Nadezhda Babkina, folk and pop singer. Biography

The singer was born on March 19, 1950 in the city of Akhtubinsk, Astrakhan region, located on the banks of the Volga River. Her father, Georgy Ivanovich, a hereditary Cossack, was the chairman of a collective farm and played various instruments well. Tamara Alexandrovna's mother worked as a teacher. She came from the ancient Chistyakovs family, which owned a manufactory in Moscow before the revolution.

Guests often gathered at the Babkins' house, and the holidays were traditionally accompanied by noisy gatherings and folk songs accompanied by an accordion. Nadezhda has been absorbing the culture of her homeland since childhood and became interested in music. During her school years, she participated in amateur vocal performances, and while studying in the 10th grade, she won the All-Russian Youth Competition in the genre of Russian folk songs. The next stage of her creative biography was working in the regional film distribution department, where the young singer performed Russian compositions before the start of the film sessions.

After school, the future artist decided to pursue a musical career. In 1971— she graduated from the Astrakhan Music College (now the Astrakhan Mussorgsky College of Music). Then she continued her education in Moscow, enrolling in the conducting and choral department of the Gnessin Institute. In 1986, the singer acquired another specialty — the director of variety and mass performances, having graduated from the higher theater courses at GITIS.

In 1974, while studying at Gnesinka, Nadezhda Babkina organized the Russian Song vocal ensemble, whose repertoire included folk songs from different regions of Russia, including spiritual chants, and modern author's compositions. The All-Union fame came to the team quickly. His first major success was his performance at the All-Russian Soviet Song Contest in Sochi.

Since the late 70s, the ensemble began to work independently at the Mosconcert. The band members created a large number of themed concert programs, performances and folk acts: "Wedding", "Maslenitsa", "Night Divination" and others. Many of the numbers have become national hits. Moreover, more than a hundred treatments of Russian folk songs were performed. Among the most famous arrangements of the songs are "Moscow Golden-domed", "Nadia the Girl", "How my mother wanted me", "If you want to be a military man".

Later, a folklore center was created in the capital on the basis of the ensemble, which was transformed in 2000 into the Russian Song, Russia's first state musical folklore theater. Throughout her time, Babkina has been his permanent supervisor, the director of performances and the performer of the main roles. Russian fashion designers Vyacheslav Zaitsev and Valentin Yudashkin were responsible for the vivid stage image of the actress. Currently, in addition to concerts, the theater hosts New Year's trees for children, the Heritage children's and youth studio and the museum of dolls from the collection of Nadezhda Babkina.

Today, the artist leads an active touring life, participates in television projects (the latest of which is "Fashion Verdict" on Channel One) and leads a workshop at the Department of Pop Art at GITIS. Nadezhda Babkina is also an active public figure. In 2014, she participated in the elections to the Moscow City Duma in the electoral district No. 6 (Golovinsky, Levoberezhny, Khovrino and part of Western Degunino districts), gaining a majority of votes.

As a deputy, the singer has achieved the opening of children's music studios in schools in the north of the capital. She is also engaged in charitable activities. Nadezhda Babkina is the president of the charitable foundation "Folk Singing Culture" and the non—profit organization "Cultural Workers Support Fund".

In 1992, the founder of the Russian Song ensemble was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. In December 2022, President Vladimir Putin awarded the singer the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree. Previously, she was awarded the orders of III and IV degrees. In Ukraine, the singer is included in the list of banned artists.

Personal life

The Russian actress was officially married only once. Nadezhda Babkina's official husband was Vladimir Sozdatelev, a musician and drummer who collaborated with such popular vocal and instrumental ensembles (VIA) as "Gems" and "Pour, Song". The couple signed in 1974. A year later, Danila's son was born. The marriage lasted almost 20 years, after which the couple separated.

Babkina's only son received a law degree and holds a PhD in law. He later founded his own law firm. In 2007, Danila got married, and now he and his wife Tatiana are raising three children: son George and daughters Vera and Marfa.

Since 2003, the singer has been in a civil marriage with singer and businessman Evgeny Gorshechkov, born in 1980, better known under the pseudonym Evgeny Gor. Their first meeting took place in Saratov at the young performers competition, where the artist was present as a member of the jury. In recent years, Nadezhda Babkina and Evgeny Gor have not appeared together in public, which is why reports of their separation have become more frequent in the media.