Laima Vaikule
Encyclopedia
Laima Vaikule is a popular Latvia
n actress, singer, director and choreographer, best known in Europe
and in the former USSR for such popular hits as "Vernisazh" ("Exhibition") and "Charley," among other songs.
She was born on March 31, 1954, in Cēsis
, Latvian SSR. Her parents moved to Riga
when she was 3. Young Laima was fond of music and dancing. In 1966, at the age of 12, she took part in a competition of young singers and was noticed. From 1970 - 1973 she studied nursing
at the Riga Medical College, while also continuing to sing with a band. Eventually she became a lead singer with a local band in Riga and worked night gigs at local clubs and restaurants for several years. In the 1980s
she studied acting
and directing at Moscow State Institute for Theatrical Arts (GITIS), graduating as actress and director.
In 1985, Laima Vaikule made her first hit in the Soviet Union. Since 1986, Vaikule has been enjoying a fruitful collaboration with popular Latvian composer, Raimonds Pauls
, and Russian poet Ilya Reznik, who wrote such hits as "Vernisazh", "Charley" and "Skripach na kryshe" ("Fiddler on the roof"). She is among the original organizers of the Jurmala Festival of popular music
http://www.newwavestars.com/en/, along with Raimond Pauls. During the 1980s and 1990s Laima Vaikule was a regular participant at international music competitions and festivals across Europe. Vaikule was awarded the Golden Lyra at "Bratislavská Lýra, 87", was guest singer and a host at "Jurmala 92" festival, and also took part at "AU music world" in Monaco, among other festivals and competitions. She was awarded the title National Actress of Latvia and was awarded the Grand Prix (1996) for her special contribution to the music and culture of Latvia.
In 1993, Laima released an album on compact disc of soul styled pop songs in English on the MCA GRP label titled "Tango" (GRM 40202). The album has ten tracks:
1. Tango
2. Undertow
3. Breakin' Away
4. What's Forever
5. Baby It's You
6. Shelter From A Storm
7. Lost Without You
8. Dream Love
9. Died In The Midst Of A Dream
10. One World
Musicians playing on the album included Marc Hugenberger, Tim Heintz, Mike Miller, Ricky Minor, Gerald Albright, Terry Wollman, Joel Taylor, Jeff Jorgenson with backing vocals by Catte Adams, Sheilah Chambers & Katrina Perkins.
Laima Vaikule is currently living and working in Riga
, Latvia
and owns a second home in Moscow
, Russia
.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n actress, singer, director and choreographer, best known in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and in the former USSR for such popular hits as "Vernisazh" ("Exhibition") and "Charley," among other songs.
She was born on March 31, 1954, in Cēsis
Cesis
Cēsis , is a town in Latvia located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river overlooking the woods below...
, Latvian SSR. Her parents moved to Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
when she was 3. Young Laima was fond of music and dancing. In 1966, at the age of 12, she took part in a competition of young singers and was noticed. From 1970 - 1973 she studied nursing
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
at the Riga Medical College, while also continuing to sing with a band. Eventually she became a lead singer with a local band in Riga and worked night gigs at local clubs and restaurants for several years. In the 1980s
1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
she studied acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
and directing at Moscow State Institute for Theatrical Arts (GITIS), graduating as actress and director.
In 1985, Laima Vaikule made her first hit in the Soviet Union. Since 1986, Vaikule has been enjoying a fruitful collaboration with popular Latvian composer, Raimonds Pauls
Raimonds Pauls
Raimonds Pauls is a Latvian and Soviet composer and piano player who is well-known and respected in Latvia and the former Soviet Union.-Music:...
, and Russian poet Ilya Reznik, who wrote such hits as "Vernisazh", "Charley" and "Skripach na kryshe" ("Fiddler on the roof"). She is among the original organizers of the Jurmala Festival of popular music
Jurmala Young Pop Singer Competition
Jurmala Young Pop Singer Competition , have been held almost annually during 1986-1993 in a resort city of Jūrmala, Latvia. All years the chairman of the jury was the initiator of the festival, Raimonds Pauls...
http://www.newwavestars.com/en/, along with Raimond Pauls. During the 1980s and 1990s Laima Vaikule was a regular participant at international music competitions and festivals across Europe. Vaikule was awarded the Golden Lyra at "Bratislavská Lýra, 87", was guest singer and a host at "Jurmala 92" festival, and also took part at "AU music world" in Monaco, among other festivals and competitions. She was awarded the title National Actress of Latvia and was awarded the Grand Prix (1996) for her special contribution to the music and culture of Latvia.
In 1993, Laima released an album on compact disc of soul styled pop songs in English on the MCA GRP label titled "Tango" (GRM 40202). The album has ten tracks:
1. Tango
2. Undertow
3. Breakin' Away
4. What's Forever
5. Baby It's You
6. Shelter From A Storm
7. Lost Without You
8. Dream Love
9. Died In The Midst Of A Dream
10. One World
Musicians playing on the album included Marc Hugenberger, Tim Heintz, Mike Miller, Ricky Minor, Gerald Albright, Terry Wollman, Joel Taylor, Jeff Jorgenson with backing vocals by Catte Adams, Sheilah Chambers & Katrina Perkins.
Laima Vaikule is currently living and working in Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and owns a second home 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...
, 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...
.