Sergey Belikov Former vocalist of the group 'Araks' Date of Birth: 25.10.1954 Country: Russia

1. Early Life and Football Career
2. Musical Beginnings and "Arakas"
3. Departure from "Arakas" and Solo Career
4. Success with Samotsvety
5. Solo Success and Football
6. Later Years

Early Life and Football Career

Sergey Grigoryevich Belikov was born on October 25, 1954, in Krasnogorsk, a city near Moscow. From a young age, Sergey displayed a passion for music and football. He attended music school and the Gnessin Musical College, specializing in folk instruments.

Concurrently, Sergey excelled in football. At the age of 13, he joined the youth team of FC Krasny Oktyabr in Tushin. Later, he was selected for the reserve team of Lokomotiv Moscow.

Musical Beginnings and "Arakas"

Despite his success in football, music remained Sergey's true calling. In 1974, he joined the legendary rock band "Arakas," which performed at the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater. The band collaborated with director Mark Zakharov on acclaimed productions such as "Til," "Autograd XXI," and "Juno and Avos."

In addition to "Arakas" performances, Sergey recorded his first solo song, "Sentimentalnaya Progulka," in 1975. He briefly joined the VIA (vocal-instrumental ensemble) Samotsvety, where he recorded the hit "Vse, Chto v Zhizni Est u Menya."

Departure from "Arakas" and Solo Career

In 1980, Sergey left "Arakas" due to creative differences. He began collaborating with composer Alexandra Pakhmutova and released his own compositions, including "Nocturne" and "Flowers on Asphalt."

Sergey's talent and popularity led him to receive offers from several prominent VIAs. In 1980, he joined Samotsvety, where he had a significant impact on their musical direction.

Success with Samotsvety

During his time with Samotsvety, Sergey performed numerous memorable songs, including "Tsvet na Asfalte," "Zerkal i Shut," "Sonnet Shakespeare," and "Mir-Imya Zemli." In the 1982 "Moskovsky Komsomolets" hit parade, he ranked fourth among male singers. His vocal abilities were particularly praised in the song "Zerkal i Shut."

Solo Success and Football

In 1985, Sergey left Samotsvety to pursue a solo career. He recorded several hit songs, such as "Zhivi, Rodnik," "Snitsia mne Derevnya," "Ne Mogu Zabyt," and "Nochnaya Gostya."

Meanwhile, Sergey rekindled his passion for football and joined the national team for show business stars. In 1999, the team competed in the World Show Business Tournament at Wembley Stadium in London, placing second.

Later Years

Sergey Belikov continues to be an active musician. He currently performs as a soloist with the creative center "Samotsvety" under the direction of Yuri Malikov. His legacy as one of the most successful singers in Soviet and Russian music remains intact.