Nikolay Gnatyuk Soviet, now Ukrainian, pop singer Date of Birth: 14.09.1952 Country: Ukraine

1. Biography of Nikolay Gnatyuk
2. Early Career and Recognition
3. Change in Direction
4. Later Career and Personal Life

Biography of Nikolay Gnatyuk

Nikolay Gnatyuk is a Soviet, now Ukrainian, pop singer and People's Artist of Ukraine (1988). He graduated from the Rovno Music Pedagogical Institute. Gnatyuk began his creative career in the ensemble "WE - ODESSITES" and later became a soloist in the Leningrad ensemble "DRUZHBA". He also worked at the Kiev Music Hall.

Early Career and Recognition

Gnatyuk first gained recognition by winning the Ukrainian contest of pop artists in Zaporozhye in 1978. He then went on to achieve third place in the VI All-Union Contest of Pop Artists in 1979. He won the Grand Prix at the pop song contest in Dresden and the Intervision festival in Sopot in 1980. During the 1970s and 1980s, Gnatyuk reached the peak of his popularity. He was widely known throughout the Soviet Union for songs such as "Girl from Apartment 45" (A. Mazhukov - M. Plyatskovsky), "Dance on the Drum" (R. Pauls - A. Voznesensky), "Bird of Happiness" (Pakhmutova A. - Dobronravov N.), and "If the City is Dancing" (A. Zhurbin - I. Reznik).

Change in Direction

In the early 1980s, Gnatyuk collaborated with various groups, including VIA "MALVY", VIA "MRIYA", and the jazz-rock band "KROSSVORD". With the latter group, he released his first solo record, which included translations of French songs. In 1985, he released a second record featuring songs by Evgeny Shiryayev and recorded with the Tashkent group "LABIRINT".

Gnatyuk experienced a new wave of popularity with the inclusion of songs by composer Alexander Morozov in his repertoire. In 1987, Gnatyuk performed "Malinovy Zvon" (A. Morozov - A. Poperechny). Soon after, two highly successful albums were released: "Malinovy Zvon" and "Do Not Leave Me".

Later Career and Personal Life

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Gnatyuk moved to Germany and temporarily ceased his extensive concert activities. He returned to Ukraine in 1993, gaining widespread popularity with his new song "Chas Rikoyu Plyve". In 1996, the album of the same title was released on CD. In the late 1990s, Gnatyuk underwent a significant change in his creative direction. At the age of 47, he enrolled in the missionary department of the Belgorod Spiritual Seminary. He now perceives all his work as missionary activity and fills his repertoire with spiritually themed songs.

Currently, Gnatyuk rarely appears on television and primarily performs on radio and through concerts in various cities in Ukraine. His discography includes albums such as "Nikolay Gnatyuk and the group 'KROSSVORD'" (mini-album, 1980), "Nikolay Gnatyuk and the ensemble 'LABIRINT'" (mini-album, 1980), "Malinovy Zvon" (1988), "Do Not Leave Me" (1989), and "Chas Rikoyu Plyve" (1996).