Singer and composer Yuri Nikolaev - Russian with Chuvash roots

Childhood years on Sakhalin

The birthplace of the future star was the town of Kholmsk. It was here in 1960 that a strong little boy was born into the family of a sailor and an accountant on a cold winter day, whom it was decided to name Igor.

From a very early age, the baby showed himself to be a creative person. He was drawn to music, loved poetry and had a wild imagination. All this was quite natural, given that the father of the young talent was a famous poet. He made his living as a long-distance sailor, but devoted his free time to writing poetry and poems. His work was highly valued and recognized on Sakhalin. A few years later he was admitted to the USSR Writers' Union.

Yuri Ivanovich saw his son’s talent very early and tried to develop it. Despite the fact that the boy spent most of his time with his mother, after returning from the flight, the father tried to ensure that his son’s epics were published in local publications.

“Dad taught me that any business should be done with a specific purpose,” Nikolaev recalled. – If you write poetry, then strive for their publication. If you sing, let people hear you. If music is your calling, then perform it for others, not in a closed room. I remembered his words for the rest of my life.

One of the most vivid memories of Igor’s childhood is connected with performing in public. His father brought him to a celebration at the Sailors' Palace of Culture, and the boy read a poem right from the stage. He considers this moment to be key. It was after a performance at the age of 7 that he began to dream about the stage.

Yuri Nikolaev and Yulia Proskuryakova

Four years later, Nikolaev married for the third time to Yulia Proskuryakova, who was very similar to Natasha Koroleva.

Since childhood, Yulia studied in the vocal studio at the Youth Palace. One evening, a friend invited her to a concert of a popular singer. She still wonders how she managed to get to Igor to demonstrate her voice.

Nikolaev was surprised by such a bold act and suggested listening to her recordings. Then, when Proskuryakova asked to return the disk, Nikolaev made an offer to Yulia to live in Moscow, and even rented an apartment for her. However, throughout the whole year there was a grinding of personalities. After the scandal, they moved into the same apartment. The singer said that he does not want to conflict and he likes it if Julia is nearby.

In September 2010, the couple got married. They had the child they wanted, Veronica. The daughter was born premature, so the parents were very worried in the first months.

School years

The future composer remembers school poorly. The years of study were not filled with any interesting events, because the boy spent most of his time studying music. At first he studied violin at a local music school.

At the age of 14, the guy decided not to stop there and continue his education:

• first the student entered a music school;
• a year later he transferred to the capital to the school at the conservatory.

From that moment on, a completely different life began for the guy. He finally moved to Moscow, but all his life he fondly remembers the years spent on Sakhalin.

The first step on the path to fame

In the capital, Igor entered the pop department of the Institute of Culture. Studying was easy for him, and he developed friendly relations with his fellow students. They appreciated the boy for his talent and versatility:

1. he wrote music;
2. played several musical instruments;
3. made arrangements;
4. wrote poetry.

It seemed that there was no task that Igor Nikolaev could not handle on stage.

Naturally, the young musician stood out from other graduates. Perhaps that is why he was noticed by Alla Pugacheva. After a few minutes of conversation, the singer invited him to work at VIA Recital. This offer seemed like a real miracle to yesterday’s student, and he undoubtedly jumped at the opportunity to go on the big stage.

At first, Igor played only the keyboard, but soon he was entrusted with the arrangements of songs. And this became the young musician’s finest hour - he began to actively write songs that could well become hits if they were performed on television.

“I dreamed of a stage,” shares Igor. “I dreamed about her, but even in my wildest fantasies I could not imagine that I would sing myself.

In the 80s, it was possible to become famous and in demand on the stage only after the songs were performed by stars in one of the TV shows. Such an opportunity fell to rare beginning composers, and Nikolaev was among them. In just 3 years, TV viewers heard 5 songs by the musician:

• “What a pity that you are not here” performed by L. Gurchenko;
• “Iceberg” (Alla Pugacheva);
• “Tell me, birds” (Alla Pugacheva);
• “The Ferryman” (Alla Pugacheva);
• “Komarovo” (Igor Sklyar).

Almost everyone started talking about the talented composer. Fame fell upon him suddenly, but the young man dreamed of standing on stage himself and delighting the audience with his vocals.

The beginning of the career of Igor Nikolaev

After graduating from college, Igor noticed Pugachev and made him an offer to try himself as a keyboard player in the musical group Repital, in which he very soon received an additional profession, arranger. The songs that Nikolaev came up with for Pugacheva constantly quickly become hits and, without exaggeration, rise in the ratings.

The hits of the 80s were “Tell Me, Birds” and “Iceberg”. They made Nikolaev a famous composer throughout the Soviet Union. These songs were heard everywhere.

Solo performances

In 1986, the Soviet audience finally found out who the singer Igor Nikolaev was. Over time, his biography was filled with a large number of songs performed, but it was “Mill” that became his calling card for many years.

At the age of 26, the musician’s solo career took off sharply:

• first album “Mill”;
• tour of Japan;
• work with the duet “Roxette”;
• Soviet-American project;
• duet with Swede Lena Philippson.

Igor went to Japan with Alla Pugacheva. In the Land of the Rising Sun, his songs became incredibly popular. The Japanese covered them in their own way and bought the artist’s first album in tens of thousands of copies.

Fame abroad could not but bear fruit in the form of numerous joint projects. Such jobs provided much-needed experience and skill in working for different performers. Nikolaev coped with his task excellently, and in subsequent years foreign groups and singers often turned to him for compositions.

Biography

Igor Nikolaev is loved by millions of listeners. Performers who choose his songs become stars. The author of the hits is appreciated by his colleagues, calling him the pride of Russia - like Larisa Dolina, a unique phenomenon in art - like Alla Pugacheva, and simply a genius - according to Philip Kirkorov. The composer's life is devoted to music; it reflects his thoughts, experiences and contrasts.

"Dolphin and the Mermaid"

The 90s became a new milestone in the work and life of the musician.
The duet Natasha Koroleva and Igor Nikolaev excited the minds and hearts of fans for 10 years. And it happened completely by accident. Nikolaev often recorded joint albums not only with famous, but also with young performers. Therefore, I often attended song competitions and looked out for talented guys. In the early 90s, he traveled halfway across the country in search of the next talent and could not choose a partner for a duet. Completely by chance, a producer acquaintance suggested that he watch a young Ukrainian girl who had come to conquer Moscow with her mother. At the first meeting, Natasha Koroleva did not impress him. She was overweight and too active. Igor refused the young girl, but gave in to her mother’s insistence. During the second listening, he was surprised to note that the girl had excellent vocals. And later he realized that he was not mistaken in his choice, since Natasha was incredibly efficient.

Natasha constantly surprised me,” the composer told reporters. “She reminded me of a battery whose charge never runs out.” She managed to do everything - sing, dance, do vocals and sports. Of course, she didn’t have much success with the latter from the very beginning. But knowing that I was categorically against her being overweight, she tried her best.

Together they released several albums, each of which sold out almost instantly:

• "Yellow tulips";
• "Miss Separation";
• "Fan";
• "Confetti";
• "Dolphin and the Mermaid."

In parallel, several concert programs were “born” in the creative duet singer/composer:

• in "Olympic";
• at Madison Square Garden;
• in the State Central Concert Hall “Russia”;
• in Kyiv.

In the early 00s, the tandem broke up for personal reasons, but this had a positive effect on Nikolaev’s work - he wrote a lot of hits, most of which he performed himself.

“You don’t need to listen to Woland!”

The conversation smoothly turned to the relationship between the Master and Margarita. Let us recall that the composer has a song of the same name, which echoes the famous novel by Mikhail Bulgakov .

“It’s a good book,” Nikolaev remarked. “But at first I didn’t understand anything about it.” At the beginning - mysticism, then - the love story of Margarita, then - religion, Yeshua... We comprehend this book in different ways, gradually - it seems to accompany us through life. But I would not advise sticking to Bulgakov’s: “Never ask for anything, especially from those who are stronger than you.” I remember Alla [Pugacheva] said: “I’m a fool because I believed Bulgakov, that fool Margarita: they say, they’ll give everything themselves...” Who will offer, who will give? If you don’t ask those who are stronger than you, then who should you ask? Have you ever wondered who whispered these words to Margarita? Woland! In a robe, after a wild night. And Margarita had to become the conductor of this message from the devil for everyone - so that it would be recorded in our subcortex ... "

Nikolaev recalled that one of the commandments of Christ - although more camouflaged, but more correct - says: if you don’t knock on the door, then who will open it for you? So you want to enter this cherished door, having already seen a million other doors, your legs are knocked down, you get wet in the rain, in the hail, you can barely stand on your feet - finally, the goal is in front of you! And the person standing on the other side of the door (where it is dry and good), he is not against you. And he will open it for you. But he doesn't know that you are standing outside the door. Therefore, knock!

instagram.com / @igor_nikolaev_music

As for faith, in the musician’s understanding, it is devotion to something or someone alone. This is love, not just Christianity, Islam or Hinduism.

“It’s better to remain silent about faith rather than talk,” Nikolaev stated. - Because faith in ourselves. So you shouldn't catch me being too revealing or trying to generalize anything. You can argue for a long time: oh, I’m afraid of a black cat - it crossed the road, and therefore I need to fart loudly... This is all superstition, unworthy of people. It’s like going to Baba Rose to tell your fortune on the coffee grounds. But faith cannot be demonstrated - it either exists or it does not. I have it. But I won’t talk about her.”

The FAN correspondent responded to this by suggesting that Igor is also against famous politicians coming to church and lighting candles in front of television cameras.

“I don’t condemn this,” the interlocutor clarified in turn. — For some, perhaps, all this turns into window dressing, but for Naina Iosifovna [ Yeltsina ], whom I know well, it was a movement of the soul. She is sincere in these actions. And then you don’t care about the camera or the microphone: the person goes and lights a candle.”

Nikolaev appreciated the emerging “fashionable trend” for visiting church.

“We say: now, it has become fashionable to go to church. And it’s very good that it has become fashionable,” he says. “Because church isn’t the worst place in the world to come to.” Yes, someone will do this for opportunistic reasons: maybe the boss will see and promote you. But remember that Christ first preached only among the Pharisees, among moneylenders. For as Christ said: it is not the healthy person who needs a doctor, but the sick person. So let those who were initially non-believers, but then suddenly found faith, gather in the church. This is the miracle.”

Collaboration with other artists

Working with Natasha Koroleva was not the only thing in the talented composer’s portfolio. He actively wrote songs for himself and other performers.

Working with Irina Allegrova was interesting and intense,” Igor smiles. “She’s just an incredible woman who was ready to rush to me across the city even in the middle of the night to listen to a new melody. At first we worked on a concert program, and later, in an expanded version, the songs were included in the album “My Wanderer.”

Every 2 years the composer released a solo album. The most famous were:

1. "Raspberry wine";
2. "Let's drink to love";
3. "Igor Nikolaev-98".

The latest album is radically different from those that came out earlier. The fact is that it contains those songs of Nikolaev that were covered by other performers. Initially, the compositions were performed at creative evenings, and later were recorded in the studio.

Many Russian pop stars claimed that with such an album they expressed their respect for the musician’s talent, without which it is difficult to imagine show business of that time. In the mid-90s, the singer performed the famous composition “Five Reasons”. She became mega popular. And a little later, he brought the aspiring performer Diana Gurtskaya onto the stage, for whom he wrote a song. They sang it, naturally, as a duet.

Music

After graduating from the Moscow Institute of Culture, the talented musician was noticed by Alla Pugacheva, who invited him to work as a keyboard player in the vocal and instrumental ensemble “Recital”, where he quickly retrained as an arranger. The first songs written by Igor Nikolaev for the Diva of Russian pop music became hits, and, as they would say now, blew up the chart ratings.

In the 1980s, the musical compositions “Iceberg” and “Tell Me, Birds” brought Igor all-Russian fame as a young, but already well-known and respected composer. The whole country sang them. Nikolaev’s career began with these songs.

A turning point in Igor Nikolaev’s creative biography was his participation in the music competition “Song of the Year – 1985”, where his new compositions were performed: “The Ferryman” performed by Alla Pugacheva and “Komarovo” performed by Igor Sklyar. The debut turned out to be a resounding success for Nikolaev, firmly securing him at the top of the Olympus of the Soviet stage.

Valery Leontyev wonders why this is Igor Nikolaev without a mustache, 1985
Posted by From Russia with love on Thursday, August 15, 2019

Igor Nikolaev in his youth without a mustache (right) and Valery Leontyev
Igor Nikolaev himself sang wonderfully. The singer’s solo career started in 1986 with his own song “The Mill,” which was included in the album of the same name, which gained unprecedented popularity. This was followed by “Raspberry Wine”, “Birthday”, “Let’s Drink to Love”, “Congratulations”.

Soon the musician toured Japan with Alla Borisovna. In 1988, Igor Nikolaev first appeared at the annual music festival “Song of the Year” with his own composition “The Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors,” which also unconditionally became a popular hit and a single on the album of the same name.

After 2 years, Igor Nikolaev met the aspiring singer Natasha Koroleva. The creative union quickly grew into a duet. The popular compositions “Taxi”, “Dolphin and Mermaid”, “Winter Months” were sung by the whole country. The joint project of Nikolaev and Koroleva was highly appreciated not only by Russian, but also by Western listeners. The duo performed the program “Dolphin and Mermaid” within the walls of the legendary Madison Square Garden concert hall in New York.

Igor Nikolaev - song “Mill”

At the beginning of the millennium, Igor Nikolaev released a new disc called “Broken Cup of Love.” A year later, in 2001, he received the title of Honored Worker of Culture and Arts of the Russian Federation. In the same year, Igor Yuryevich received the Golden Gramophone award for his new music album, Five Reasons.

Almost every year gave Nikolaev a wave of success in the form of another award for his achievements. In 2006, the popular singer and composer received 2 orders: Peter the Great, 1st degree and “Service to Art” (gold). In the same year, Igor Nikolaev launched the creative project “Two Stars” on Channel One, which aroused great interest and sympathy from viewers who eagerly awaited the release of each episode.

In the summer of 2008, as part of the All-Russian competition “New Wave”, held in Jurmala, Igor Nikolaev organized a creative evening concert. At his own benefit performance, the singer performed the new hit “There’s Something in This” in a duet with the young singer Yulia Proskuryakova, who later became his third wife.

Igor Nikolaev and Igor Krutoy - song “My Friend”

Author, singer, composer and arranger Nikolaev productively collaborated with prominent figures in the field of Russian and foreign pop music. His songs were performed by artists Alla Pugacheva, Valery Leontyev, Larisa Dolina, Irina Allegrova, Alexander Buinov, the group “Accident” and Alexey Kortnev. On the Russian stage, especially among artists of the USSR era, there are almost no musicians who have not collaborated with Nikolaev. Among the foreign pop stars performing songs commissioned or purchased from the Russian composer are the sisters Rose and Cyndi Lauper (USA), Swedish singer Liz Nilsson, Japanese musician Tokiko Kato and others.

Igor Yuryevich also had contracts with popular Russian songwriters. He wrote music for poems by Nikolai Zinoviev, Leonid Derbenev, Mikhail Tanich, Vladimir Matetsky, Andrei Makarevich, Igor Kokhanovsky and even Yevgeny Yevtushenko.

Along with this, Nikolaev more than once served on the jury of music festivals and competitions, people from which – Lyudmila Sokolova and Diana Gurtskaya – subsequently also performed Nikolaev’s compositions.

Igor Nikolaev and Katya Lel - song “Taxi”

In 2015, after a 9-year break, Igor released a new album, Life Line. The disc contains both songs that became hits and new compositions. Only the music of one track does not belong to Nikolaev - the creator of “Starfall” was Igor Krutoy. Also included are duets with his wife and the instrumental theme to the Hollywood melodrama Say It in Russian, accompanied by the Belgrade Symphony Orchestra.

Some critics reproach the singer for the excess of “sweet molasses” in his works, others note the romance and sincerity that do not become boring with age.

A composer and performer on the stage for many years, favored by the attention of the press and the love of fans - sit back and rest on your laurels. But Igor Nikolaev is not one of those. The musician is interested in modern trends. In 2021, the main lyricist of the Russian stage surprised the audience with a collaboration with a young singer from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Emma Blinkova. The girl is known in the online community as Emma M. The new duet recorded a cover version of the hit “Let’s Drink to Love.”

Igor Nikolaev - song “Stranger”

At the same time, the media space was stirred up by the message that Igor refuses to compose new compositions for Irina Allegrova. For the “empress” of the Russian stage, Nikolaev wrote two dozen songs, and each found a response in the hearts of listeners, including “The Wanderer,” with which the artist’s ascent to Olympus began. The musician emphasized that it is the old material that is of interest, and if people suddenly became new, then new hits would appear. As it is, he has already said everything he wanted, and at concerts they ask him to sing “from the old days.” In addition, Irina collaborates with young authors who have something to offer.

At Allegrova’s creative evening in the New Wave Hall, the same “old” Nikolaev “Wedding Flowers”, “Junior Lieutenant”, “Stupid Boy”, “Photography 9x12” were performed.

In the fall, a new book of poems by Igor Nikolaev entitled “Songs and Artists” was published. This is not the first publication of the composer's poetic works. The collection “I Love You to Tears,” published in 2015, is dedicated to Igor’s parents. The book includes 200 song lyrics, rare photographs of the artist and family photographs.

Igor Nikolaev - song “The Master and Margarita”

In December, Avtoradio presented the holiday song “New Year,” which Igor Nikolaev had the opportunity to record with ]Katya Lel[/anchor], Denis Klyaver, Alexander Marshal and Viktor Rybin. In the show “In Full Voice”, organized for talented young performers from the CIS countries by the MIR 24 TV channel, a creative evening of the Russian composer was held.

A surprise for the New Year holidays was the duet of Igor Nikolaev with his friend and colleague Yuri Antonov with the fresh song “Sea”.

In 2021, the singer toured the cities of Russia and Belarus with the “Best and New Songs #Let's Drink for Love” tour. Despite being very busy, Nikolaev found time to attend the anniversary concert of Alla Pugacheva - the media event has already been dubbed the return of the Diva to the stage.

Igor Nikolaev - song “Let's Drink to Love”

In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory, Nikolaev and Valeria recorded the song “Lay wreaths on the sea” based on the poems of Andrei Voznesensky. The recording took place on May 8, the composer wrote touching music, and Joseph Prigogine (the singer’s husband) announced the composition.

In 2021, Nikolaev presented a new song “I Miss You” in collaboration with Igor Krutoy. The performer was Dimash Kudaibergen. On Instagram, before the premiere of the composition, there were rave reviews that “brilliant collaboration” and a “magic voice” can only create splendor. When the song was finally performed, fans were delighted with the soulful performance and incredible sensuality of the lines.

The composer released the new track “I Love This Winter” in November. On the cover of the disc there is a family photograph: Igor himself, his wife Yulia and their daughter Veronica. All three of them took part in the recording of the song.

Videos have been shot for many of the singer’s compositions.

From performer to mentor

The beginning of the 00s is associated with Nikolaev’s personal drama. But despite this, in 4 years he released 2 solo albums:

• "Broken Cup of Love";
• "Forgive and let go."

Almost all the songs from them became hits. They are still heard on the radio and in concerts.

14 years ago the first musical reality shows started on Russian television:

1. "Star Factory";
2. "Two stars".

Nikolaev took part in each of them as a mentor. This revealed him from a new side and gave impetus to creativity.

Since 2007, the singer and composer have often been seen in America. He purchased real estate in the States and often came to New York to perform. At the same time, he worked on a new concert program, which he “tested” during a tour of American cities with a new performer.

“I always dreamed of writing music for a feature film,” Igor admitted. “But fate never gave me such a happy chance.” It happened that I received similar offers, but things did not go further than projects. The film “Say It in Russian” became the fulfillment of my dream! I enthusiastically wrote music for it nights and days, constantly reworking the finished version.

America became the singer’s second homeland, and he even celebrated his anniversary in two cities – Moscow and Miami.

Igor Nikolaev now

On March 26, 2021, the composer was taken to the hospital with suspected coronavirus. Shortly before his hospitalization, Igor returned from a long tour of Russia. It was assumed that the singer could have become infected at Alla Kruta’s birthday party, where Lev Leshchenko, whose diagnosis was confirmed, was present. In Kommunarka, Nikolaev was diagnosed with focal pneumonia, and on April 7 he was discharged, and Igor continued treatment of the disease (tests for COVID-19 came negative) at home. On Instagram, he thanked the doctors and everyone who was worried, expressing hope for a speedy end to the self-isolation regime and wishing everyone good health.

In 2021, on November 17, an anniversary concert of the singer and composer is expected. Information about this is posted on the official website of Igor Nikolaev. The venue of the event is Crokus City Hall. The duration of the program will be 2 hours, both old songs and new tracks will be performed.

Today's day

Every year Igor Nikolaev tries to be closer to young performers.
He happily helps young talents, including by participating in various projects. His special pride was meeting the singer Mali. The girl passed the casting for “Factor A” and Nikolaev took her under his “wing”. The creative union brought magnificent results - the singer took first place in the project.

Today Igor Nikolaev, whose photos constantly appear on the pages of magazines and news sites, is actively working. His creative “piggy bank” included:

1. Olympic anthem;
2. album “Life Line”;
3. participation in the show of famous bloggers.

Every day the composer tries to live to the fullest and charge everyone around him with his enthusiasm.

Love milestones

Handsome Nikolaev was married more than once. Each of his women became a true source of inspiration for his work.

Elena Kudryashova

The singer always remembers this woman with warmth and love. And how could it be otherwise, because she gave him a smart and beautiful daughter! Lena and Igor studied at the same school. It was first love, filled with tenderness and embarrassment. The separation caused by the composer's studies in the capital added spice to the relationship. Therefore, it is not surprising that the couple soon became young parents.

Julia was not a planned child,” the singer confesses. “We were only 18 years old, but Lena and I didn’t even have the thought of getting rid of pregnancy. From the moment Yulia was born, I loved her more than life itself and was ready to spend all my free time next to the baby. But, unfortunately, it became less and less.

When Yulia turned 5 years old, she and her mother came to Moscow. Now they all lived together and it seemed that there would be no end to happiness. But after 7 years, a new muse appeared on the horizon, capturing the heart of womanizer Nikolaev.

Natasha Koroleva

The relationship with the cheerful Khokhlushka developed difficultly. After the first meeting, none of them could have thought that a creative union would develop into true love.

She was so spontaneous, funny and sweet! – recalls Igor Nikolaev. – Age did not allow me to show up for her even when I realized that we were attracted to each other. Was it really possible for me, a thirty-year-old man, to confess my love to a young girl! But she already understood everything!

The couple existed for about 10 years. Unexpectedly for fans, Natasha filed for divorce, which she explained by her husband’s constant affairs on the side.

Personal life

Igor married several times during his life.
The first time he proposed while studying at school was with Elena Kudryashova. His daughter Yulechka was born, and the young parents had just turned 18 years old. Sleepless nights and everyday problems immediately made adult life together uninteresting and difficult. The couple separated. Nikolaev’s second wife was singer Natasha Koroleva. The romantic relationship between an adult, accomplished composer and a young performer, Koroleva from Ukraine, was discussed on the sidelines for a very long time. The relationship smoothly turned into a marital one. Igor and Natasha played a magnificent wedding. The couple lived together for 8 years, but this union also ended in divorce. The wife accused her husband of frequent affairs and hobbies. The couple tried to save the family, but all efforts were unsuccessful.

Over the next four years, Igor found the girl he had been looking for all this time. A pop star, one of the best composers in the country, proposed marriage to Yulia Proskuryakova.

Music brought the third wife to her husband. Igor Yuryevich auditioned the girl during the next tour. The composer provided creative support to Julia throughout the next year, then the couple began to live and work together. The difference of 22 years did not affect the relationship between the lovers. The young couple got married, and 5 years later a daughter, Veronica, appeared in the family. The girl was weak and caused a lot of worry to her parents.

Julia has a musical education, she studied at Miami College, and is already taking part in the filming of music videos. Now she lives in America and went to medical school. The sisters are very friendly to each other. Veronica is friends with her older sister and her third sister, Igor’s daughter.