Anatolij Dneprov

Anatolij Dneprov

Singer
Date of Birth: 01.04.1947
Country: Ukraine

Biography of Anatoliy Dneprov

Anatoliy Dneprov was born on April 1, 1947, at three o'clock in the morning. His mother, Sofia, was overjoyed to have a healthy and handsome son. Anatoliy was born "in his shirt," which was considered a lucky sign. The night of his birth was not quiet in the city of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, as his father, Semyon, celebrated with their neighbors. Semyon, a man with an otherworldly presence, had participated in two wars and cherished his wife and children. Anatoliy has a sister, Larisa, who currently lives in Israel with their mother, husband, and two daughters.

Anatoliy's childhood was filled with music and joy. At the age of five, he learned to play the accordion and could pick up popular songs by ear. Every evening, their neighbors enjoyed free concerts from young Anatoliy. In 1954, Anatoliy started attending School No. 9 in Dnepropetrovsk. After completing the eighth grade in 1962, he enrolled in the Dnepropetrovsk Industrial Technical School to study the master's control and measurement devices. However, his passion for music led him to Grozny, where he attempted to enter the music school. Although he excelled in all subjects, he failed the music literature exam. Nevertheless, Anatoliy did not let this setback discourage him.

In 1964, Anatoliy was admitted to the Glinka Music School in his hometown of Dnepropetrovsk. In 1967, like any normal young man, he joined the military. For two years, he dedicated his life to the ensemble "Songs and Dances" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and Moldova in Kyiv. The ensemble's artistic director, Vasilyev, recognized Anatoliy's abilities, unlike his teachers in Grozny. During his military service, Anatoliy attended composition courses at the Kiev Conservatory.

After completing his military service, Anatoliy returned to music school and graduated in 1971. It was Anatoliy who formed the first jazz group in his hometown, with which he participated in numerous events alongside famous Soviet musicians. Unsatisfied with his achievements, Anatoliy moved to Moscow in 1971 to write songs for renowned performers.

Although his arrival in Moscow and the beginning of his career were challenging, Anatoliy's songs were quickly embraced by artists like Kobzon, Rotaru, Bregvadze, and various ensembles. Songs such as "The Whole World" (lyrics by P. Leonidov), "Clouds in the River" (lyrics by I. Kokhanovsky), "I Will Not Forget This Summer," "17 Years" (lyrics by V. Kharitonov), and "Russia" (lyrics by O. Pavlova) became instant hits. In 1973, Anatoliy got married, and in 1979, he, along with his wife Olga and son Philipp, emigrated to New York City, USA.

During his first two years in the US, Anatoliy continued writing music and formed a group called "New Ways" with American musicians. In 1982, Anatoliy had the opportunity to meet the famous producer John Hammond, who had discovered stars like Ben Goodman, Sarah Vaughn, Aretha Franklin, and Bob Dylan. John Hammond became Anatoliy's musical producer, and he signed a contract with the major company "Media-Max Studio," where he recorded three singles. Articles about Anatoliy were published in newspapers such as "Daily News," "USA Today," and "Billboard." John Hammond proclaimed Anatoliy Dneprov to all of America, saying, "This guy has something to say," and Tommy Mottola, currently the CEO of Sony Music, stated, "Tolya is a very talented guy who writes truly popular songs."

Anatoliy's music was selected by renowned American film director M. Zarkhi for his movie "American Dump." Around the same time, Anatoliy won a popular song contest in Los Angeles. In addition to his English-language songs, Anatoliy released albums in Russian and performed in nightclubs, touring the US and Canada. His songs became popular among the Russian diaspora and later gained popularity in the USSR. Hits like "To Delight" (lyrics by M. Tanich), "Confession with Lieutenant Golitsyn," "Russia" (lyrics by O. Pavlova), and "Stars in the Meadow" (lyrics by P. Leonidov) captured the hearts of many.

Despite his successful life in America, Anatoliy couldn't escape the nostalgia that plagued much of the Russian diaspora. In 1987, he returned to Moscow. In 1989, he became a laureate of the "Song of the Year" festival, performed solo concerts across the country, and released albums. In the early days of his American journey, Anatoliy began performing his own songs. Today, almost everyone knows his songs and his unique, intimate singing style. In recent years, Anatoliy has devoted much of his time to music. He continues to write and record beautiful songs that instantly become beloved favorites.

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