Childhood and youth
The future master of Russian pop music was born in the spring of 1938 into a Jewish family. He was just a baby when the Great Patriotic War began. The little boy survived the Leningrad blockade, and subsequently evacuated to the Urals with his family. During the war, my father was seriously wounded at the front. Leopold Reznik died from his wounds.
Mom remarried quite soon and left with her husband for Riga. The new husband set a condition for the woman - either a family with her husband, or an “old” son. She chose the former. Ilya Reznik considered his mother’s act a betrayal and forgave his mother only in adulthood. On his mother's side, Ilya has a younger brother and twin sisters.
The boy himself then remained to live in Leningrad with his grandmother Riva Girshevna and grandfather Rakhmiel Samuilovich. These people immigrated to the Soviet Union from Denmark back in 1934. Grandfather was an excellent shoemaker, and, according to Reznik’s recollections, the whole family relied on him. By the way, the grandparents not only took guardianship of their grandson, but officially adopted the boy, which is why Ilya bears the middle name Rakhmielevich, and not Leopoldovich.
Posted by Yevgeny Strazh on Sunday, April 4, 2021
Ilya Reznik in his youth
In elementary school, the future poet dreamed of long voyages, so he said that he would enter the Nakhimov School and become an admiral. Thoughts about a military career haunted Reznik until high school, however, having matured, he was already thinking about artillery school.
But closer to the prom, Ilya became obsessed with the idea of becoming an actor, as he really loved the theater. After school, the guy applied to the Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music and Cinema, but failed the exams.
In his youth, Reznik worked as a laboratory assistant at a medical institute, later served as an electrician and theater stage worker, and every summer he tried again and again to become a student at the coveted university. But only in 1958 Ilya’s perseverance was rewarded. By the way, Ilya wrote the first songs “The Ballad of the French Duel”, “Cockroach” and several others while he was studying at the theater institute.
In 1965, the young actor joined the troupe of the V.F. Komissarzhevskaya Theater, played a lot in various performances, but at the same time continued to improve in poetry. Four years later, he published his first book of children’s poems, “Tyapa Doesn’t Want to Be a Clown.” Later, many other collections intended for young readers saw the light of day. But Reznik’s main career in the same 1969 turned towards the stage, as the composition “Cinderella” based on the words of the poet performed by Lyudmila Senchina became popular throughout the country.
Biography of Ilya Reznik
More than one generation of our fellow citizens grew up on songs written to the poems of Ilya Rakhmielevich Reznik.
The most famous songwriter of our time was born on April 4, 1938 in St. Petersburg. The biography of Ilya Reznik begins just a few years before the start of the Great Patriotic War. Ilya Rakhmielevich survived the siege of Leningrad while still a very young boy. Subsequently, he and his family were evacuated to the Urals. Ilya Reznik’s parents did not live together for long. My father was a front-line soldier, received serious wounds from which he died. Ilya's mother quickly married a second time and left for Riga. From her second marriage she gave her eldest son a brother and twin sisters. After Ilya Reznik’s mother remarried and left, the boy stayed to live in Leningrad with his grandparents, who were immigrants from Denmark. Grandfather was a shoemaker and supported the whole family. They not only took guardianship of their grandson, but completely adopted him, which is why the famous songwriter bears the middle name Rakhmielevich, and not Leopoldovich, as his father was called.
In the photo: Ilya Reznik in his youth
While studying at school, Ilyusha dreamed of becoming an admiral and entering the Nakhimov School. However, by high school his dreams were redirected to artillery school. By the time he graduated from school, the boy firmly decided to become an actor. He was simply crazy about the theater. He applied to the Leningrad theater university, but failed the exams. Reznik Ilya did not give up and tried every year to enter a theater university. At the same time, he worked part-time as a laboratory assistant at a medical school, as an electrician, and as a theater stage worker. Only in 1958 was he finally enrolled as a student. Young Ilya Reznik wrote his first few songs during his studies.
After graduating from university, Ilya was hired at the Komissarzhevskaya Theater. He played quite a lot on stage, nevertheless, he never stopped thinking about poetry for a minute and constantly improved his skills. As a result, several of his collections were published, including children's ones. A huge number of songs were written based on the words of Ilya Reznik, which became hits. To this day, songs based on his poems are extremely popular and in demand; listeners simply adore them.
In the photo: Ilya Reznik
Poetry and music
In 1972, feeling strong, recognized and in demand, Ilya Reznik left the theater and focused exclusively on song poetry.
During the same biographical period, he was accepted as a member of the Leningrad Union of Writers. By the way, the year 1972 is also notable in the poet’s life because Ilya Rakhmielevich first met the then-beginning singer Alla Pugacheva and gave the girl the song “Let’s Sit and Eat.” With this composition, Pugacheva became one of the laureates of the All-Union Competition of Variety Artists and received the right to represent the Soviet Union at the international festival in the Polish city of Sopot.
The song “Apple Trees in Bloom” was a huge success. The composition was sung by Sofia Rotaru, as well as the author of the music, Evgeny Martynov. His performance received the first prize “Golden Lyre” at the Czechoslovak vocal competition “Bratislava Lyre”. This was the first time that a Soviet song received such a high award.
“Apple Trees in Bloom” also brought Ilya Reznik recognition on the Russian television show “Song of the Year.” Subsequently, Ilya Rakhmielevich will be a laureate of the annual competition about three dozen times.
Posted by Andrey Ovsyannikov on Sunday, April 4, 2021
Ilya Reznik and Alla Pugacheva
Over the years of creativity, Reznik collaborated with such great composers as Maxim Dunaevsky, Raymond Pauls, Vladimir Feltsman, and others. Songs to the words of the poet were performed by Mikhail Boyarsky, Irina Ponarovskaya, Vladimir Presnyakov Jr., Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Nikolai Karachentsov, Valery Leontyev, Laima Vaikule and other artists.
However, the main thing was the tandem of Ilya Reznik and Alla Pugacheva. Alla Borisovna’s repertoire included such recognized hits written by the songwriter as “Maestro”, “Ballet”, “My Years”, “Without Me”, “Photograph”, “Antique Clock”, “Three Happy Days”, and others .
Today the poet does not stop writing songs. Fans of Russian music are well aware of the compositions of Aziza “St. Petersburg” and “Return”, Edita Piekha’s “I Love This World”. Reznik wrote entire albums for Tatyana Bulanova, Diana Gurtskaya, Elena Vaenga and other contemporary musicians.
In addition to collections of children's poems, Reznik wrote a number of books. The writer published a biography book “Alla Pugacheva and Others”, collections of his poems “Leili”, “Ditties”, “Favorites”, “Two Over the City”.
In addition to poetry, Reznik also has larger forms, for example, a folk poem about the police “Egor Panov and Sanya Vanin.” A patriotic work for children, “Where to Serve,” was also released. A notable publication was published in 2004: “Napkin” is a collection of the poet’s dedications written on napkins.
From 2006 to 2009, the poet was a member of the jury of the “Two Stars” project.
On April 4, 2021, Ilya Rakhmielevich Reznik celebrated his 80th birthday. Shortly before the significant event, on March 20, 2021, a creative concert of the poet “Anniversary Vernissage” took place. On the gala evening, Alla Pugacheva, Laima Vaikule, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Ilya Reznik Children's Musical Theater and other artists and groups appeared on the stage of the Kremlin Palace.
Posted by Irina Barysheva on Saturday, April 3, 2021
Ilya Reznik with his wife Irina Romanova
And on the birthday of the hero of the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated him. In the same month, a documentary film about the poet “For many years have I wandered the earth...” was released.
On April 14, the “Tonight” show dedicated to Ilya Reznik went on air. Relatives, friends of Ilya Rakhmielevich and the birthday boy himself came to visit Maxim Galkin and Yulia Menshova. They remembered interesting stories from Reznik’s life, how popular hits were created and much more.
For a long time, Ilya Rakhmielevich considered the powerful song “Stingy with Love” written for Pugacheva to be the pinnacle of his creativity. However, everything changed when His Holiness Patriarch Kirill blessed him to write poetic prayers. The author published a collection containing 100 prayers and psalms in verse, which became Reznik’s special pride.
The writer conveyed in an interview the words of the patriarch that society has a need for clear prayers, because young people do not understand the Church Slavonic language. Therefore, most people perceive prayers only intuitively. After this information, the poet felt that his work was needed by the country, and, translating Scripture and the lives of saints into poetry, he created a book.
Creativity of Ilya Reznik
A few years later, Ilya Reznik managed to feel recognized and in demand, and new forces emerged. This helped him make a difficult decision - he left the theater and completely focused on song poetry. It is also noteworthy that in 1972 he was accepted as a member of the Leningrad Union of Writers. This year became almost fateful for him, because it was then that he met the aspiring singer Alla Pugacheva. It was he who gave the singer the song “Let’s Sit and Eat.” With this musical composition, the singer managed to gain recognition and some awards.
Enormous success came to him after writing the song “Apple Trees in Bloom.” Then this composition was sung by the no less famous and sought-after singer Sofia Rotaru. This performance was able to receive the first Golden Lyre prize, which was awarded at the Czechoslovak vocal competition Bratislava Lyre. Moreover, this was the first time that a Soviet song had the opportunity to receive such a high award. Moreover, this musical composition brought the songwriter recognition on the Russian TV show “Song of the Year.” Almost a select few ended up there. And a little later he had the opportunity to become a laureate of the annual competition more than three dozen times.
Reznik only became more popular and famous; every year he met new people. He had the opportunity to collaborate with great composers. No less outstanding singers and actors performed the poet’s compositions.
But the tandem of Ilya Reznik and Alla Pugacheva always remained the most important duet. Thanks to this collaboration, songs such as “Ballet”, “My Years”, “Without Me”, Photographer”, “Three Happy Days” and numerous others began to appear in the diva’s repertoire.
Then there were only more admirers of the poet’s work. For example, everyone is familiar with Aziza’s songs “St. Petersburg”, “Return” and Edita Piekha’s “I Love This World”. Moreover, he composed entire albums for singers. Among them are Tatyana Bulanova, Diana Gurtskaya and Elena Vaenga.
He was not limited to songs alone. He published not only poems for children. The writer also published the biographical book “Alla Pugacheva and Others” and numerous collections of poems that carried a serious and sincere message. The most surprising was the collection published in 2004, which was called “Salfetzhio”. It was a small collection that was written on napkins.
This is not to say that acting did not help a man in his life. The fact is that he played on the theater stage for a very decent period of his life. He acted in films several times. He even appeared in musicals a couple of times. But most of all, television viewers liked to watch the TV show “Two Stars” when a man was one of the jury members.
Movies
It must be said that acting education was not superfluous for Ilya Reznik. He played a lot on the theater stage, including in original plays, and acted in films.
The first film in which Ilya appeared as an actor was the famous comedy “The Adventures of Prince Florizel,” where Reznik portrayed a criminal in a wheelchair. Later, he starred in the musical “I Came and Say,” for which he wrote the script himself, in the melodrama “Moscow Beauties,” the New Year’s film “Only Once...” and the comedy “Diamonds for Juliet.” Ilya Rakhmielevich also appeared in the feature remake of “Carnival Night 2, or 50 Years Later.”
In the biographical film “Magomayev,” Reznik played the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, whom he personally met in 1980. Receiving this role came as a big surprise for the poet and at the same time pride.
Ilya Reznik today
In 2021, the premiere of the documentary film about Reznik “How many years have I been wandering the earth...” took place. Then the TV show "Tonight" was dedicated in his honor. In 2021, he was awarded the international Terra Incognita Awards.
The following year, the maestro starred in the biographical series “Magomayev,” where he played the secretary of the Azerbaijan Communist Party, Heydar Aliyev. He has an official website that contains the latest and most reliable information regarding his work and personal life.
Personal life
From a young age, the poet Ilya Reznik enjoyed success with women, but remained a bachelor for a long time. A man got married for the first time at the age of 30. He met his first wife Regina on tour. The girl was more than 10 years younger, but this did not stop the newlyweds from creating a good family.
After the wedding, Regina worked as deputy director of the Leningrad Variety Theater, and later played on the theater stage. In this marriage, Reznik had two children: son Maxim and daughter Alice, who is 7 years younger than her brother. It is noteworthy that after the divorce, the son remained to live with his father. Maxim Reznik trained as a journalist and collaborated with the fairly well-known program “Sharks of the Feather”.
The Russian pop master entered into his second official marriage in 1985. The poet’s chosen one was the Uzbek dancer and choreographer Munira Argumbayeva. Four years after the wedding, the couple had a son, Arthur. In the early 90s, the family moved to live in the USA, but in 1992 Reznik returned to his homeland, and Argumbayeva and her child remained in America. Officially, Ilya and Munira divorced only 20 years later, although they no longer lived together.
Posted by Dmitriy Zuyev on Sunday, April 4, 2021
Ilya Reznik and ex-wife Munir Argumbayeva with son Maxim Ilyich Reznik
Almost immediately, having received the documents, the poet again arranged his personal life. The author’s third wife was a former athlete, master of sports in athletics, and today the director of the Ilya Reznik Theater, Irina Romanova. The age difference between the couple is 27 years, but this does not interfere with family happiness. The couple have known each other for a long time and were actually married for many years even before the wedding.
For a long time, the poet lived in a rented house in the Moscow region. Few people know that he somehow made ends meet.
The fact is that in the Soviet years, Ilya Reznik received good copyrights, and the money went into a savings book. The songwriter saved up his savings and thought that he would live comfortably in retirement. But the 1998 default destroyed savings.
Then Ilya Rakhmielevich’s health deteriorated greatly. But he met Irina, and the woman put the writer on his feet. With his new lover, time turned back for the poet.
In 1996, there was a huge quarrel between two friends - Ilya Reznik and Alla Pugacheva. Later the man admitted that they had quarreled over money. The proceeds from sales of the latest collection of hits based on the poet's poems amounted to $6 million. The man believed that the diva should pay part of the money to him, but the singer refused. Then Reznik filed a lawsuit against Alla Borisovna, which ordered the performer to pay Ilya Rakhmielevich $100 thousand. Pugacheva fulfilled the condition, but harbored a grudge against her friend.
80-year-old Ilya Reznik married his 53-year-old wife in Crimea In the summer of 2021, Ilya Reznik was baptized in the Orthodox Church...
Posted by Kolya Kirichek. on Monday, August 6, 2018
Ilya Reznik and his wife Irina Romanova
Alla Borisovna and Ilya Rakhmielevich reconciled only in 2021 at the evening of Raymond Pauls. As a sign of reconciliation, the diva performed at Reznik’s evening in the Kremlin. They started calling each other. Alla Borisovna also helped her old friend with money. He and his wife traveled to Dubai and to a sanatorium.
Despite the problems that beset the family, Ilya Rakhmielevich and Irina keep three dogs and five cats at home. They love animals very much.
In addition, the master of Russian pop music has an active official website. Fans of the poet’s work can find the latest news about the writer on the web resource, watch photos and videos.
In April 2021, in an interview, Ilya Reznik admitted that he and his wife were planning to get married. In August 2017, the songwriter was baptized in an Orthodox church in Crimea, and a year later a wedding ceremony was held in the same church, which was attended only by the people closest to the couple.
Happiness and idyll in a third marriage
The poet, who has excellent external characteristics (height - 187 cm; weight - about 80 kg), has always enjoyed success with women, but despite this, he was in no hurry to start a family and for a long time had the status of a bachelor. Only at the age of 30 did he meet his future wife Regina, who was more than ten years younger than him. At that time, the spouses were connected by common work, and soon children appeared in their family: son Maxim was born in 1968, daughter Alice in 1976. A few years later, this union broke up, and after the parents separated, the son remained to live with his star father.
Ilya Reznik with his second wife Munira Argumbayeva and son Arthur
A few years later, Reznik decided to rebuild his personal life again, and his new chosen one was dancer and choreographer Munira Argumbayeva from Uzbekistan. After the birth of his son Arthur (1989), the whole family moved to America, but life in a foreign land did not attract the poet at all, and in 1992 he returned to his homeland. The wife did not want to leave the United States and stayed there to live with her son. Despite the fact that the couple did not even see each other for many years, their official divorce took place only in 2012.
In the turbulent 90s, all the poet’s savings disappeared, and he had to start all over again. In addition, Ilya Rakhmielevich had serious health problems: his blood pressure was jumping and his arthritis was progressing. It was during this difficult time that fate brought him together with his future wife, athlete Irina Romanova. They met while visiting mutual friends. Despite the age difference of more than 20 years, the future lovers immediately liked each other. The athlete amazed the poet with her beauty, erudition, and ability to behave in society. They exchanged phone numbers, but their first meeting did not happen right away. But then events developed rapidly, and soon the couple began to live as one family.
Ilya Reznik with his wife Irina Romanova. Photo https://www.instagram.com/irinaromanovareznik/
According to Reznik himself, his wife became his guardian angel, sent to him by God for all his many years of suffering. It was with her that he found long-awaited happiness and did not lose interest in life. Irina took care of his health and taught him a healthy lifestyle. Now the 80-year-old poet can fully boast of his excellent shape, which he acquired thanks to good genetics, as well as leading a healthy lifestyle. The couple eat cereal for breakfast, do not drink alcohol and do not smoke. In addition, they swim in the outdoor pool every day. Irina is now the director of her star husband’s musical theater. But they not only collaborate together, but also relax, traveling to the Crimean coast every year.
Reznik does not have his own home, so the couple lives in a rented house, the owner of which is his longtime admirer. Together with them live three dogs and five cats, which compassionate owners picked up and sheltered. In 2021, the couple got married, holding this sacrament in the Yalta temple.
Ilya Rakhmielevich is a father of many children, since in addition to children from his first and second marriage, he has two illegitimate ones: a son, Evgeniy, and a daughter, Elena. Of all his offspring, the poet raised only his eldest son, who stayed with him after his divorce from his first wife. Like his star father, Maxim chose a creative path, becoming a journalist and playwright. He writes not only poetry, but also theatrical plays, which have already attracted the attention of many actors and directors. Son Evgeniy took up legal practice, and daughter Alisa turned out to be an excellent photographer, whose work has already won many international competitions. The poet also has grandchildren, but he rarely communicates with them. Besides, they have no interest in music and poetry. All these years, Reznik did not forget about his son Arthur, who lives with his second wife in America. He still takes care of the youngest heir, sending him good money.
Ilya Reznik now
Now the poet’s creativity, tested by time, continues to find outlet in the author’s works. And his work receives a worthy assessment. In 2021, Ilya Rakhmielevich was awarded the Figaro acting award for the highest achievements in the field of dramatic art.
In connection with the difficult events that have arisen in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reznik, in collaboration with Raymond Pauls, wrote the song “Forgive me!”, dedicated to the fallen doctors.
The poet attracted the attention of the press not only for his art, but also for the scandal that broke out. Reznik sued the Little Country chain of private kindergartens, which used the patented name of Ilya Rakhmielevich’s song as a trademark.
In April 2021, Ilya Reznik’s concert evening dedicated to the birthday of the songwriter was held at the State Kremlin Palace of the capital.
Collaboration with Pugacheva
Still, Reznik’s work with Alla Pugacheva turns out to be the most fruitful and long-lasting. Thanks to the hero of our article, the songs “Ballet”, “Maestro”, “Without Me”, “My Years”, “Antique Clock”, “Photograph”, “Three Happy Days” appear in her repertoire.
In the mid-90s, this creative union broke up as a result of a major scandal. Pugacheva and Reznik quarreled over money. When the poet learned that the proceeds from the sales of the Prima Donna's latest hits amounted to about six million dollars, he decided that he was entitled to part of the money. But the singer refused.
Then Reznik went to court. Themis' servants ordered the singer to pay the poet $100,000.
Former friends reconciled only in 2021. As a sign that all grievances have been forgotten, Pugacheva even spoke at the creative evening of the hero of our article in the Kremlin. After that, they began to regularly call each other, and Pugacheva even voluntarily helped the poet with money, for which he and his wife went on vacation to Dubai.
Personal life of Ilya Reznik
The personal life of Ilya Reznik did not develop immediately. Although in his youth he enjoyed great success with women. Despite this, he was in no hurry to enter into a legal marriage. Women surrounded him always and everywhere, he enjoyed their company.
Ilya Reznik got married for the first time only at the age of thirty. His chosen one was a girl named Regina, who was ten years younger. The couple met during Ilya Rakhmielevich’s next tour. Ilya Reznik’s first wife gave him two children: son Maxim and daughter Alice. Moreover, the girl was seven years younger. The family of Ilya Reznik in this composition broke up after some time, but the son remained to live with his father. He became a professional journalist.
In the photo: Ilya Reznik’s first wife Regina Reznik
Ilya entered into his second official marriage with the Uzbek dancer and choreographer Munira Argumbayeva. The happy head of the family dedicated poems and songs to his beloved, they rejoiced at every moment spent together. Four years later they had a son, who was named Arthur. Over time, the family left for America, but Reznik returned two years later in 1992, and his wife and son remained on the other side of the ocean.
In the photo: Ilya Reznik with his second wife and son
The official divorce, which was preceded by several scandals, was formalized only 20 years later. The ex-wife accused Reznik of leaving her in a foreign country without a livelihood, and this was the first time she had heard about the breakup of their relationship. As a result, the court recognized Ilya Reznik’s new marriage as fictitious. We finally managed to get a divorce only the second time.
Children of Ilya Reznik
Ilya Rakhmielevich had children in his first two marriages. At the moment they are already adults, and the famous poet has grandchildren growing up from them. Ilya Reznik, whose children were born in different marriages, was completely independently involved in raising only his eldest son. The first wife, Regina, gave her husband a son, Maxim, and a daughter, Alice. After his parents separated, Maxim decided that he should be raised by his father and stayed to live with him. He received the profession of a journalist and worked on the famous program “Sharks of the Feather”. Alisa Reznik stayed with her mother, but her father kept in touch with her and took part in her upbringing. Now Maxim already has his own child. The boy was named after his famous grandfather - Ilya.
In the photo: Ilya Reznik with his son Maxim
In his second marriage to Munira Argumbayeva, a son, Arthur Reznik, was born. Mostly his mother was involved in his upbringing, with whom the boy lived. Almost all of his childhood was spent in America.
The press has repeatedly mentioned that there is also an illegitimate son of Ilya Reznik, Evgeniy, who was born in 1981. Now the guy lives in Odessa.
Ilya Reznik's wife
After the maestro divorced his second wife, Ilya Reznik immediately married for the third time. As soon as he received the divorce papers, the maestro again plunged into a new romance and hastened to legitimize the relationship. Now his chosen one is the famous athlete Irina Romanova, and now a woman holding the post of director of the Ilya Reznik Theater. The age difference between the lovers was 27 years, but this did not stop them from starting a family. In fact, Ilya Reznik and Irina Romanova began living together even before their relationship was formalized, and they met even earlier.
In the photo: Ilya Reznik and Irina Romanova
Irina Reznik, the wife of Ilya Reznik, supported her husband in the most difficult life circumstances. Few people know that the world famous poet barely made ends meet. The fact is that the man kept his royalties in a savings book. The 1998 default destroyed everything. Naturally, this could not but affect Ilya’s health. Being a Jew by nationality, he was very sensitive and sensitive to the turning points. If it weren’t for Ilya Reznik’s beloved wife, at that moment, no one knows how the matter would have ended.
