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Kola BeldyYakut singer
Date of Birth: 02.05.1929
Country:  Russia |
Content:
Biography of Kola Beldy
Kola Beldy was born in a small village in the Nanaisky District of Khabarovsk Krai in a family of hunters. His childhood was marked by hunger and he experienced a traumatic event that caused him to develop a stutter. He grew up and was educated in a boarding school and during the Great Patriotic War, he escaped to the front, falsely adding two extra years to his age to become a sailor in the Pacific Fleet. He participated in combat operations for the liberation of Korea and performed in the song and dance ensemble of the Pacific Fleet. After completing his studies at a music school, Beldy continued his service as a motorist and diesel engineer on a minesweeper in the Pacific Fleet.
Following his service in the fleet, Kola enrolled in the Saratov Conservatory. He balanced his studies with work in a machine-building factory and at the Saratov Drama Theater. He worked for some time in the song and dance ensemble of the Voronezh Military District, and later in the Kalinin and Khabarovsk Philharmonics. In 1959, he joined the All-Russian Concert and Touring Association, later reorganized into Moscowconcert, as a solo vocalist until 1990.
Kola Beldy's Artistic Journey
Kola Beldy's artistic journey was both interesting and successful. In 1957, he became a laureate of the World Youth and Students Festival in Moscow. Many cultural figures, such as M. Koltsov, S. Mikhalkov, and M. Plyatskovsky, noticed his young talent. He also caught the attention of the Minister of Culture, Y. Furtsava, who invited the talented artist to work in Moscow. In 1960, Kola Beldy became a laureate of the All-Russian Contest of Variety Artists.
For over 30 years, Kola Beldy toured the country and abroad, performing in 46 countries and becoming as recognizable and popular in Europe as he was in the USSR. Numerous interviews in newspapers, magazines, radio, and television programs, along with the feedback from listeners and viewers about his unique voice, distinctive style of performance, and personal charm, attest to his popularity.
In 1973, Kola Beldy became a laureate of the International Vocalists Competition in Sopot, Poland. He was the first Soviet singer to receive such a prestigious title on the international stage. Throughout his career, Beldy released seven vinyl records, numerous audio cassettes, music videos, and several films about his life and work.
In 1990, the actor left behind the comfort and stability of Moscow life with its privileges for the chosen few and decided to settle closer to the land of his Nanai ancestors in Khabarovsk. He got married, and in early 1991, his beloved daughter Elena was born.
Sadly, Kola Beldy passed away suddenly from a myocardial infarction two years later, in the arms of his wife and child. He was buried in Khabarovsk. After his death, his wife, a pediatrician, established the non-profit organization "Kola Beldy" in his memory.
Kola Beldy was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation in 1985 and was also an Honored Artist of the Republic of Yakutia (Sakha).
