Yuri Iosifovich
Vizbor
1934-1984
Yuri Vizbor was a Soviet author-performer, poet, film actor, writer, journalist, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, and playwright. He was one of the founders of the author’s song genre and the creator of the reportage song genre. He wrote more than 300 songs and was a member of both the Union of Journalists and the Union of Composers in the USSR. His work was loved by millions of people in the Soviet Union. His songs, filled with sincerity and warmth, were played at campfires, student gatherings, concerts, and in films. Today, Vizbor’s legacy lives on in the hearts of those who grew up in the USSR. Yuri Vizbor was born in Moscow in 1934. His family had Ukrainian and Lithuanian ancestry, but he identified as Russian. His parents met in Krasnodar and soon after his birth, the family moved to Moscow. His father, Jozas Vizbor, was repressed in 1938 and posthumously rehabilitated in 1958. After this, his mother and son faced difficult years, travelling around different cities before finally returning to Moscow in 1941. During his school years, Yuri played football and dreamed of becoming a pilot. In 1951, he graduated from high school with a desire to attend a prestigious university. However, due to the stigma of being the son of an “enemy of the people,” his documents were rejected. Fortunately, he was able to enter Moscow State Pedagogical Institute (MGPI) by chance, where he found his passion for author’s songs. In his first year, he composed two songs, “Madagascar” and “The Guy from Kentucky,” which quickly gained popularity. Within the institute’s walls, he met other future stars of the author’s song genre, such as Yuli Kim and Ada Yakusheva. After graduating from college and working briefly as a teacher in the Arkhangelsk region, Yuri joined the army, where he continued writing songs and poems. While serving, he created his first song with music – “Blue Mountains”. After leaving the army in 1957, Vizbor started working as a journalist and continued to compose songs. His songs became popular thanks to recordings shared among intellectuals. In the early 1960s, he participated in the creation of the magazines “Krugozor” and “Yunost”, which allowed him to travel around the country and promote the genre of song reporting. Vizbor was not only a composer, but also an avid mountaineer, skier, and explorer, participating in expeditions to major construction sites across the country. He gave numerous concerts, including 30 in 1971 and 70 in 1976. A memorial plaque was erected in his honour in Moscow.
Address: Moscow, Ananyevsky lane, 5, building 7
