Evgeniy Klyachin Bard Date of Birth: 23.03.1934 Country: Russia

Biography of Evgeny Klyachkin

Evgeny Klyachkin, a Soviet and Israeli poet, bard, and entertainer, started writing songs in October 1961. Initially, he wrote songs using the poems of other poets such as Joseph Brodsky, Kirill Kuzminsky, Andrei Voznesensky, Grigory Gorbovsky, among others. However, he soon began composing songs predominantly using his own lyrics. Klyachkin's songs, such as "Pilgrims," "Christmas Romance," "Neither Country, Nor Cemetery," and verses from the poem "Procession" by Joseph Brodsky, played a significant role in popularizing Brodsky's poetry.

Born on March 23, 1934, in Leningrad, Evgeny Klyachkin grew up in a modest family. His father worked as an assistant master at a weaving factory, while his mother worked in a pharmacy. During the Leningrad blockade in April 1942, Klyachkin's mother passed away, and his father was away serving in the military. As a result, Klyachkin was evacuated from the besieged city to the Yaroslavl region, where he was raised in a children's home. In September 1945, his father retrieved him, and they returned to Leningrad.

In 1952, Klyachkin enrolled at the Leningrad Institute of Civil Engineering and graduated with honors in 1957, specializing in Urban Construction and Management. He worked as an engineer-designer in various construction organizations in Leningrad, including GSPI-1, Lenproekt, and the Leningrad Branch of the Art Foundation. In the summer of 1957, he participated in the World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow.

Klyachkin's career as a bard began in October 1961 when he wrote his first song, "Fog," using Kirill Kuzminsky's lyrics. Like most of his contemporary bards, Klyachkin played the seven-string guitar. Initially, he composed songs using other poets' verses, but gradually, he started to write more songs using his own poetry. Many people in the Soviet Union were introduced to the poetry of Joseph Brodsky through Klyachkin's songs since all official channels for Brodsky's publications were closed in the 1960s. Klyachkin's songs, including "Pilgrims," "Christmas Romance," "Neither Country, Nor Cemetery," and the romances of characters like Mushkin, Arlekin, Kolombina, and Chert from Brodsky's poem "Procession," are still considered masterpieces of author's songwriting.

In the years 1963-1964, Klyachkin attended a seminar for self-taught composers at the Leningrad branch of the Union of Soviet Composers. In the mid-1980s, he transitioned to the professional stage and performed as an artist for Lenconcert and Rosconcert. In April 1990, Evgeny Klyachkin emigrated to Israel with his family. He continued working in his field of expertise, performed concerts, and went on tours in the United States. On his 60th birthday in March 1994, he returned to Russia and gave several concerts in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Tula. Sadly, Evgeny Klyachkin passed away while swimming in the Mediterranean Sea on July 30, 1994, when his heart stopped. He left behind a musical legacy of over 300 compositions, with around 70 of them being based on other poets' lyrics.