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Yuriy ChernavskiyComposer, arranger, producer, musician, Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1986).
Date of Birth: 17.03.1947
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Yuri Chernavsky: An Eclectic and Accomplished Musician
- Early Life and Education
- Career in Jazz and Pop
- The "Dynamik" Group
- Collaboration with "Veselye Rebyata"
- Solo Projects and Recognition
- Collaborations and Honors
- "Rekord" Music Studio
- International Projects and Recognition
- The opening ceremony of the Goodwill Games in Luzhniki, Moscow (1986)
- Later Career in Europe and the United States
- Current Activities
Yuri Chernavsky: An Eclectic and Accomplished Musician
Yuri Chernavsky is a renowned composer, arranger, producer, musician, and Honored Artist of the Russian SFSR (1986). Throughout his illustrious career, he has collaborated with celebrated performers from the USSR, Russia, and abroad. Chernavsky has also produced major music festivals and projects, composed music for films and cartoons, and won numerous music and television awards. Since 1994, he has resided in Los Angeles, California, and has been an active member of the GEMA, BMI, and RAO copyright organizations.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1947 in Tambov, Russia, Chernavsky initially studied violin at the first music school in Tambov and later at the Tambov Musical College. He subsequently enrolled in the Tambov branch of the Moscow Institute of Culture, specializing in composition and orchestration. During his tenure as a music college student, Chernavsky established a jazz quintet with his friend Oleg Kutzenko. He gained valuable experience as a saxophonist and arranger, performing at concerts and dance halls and participating in the jazz festival in Saratov.
Career in Jazz and Pop
In the 1960s and 1970s, Chernavsky pursued a career as a jazz musician, performing in the jazz orchestras of Boris Rensky, Oleg Lundstrem, and Leonid Utyosov. He later joined the State Variety Orchestra of Azerbaijan under the direction of Muslim Magomayev, an ensemble that featured some of the top jazz musicians in the USSR.
From 1976 onwards, Chernavsky's musical style evolved towards jazz-rock, new wave, and mainstream. He became known as a skilled keyboardist and vocalist and transitioned from being an arranger to a composer. He collaborated extensively with drummers Yuri Kitaev and bass guitarist Sergei Ryzhov.
The "Dynamik" Group
In 1981, Chernavsky founded the rock group "Dynamik." As the band's music director, keyboardist, saxophonist, flutist, and arranger, he introduced innovative musical ideas that would shape their first two albums. Chernavsky left the group in 1982 to focus on composition.
Collaboration with "Veselye Rebyata"
In the early 1980s, Chernavsky served as the music director of the group "Veselye Rebyata." With the help of Vladimir Matetsky, he recorded the rock album "Banana Islands," which became a cult symbol of the intellectual-technical revolution in the USSR.
Solo Projects and Recognition
Chernavsky simultaneously worked on his own music in his home studio. His recordings, released as "Banana Islands" and "Automatic Kit," showcased an intriguing blend of rock and electronic music. They were among the first works of international caliber produced in the USSR and were later acquired by the EMI Europe record label. "Banana Islands" is included in Alexander Kushnir's compilation of "100 Magnetic Albums of Soviet Rock."
Chernavsky's music received critical acclaim. In 1983, he was voted the best Soviet performer on keyboard instruments, best multi-instrumentalist, and second-best arranger in a poll conducted by the Leningrad magazine "Smena." The Chernavsky-Matetsky duo was also recognized as the best debut and discovery of the year for their album "Banana Islands."
Collaborations and Honors
Throughout the 1980s, Chernavsky collaborated with renowned poets and composers, including Andrey Voznesensky, Leonid Derbenev, Alexander Markevich, and Valery Sautkin. He wrote music and produced works for leading Soviet performers such as Alla Pugacheva, Aleksey Glyzin, Valery Leontiev, Mikhail Boyarsky, Sergey Minaev, Tynis Myagi, Vladimir Presnyakov, Anne Veski, and Marina Zhuravleva. His musical style leaned towards mainstream and electro-fusion rather than hard rock.
In 1984, Chernavsky's songs performed by Alla Pugacheva, "Superman" and "Through the Eyes of a Child," achieved chart success in Western Europe. The former became a popular hit among Western bands, with "The Pink's" even naming their new album "Superman."
In 1985, Chernavsky was ranked as one of the top Soviet popular composers by the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets." He won recognition for his exceptional arrangements in the soundtrack for the film "Season of Miracles."
"Rekord" Music Studio
In 1986, Chernavsky founded and became the artistic director of the All-Union Studio of Popular Music "Rekord," the first major independent professional entertainment company in the USSR. With numerous branches across the country, Rekord provided a platform for artists such as Sergey Lisovsky, "ATV" ("Author's Television"), "Laskovy May," "Mirage," "Klass," Igor Babenko, Valery Zharov, Igor Matvienko, Vyacheslav Malezhik, Igor Talkov, Andrey Razin, Natalya Vetlitskaya, Sergei Krylov, Oleg Gazmanov, and many others.
International Projects and Recognition
Chernavsky's reputation as a skilled arranger and specialist in electronic music extended beyond the USSR. Alla Pugacheva remarked, "Yura is not just a computer man. In this, he has overtaken our time. He is a profound musician who has inspired me for many years. Yuri Chernavsky is the most significant phenomenon in pop music."
Chernavsky served as the music director and composer for major international events, including:
The "Ice Ball" at the XII World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow (1985)
The opening ceremony of the Goodwill Games in Luzhniki, Moscow (1986)
The "India – USSR" International Festival, held in over 30 cities in India and the USSR (1987-1988)
Later Career in Europe and the United States
In 1990, Chernavsky relocated to Berlin, Germany, where he established the record label "How's That" Music Gmbh in partnership with acclaimed hit-maker Bruce Hammond Earlam. The label's hits, including the Mark'Oh project with the songs "Love Song" and "Tears Don't Lie," enjoyed great success in European charts.
From 1992 to 1993, Chernavsky collaborated with Bruce Hammond Earlam, Douglas Wilgrove, and "Pikosso Records" to produce the albums "Beyond the Banana Islands" and "Magic Tour," later released in Russia.
In 1994, Chernavsky moved to Hollywood, California, where he established the company "LA 3D Motion" with his son Damon (Dmitry) Chernavsky. The company specialized in computer graphics using high technology (CGI) for the video and film industry in the United States.
Simultaneously, Chernavsky produced his son, who was awarded the MTV Europe Music Award in 1996 for his involvement in the best music video of the year on MTV Europe, "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" with the American group Backstreet Boys. Damon also worked on music videos for other artists, including 'N Sync, The Boyz, Rod Stewart, Tupac Shakur, Dance Jam, and others.
Current Activities
Currently, Chernavsky continues to collaborate with renowned musicians, including Dionne Warwick's son Damon Elliott and Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson family. He remains active in the international music industry, working with young American and European singers, rappers, actors, and directors.
In addition, Chernavsky is involved in promoting Russian ideas in the global market, assisting young artists in their preparation and presentation in international show business, and facilitating the involvement of Russian television and film companies in the international industry. He also teaches master classes in vocals and sound engineering.
Yuri Chernavsky's contributions to the music industry span decades and encompass a wide range of genres. His versatility, talent, and dedication have earned him international acclaim and recognition.
