after long illness". The Standard. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  4. ↑ Opera singer Magomayev dies at age 66. UPI. 25 October 2008.
  5. ↑ После тяжeлой болезни ушeл из жизни легендарный певец Муслим Магомаев [After a serious illness legendary singer Muslim Magomayev dies]. Channel One (Russia). 25 October 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Muslim Magomayev: popular singer known as the "Soviet Sinatra"". Times Online. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  7. ↑ Муслим Магомаев "Любовь моя — мелодия" (PDF). magomaev.info (in Russian). 1999. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Дмитрий Гордон (28 October 2008). Муслим Магомаев: "Много раз мы с Тамарой собирались расстаться, но Алиев — мудрейший дядька! — сказал: "Смотри! Если сделал одну ошибку, когда женился, не совершай вторую, поспешив развестись" [Muslim Magomayev: "Many times me and Tamara tried to separate, but Aliyev - wise guy! - said: "Look! If you made a mistake when you married, do not take a second, before hastily divorcing"]. Газета «Бульвар Гордона» № 44 (184) (in Russian). Archived from the original on 31 January 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Tamara Sinyavskaya in Heart on Snow Archived 2012-09-21 at the Wayback Machine. (documentary film). Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Aida Huseinova (Autumn 2002). "Muslim Magomayev Celebrates 60th Jubilee". 10 (3). p. 20.
  11. ↑ "Legendary Singer Muslim Magomaev Passes Away". 25 October 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  12. ↑ Пугачёва стала певицей из любви к Магомаеву [Pugacheva became a singer due to love for Magomayev]. 28 October 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 Муслима Магомаева похоронили рядом с дедом [Muslim Magomayev was buried next to his grandfather]. Komsomolskaya Pravda. 30 October 2008.
  14. ↑ "Famous singer from Azerbaijan Muslim Magomaev dies in Moscow". Caucasian Knot. 25 October 2008.
  15. ↑ "Worldwide famous singer Muslim Magomayev dies". APA. 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  16. 1 2 "Soviet-era pop star Magomayev buried in Azerbaijan". RIA Novosti. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  17. ↑ "az:Müslüm Maqomayev Fəxri Xiyabanda dəfn edildi" [Muslim Magomayev was buried in honor of Ziyabanda] (in Azerbaijani). 29 October 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  18. ↑ "Baku says farewell to great Muslim Magomaev". 29 October 2008. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
  19. ↑ Музыкальная энциклопедия. Гл. ред. Ю. В. Келдыш. Т 3. Корто — Октоль. 1104 стб. с илл. М.: Советская энциклопедия, 1976 - Soviet Encyclopedia
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