Zdravstvuy Pesnya Vocal and instrumental ensemble Date of Birth: 01.01.1977 Country: Russia

1. Origins and Early Years
2. Transition to the Philharmonics
3. Emergence as "New Faces"
4. Success with "Red Poppies"
5. "Hello, Song" and the Disco Boom
6. The Decline

Origins and Early Years

In the early days, a group of musicians from Donetsk Music College, led by Arkady Khaslavsky, formed an ensemble known as "Kaleidoscope." They performed while earning salaries from a factory in Donetsk.

Transition to the Philharmonics

In 1974, the ensemble was offered a position at the Komi ASSR Philharmonic with the new name "Parma" (Taiga). The ensemble included Khaslavsky as artistic director, Arnold Dedov on saxophone, Mikhail Korol on keyboards and guitar, Anatoly Ivushkin on drums, Natasha Efimova on vocals, Vladimir Ponomarenko on bass guitar, and others.

Emergence as "New Faces"

As "New Faces," the ensemble moved to the Tula Philharmonic in 1975 under the direction of I. A. Mikhailovsky. Mikhailovsky brought in new members, including Valery Chumenko, Alexander Grigoriev, Viktor But, and Mikhail Vinitsky.

Success with "Red Poppies"

After a successful performance at the "Sochi-76" competition, the ensemble changed its name to "Red Poppies." With hits like "Suvenir" and "Little Memory," "Red Poppies" gained widespread recognition.

"Hello, Song" and the Disco Boom

In 1979, the ensemble began working independently with the name "Hello, Song." Their repertoire shifted towards cover versions of Western hits, including "A Cowboy's Work is Never Done," which became a major hit. Their 1979 album "We Love 'Disco'" included covers of Shocking Blue, Tina Charles, and Adriano Celentano.

The Decline

In the early 1980s, "Hello, Song"'s success began to wane as the government's cultural policy tightened and rock music emerged as a more popular alternative. By the mid-1980s, the ensemble had lost much of its audience and faded into obscurity.