Alexey Ekimyan
Encyclopedia
Alexey Ekimyan also Alexey Gurgenovich Hekimyan (April 10, 1927 – April 24, 1982) was a famous Armenia
n-Russia
n composer, and author of popular songs. Ekimyan was also a General
of Soviet militsia
(police
) and was the head of Criminal Investigation Department of Moscow region. He was considered the only popular composer in the world who ruled a law-enforcement department at the same time. Ekimyan awarded by the "Renowned Master of the Arts" Armenian SSR
official title.
Born in Baku
, Ekimyan's first song for the Moscow International Festival (1957) was approved by Vano Muradeli
("I don't know if you would become a general, but you would become a composer!"). His songs were performed and recorded by prominent Soviet singers that include Lyudmila Zykina
("I don't need another love"), Iosif Kobzon, Lusine Zakaryan
, Muslim Magomayev ("Save the friends"), Sofia Rotaru
, Vakhtang Kikabidze
, Ruben Matevosian ("Gharabaghtsin"). Among his most famous songs are- "Listopad", "Vsya jizn' vperedi", "Sonjachnyj doshh", "Odinochestvo" (written by poets Robert Rozhdestvensky
, Rasul Gamzatov
, and others). Aram Khachaturian
wrote: "The melodies of Ekimyan are amazingly beautiful, expressive, plastic and always natural". Some hits by Ekimyan were chosen for the "Song of the Year" all-Soviet festivals during the 1970s-'80s.
The documentary film-concert "Paths of My Memory" (1979, 27 min.) by Yerevan Studio is dedicated to the Alexey Ekimyan. His "Do not be sad" hit was used as a songtrack for the "Nu Pogodi" Soviet animated film series
.
Ekimyan suffered a heart attack and died on April 24, 1982 in Moscow
. He is buried in Yerevan
, Armenia
.
Ekimyan was married to Valentina Karpova with which had two sons, Rafael and Michael. Rafael went on to become Section Chief of the Regional Department of organized crime within Headquarters of Internal Affairs of Moscow Region. While Michael became a famous composer for the Moscow Circus.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n-Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n composer, and author of popular songs. Ekimyan was also a General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
of Soviet militsia
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
(police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
) and was the head of Criminal Investigation Department of Moscow region. He was considered the only popular composer in the world who ruled a law-enforcement department at the same time. Ekimyan awarded by the "Renowned Master of the Arts" Armenian SSR
Armenian SSR
The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic The Armenian Soviet...
official title.
Born in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Ekimyan's first song for the Moscow International Festival (1957) was approved by Vano Muradeli
Vano Muradeli
Vano Muradeli was a Soviet Georgian composer.Born in Gori, Georgia, then part of Imperial Russia, he graduated from Tbilisi State Conservatory in 1931. From 1934 to 1938, he worked at the Moscow Conservatory. From 1942 to 1944, he served as a principal and artistic director of the Central Ensemble...
("I don't know if you would become a general, but you would become a composer!"). His songs were performed and recorded by prominent Soviet singers that include Lyudmila Zykina
Lyudmila Zykina
Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina was a national folk singer of Russia.She was born in Moscow and joined the Pyatnitsky Choir in 1947. Her surname is derived from the Russian word for "loud" . Beginning in 1960 she performed solo...
("I don't need another love"), Iosif Kobzon, Lusine Zakaryan
Lusine Zakaryan
Lusine Zakaryan, born Svetlana Zakaryan Լուսինե Զաքարյան, Лусинэ Абетовна Закарян , was an Armenian soprano....
, Muslim Magomayev ("Save the friends"), Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Rotaru
Sofia Mykhailivna Yevdokymenko-Rotaru known as Sofia Rotaru is a Soviet and Ukrainian pop singer of Romanian/Moldavian heritage....
, Vakhtang Kikabidze
Vakhtang Kikabidze
Vakhtang "Buba" Kikabidze is a Georgian and Soviet singer, actor, screenwriter, producer, and composer. He performed in a number of films, among them the main role of a helicopter pilot in the iconic Soviet film Mimino....
, Ruben Matevosian ("Gharabaghtsin"). Among his most famous songs are- "Listopad", "Vsya jizn' vperedi", "Sonjachnyj doshh", "Odinochestvo" (written by poets Robert Rozhdestvensky
Robert Rozhdestvensky
Robert Ivanovich Rozhdestvensky was a Soviet poet who in the broke with the Social Realism in 1950s–1960s and, along with such poets as Andrey Voznesensky, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and Bella Akhmadulina, pioneered a newer, fresher, and freer poetry in the Soviet Union.-Life:Robert Rozhdestvensky...
, Rasul Gamzatov
Rasul Gamzatov
Rasul Gamzatovich Gamzatov was probably the most famous poet writing in the Avar language. Among his poems was Zhuravli, which became a well-known Soviet song....
, and others). Aram Khachaturian
Aram Khachaturian
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian was a prominent Soviet composer. Khachaturian's works were often influenced by classical Russian music and Armenian folk music...
wrote: "The melodies of Ekimyan are amazingly beautiful, expressive, plastic and always natural". Some hits by Ekimyan were chosen for the "Song of the Year" all-Soviet festivals during the 1970s-'80s.
The documentary film-concert "Paths of My Memory" (1979, 27 min.) by Yerevan Studio is dedicated to the Alexey Ekimyan. His "Do not be sad" hit was used as a songtrack for the "Nu Pogodi" Soviet animated film series
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
.
Ekimyan suffered a heart attack and died on April 24, 1982 in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He is buried in Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
.
Ekimyan was married to Valentina Karpova with which had two sons, Rafael and Michael. Rafael went on to become Section Chief of the Regional Department of organized crime within Headquarters of Internal Affairs of Moscow Region. While Michael became a famous composer for the Moscow Circus.
Discography
- Artashes Avetyan sings: songs by Alexey Ekimyan, U.S.S.R.: Melodiya, 1978 (LP). C60-10619-20
- Alexey Ekimyan. Beregite druzey..., Russia: Melodia, 2006 (CD)
- Alexey Ekimyan. Vot i vstretilis, Russia: Melodia, 2007 (CD)