Biography of Batyrkhan Shukenov
Batyrkhan Shukenov is a talented Kazakh singer. He managed to become famous thanks to his long participation in the A-studio group. Maybe no one would have recognized him as a gifted boy from Kazakhstan if Alla Pugacheva herself had not taken him under her wing.
Ex-soloist of the group A'Studio Batyrkhan Shukenov
After leaving the popular group in 2000, he began a solo career.
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Batyrkhan Shukenov: “I don’t regret leaving A-Studio.” Since 1989, A-Studio has had a busy work schedule, consisting of touring and recording new songs. Batyrkhan Shukenov records the most recognizable songs of the group, such as “Stop, Night”, “Soldier of Love”, “Unloved”.
After takeoff in 1989, Batyrkhan Shukenov remained on the front for another 11 years. His departure from the group in 2000 came as a surprise to fans. The musician himself explained that he was pushed to such a decision not by creative, but by everyday reasons. At the same time, Shukenov always emphasized that he maintained normal relations with A-Studio.
The musician’s solo career, which began with the release of the Kazakh-language album “Otan Ana” (“Motherland”) in 2002, was not easy. Shukenov continued to be perceived as a front, while he himself tried to prove that his creative potential was much wider. To do this, he was ready to undertake the most unexpected musical experiments.
Childhood and family of Batyrkhan Shukenov
The future famous performer was born on May 18, 1962 in the small town of Kzyl-Orda, Kazakhstan. Despite the fact that the performer’s family is quite large (Batyrkhan had two more brothers and a sister), all children were treated equally - with love and warmth. Dad often disappeared at work, as he held a leadership position, and mother kept house and raised children.
Batyrkhan Shukenov (left) with his brother as a child
From an early age, Batyr was interested in music, and when he was 12 years old, his hobby grew into something more. At first, the young man could not decide which instrument to master, but over time he gave preference to the guitar.
Having received the certificate, the guy decided to move to Leningrad. Thanks to his impressive musical practice, it was not difficult for him to impress the selection committee of the University of Culture. N.K. Krupskaya. Having joined the ranks of students, Shukenov mastered a second instrument - the saxophone. For two years the guy improved his skills, and in 1981 he entered the Conservatory. Kurmangazy in Almaty.
Despite the fact that the young man already had experience studying at a specialized university, the conservatory program turned out to be much more difficult. Subsequently, Batyr admitted to journalists that in those days the classrooms were filled with students who were eager to gain new knowledge, which is why teachers simply overwhelmed their students with tasks - in order to weed out those who were not serious. The guy had no time for entertainment, because he had to study almost for days.
Young Batyrkhan Shukenov
Despite being very busy, the guy still found time to earn a little extra money in local cafes and restaurants. One day, Shukenov was lucky enough to meet the famous jazz performer Georgy Metaksa in the Soviet Union. The singer was impressed by the young man’s talent, and he offered to perform a duet. Thanks to a chance meeting, the world of real “adult” jazz opened up to Shukenov.
Biography
Batyrkhan Shukenov is a singer and composer from Kazakhstan. He gained fame in the 90s of the twentieth century, the founder of the A'Studio group.
Shukenov Batyrkhan Kamalovich was born on May 18, 1962 in the city of Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan. Batyrkhan studied at secondary school No. 233 named after. Ostrovsky in his hometown. The golden time for every person is the school years. It was at school that Shukenov began to get involved in music, which by the age of 12 became the main activity in his life.
Batyrkhan Shukenov in his youth
At first, Batyrkhan preferred the guitar. In 1979, the guy went to Leningrad to gain musical skills and entered the Leningrad State Institute of Culture. N.K. Krupskaya. During that period, the young man mastered several musical instruments, among which was the saxophone. Shukenov lived in Leningrad for about two years. In the future, the performer more than once recalled his studies in Leningrad, calling this period of his life “a vibrant process of his formation and development of musical skill.”
In 1981, Shukenov entered the Alma-Ata State Conservatory named after Kurmangazy Sagyrbaev. Batyrkhan considered this time difficult, since it required a lot of effort in many directions. According to the musician, students were different in those days. Shukenov noted that nowadays, when you come to the conservatory, you can find empty auditoriums, but then this did not happen. The guys studied from early morning until late at night.
Singer Batyrkhan Shukenov
One day Batyrkhan Shukenov had the opportunity to meet Georgy Metaksa, a well-known jazz musician in the Soviet Union at that time. Then Batyrkhan, performing in a duet with Metaxa, discovered the world of jazz.
Batyrkhan Shukenov and the group “A-studio”
At the age of 20, Batyr met such famous personalities as Baygali Serkebaev, Bulat Syzdykov and Vladimir Miklosic. All these guys had the same hobby - they couldn’t live without music. On the fateful day, when the guy was offered to become a member of the Arai musical group, his life changed. Firstly, he gained his first serious experience in performing on stage, and secondly, the following year he earned the title of Laureate of the Seventh All-Union Variety Artists Competition.
Batyrkhan Shukenov and the group “A-studio”
As soon as the guy turned 23, he was officially recognized as fit, and he went to serve in the Central Asian Military District. For one year, Batyr played in a military orchestra so as not to lose his skills. Upon returning home, the young man first met with his parents, and then decided to visit friends from the Arai group. After some consultation, the guys decided to create a new group called “Almaty”. After some time, their name seemed banal to them, and they renamed the group “Almaty Studio” and recorded the first album “The Path Without Stops.”
A few months later, the singers again decided to change the name of the group, this time to “A-studio”. The group became famous thanks to the world famous composition “Julia”. Initially, Philip Kirkorov worked on its recording, but then his future wife Alla Pugacheva literally snatched the song from a friend and gave it to Batyr, thanks to which the singer had his first major success.
"A'studio" and Batyrkhan Shukenov - Julia In total, Shukenov performed with "A'studio" for 13 long years, until he left the team in 2000. As he later stated: “I simply exhausted myself, so I went free swimming.” Among other things, there were strained relations between the guys, since Batyr was supervised by Pugacheva herself. Often the singer was the face of the group, while everyone else played the role of minor assistants. The guys had to endure all this, because they understood that without the tutelage of the Diva they would not be able to fly to the musical Olympus.
Batyrkhan Shukenov and Alla Pugacheva
In the fall of 2002, the famous performer presented his solo album “Otan Ana” to the world, which was performed in his native language. The album includes 10 tracks and one wonderful video for the composition “Otan Ana”, filmed with the help of Moscow director Dina Makhamatdinova.
Personal life of Batyrkhan Shukenov
The performer met his first lover in 1998. For almost 2 years the man courted a girl named Ekaterina and only in 2000 proposed to her. For several years, the couple could not have children, but one fine day a real miracle happened - Catherine became pregnant. After the firstborn was born, Batyr was in seventh heaven. Alas, the joy was short-lived - on the 40th day of life, the baby died from an intrauterine infection. It was difficult to survive such a concussion. This fact also played a role in leaving A'studio.
Batyrkhan Shukenov with his wife Ekaterina and son Maksut
In 2002, the couple had another child - son Maksut. Unfortunately, even the baby was unable to correct the consequences of the stress his parents experienced. The relationship between once loved ones has changed irreparably, so they decided to leave. After the divorce, Katya and her son moved to America. Despite the distance, the father visited his son very often and maintained a warm relationship with his ex-wife.
In 2008, the singer met his second chosen one - a beauty named Aigerim. The fateful meeting took place in St. Petersburg. Autumn is soon, the newly-made couple played a wedding according to all Kazakh customs. A few years later they separated, citing a large age difference: Aigerim was 16 years younger than Batyr.
The last years of the life of Batyrkhan Shukenov
In 2007, the singer recorded the disc “Batyr Live” and even became an adviser to the President of Kazakhstan on cultural issues. After 3 years, all the artist’s fans had the opportunity to evaluate 2 more albums - “Be careful, dear girl” and “Everything will pass.” In 2013, the album “Soul” was released. Batyrkhan Shukenov - “Rain” 51-year-old Batyr participated in the “Live Sound” show, where he performed the composition “I am you.” After 2 years, the man appeared on television again, but now as a parodist in the entertainment show “One to One.” The program was broadcast on the Rossiya 1 TV channel. At that time, Batyr devoted a lot of time to performing excellently, because his rivals were such famous people as Nikita Malinin, Shura, Anzhelika Agurbash and others.
“A great artist suffering from a weak repertoire”
Critics, however, perceived Batyrkhan Shukenov’s solo work rather coolly. The description given by one of them - “a great artist suffering from a weak repertoire” - hung over Shuken’s sword of Damocles.
In Kazakhstan, Batyrkhan Shukenov remained a popular and influential figure. In 2007, he was appointed advisor to the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev on culture, and in 2009 he became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Kazakhstan.
There were also changes in the singer's personal life - in 2008 he got married.
Shukenov did not give up attempts to “reboot” his musical career. In 2013, he became a participant in the music show “Live Sound” on the Rossiya channel and won.
Death of Batyrkhan Shukenov
The death of the famous performer shocked the whole world. At the end of April 2015, Batyrkhan was supposed to appear on the stage of the “One to One” project, but on the 28th his life was cut short. According to the official version, the singer died of a myocardial infarction in his Moscow apartment. Perhaps he could have been saved, but no one was there. Funeral of Batyrkhan Shukenov in Almaty After his death, Shukenov’s body was transported to Kazakhstan and buried according to local traditions. More than 10,000 people came to say goodbye to the talented and famous personality. People not only applauded during the funeral, but also sang the hit “Julia” that made him famous.
