Volodymyr Ivasyuk was the "Elvis" of the Ukraine. Before age 10 he could play the violin, piano and began writing his own music by age 15. Also as a child he showed interest in poetry and art.
After that, the multitalented and intelligent Ivasyuk began to study medicine. Sadly, he was kicked out of school because he and his fellow friends had tipped over a statue of Lenin.
By his early twenties he had become famous both in the Ukraine and the entire Soviet Union where he won best song of the year in the entire Soviet Union two years in a row (Chervona Ruta in 1971 and Vodohray in 1972).
Then he moved to Lviv and became a doctor, and continued to create more songs/material, most of which were sung by Sofia Rotaru.
He then (as we heard about in class) at age 30 was hanging from a tree close to Lviv (possibly by the Soviets).
3 comments:
It is interesting how you call him the "Elvis" of Ukraine. Is there any basis for this, other than the fact that he was a very popular musician?
I think it's kind of interesting that Ivasyuk's two main interests were music and medicine. It's kind of a weird combination. He seems to have gone back and forth between which he was concentrating on, and I was wondering if there was any kind of connection or explanation as to why he did this.
I was amazed at how popular he became and how he learned to play such various instruments in so little time. He certainly was talented and it's a shame he died so early due to people's prejudices and hatred.
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