Viktor Klimenko

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Viktor Klimenko (born November 24, 1942) is a singer who made himself known as the "Singing Cossack". A few years after his birth in Karelia his family moved to Finland, where he became a noted musician and also appeared in several films, mostly playing himself. The Eurovision Song Contest 1965 was his first appearance outside of Finland. He didn't earn any points for his song, mostly because judges didn't like the lyrics.

In 1970, only five years later, a Europe-wide release, Stenka Rasin, containing Russian songs went gold on the Finnish market, the first record to do so in Finland. Later, it also went platinum. This success was followed by a decade of concerts and popular shows all over the world. Viktor had nine more gold records as well as one platinum. In 1973 he played in the "comedy-humour-musical" Kofferten (Norwegian title), Ryck mig i vaskan (Swedish title), a co-operation between Sveriges Radio, BBC, YLE and NRK.

However, by 1980 he was torn between beckoning world fame and his personal life. He had driven himself to the verge of breakdown. He even considered a suicide. One night, right before Easter, he was ready to end his misery. At the last moment, he remembered how parents taught him to pray; he decided he would not lose anything if he asked God for help.

Re-branding himself as a Gospel-singer, he turned his life around, this time to serve God through numerous Christian concerts. Since then Viktor has turned to the spread of the Gospel.

[edit] Timeline:

1942 - Born at a POW camp in Svetnavalka, Russia, to a Cossack family, which was expelled from the river valley of Kuban in southern Russia, emigrated to Finland

1963 - Recording "The Country of Thousand Lakes" (Tuhansien järvien maa)

1964 - Recording "Isn't Somebody Dearest to Everybody" (Jokaiselle joku on kai rakkain)

1965 - "The Sun Sets in the West" (Aurinko laskee länteen), representative of Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest in Naples.

1966 - A contract with Helsinki Municipal Theatre

1969 - LP "Stenka Rasin" released in over 60 countries, sold over 50,000 copies in Finland, the sales shocked the Finnish LP industry

1972 - LP "Milaya"

1972 - The first artiste with two sold-out concerts at Finlandia Hall

1973 - Performed at the legendary Berns Salon in Stockholm

1973 - Begins to perform at Hamburger Börs in Stockholm

1973 - Finnish citizenship given by president Urho Kekkonen

1973 - LP "Country & Eastern"

1975 - LP "May I have the pleasure?" (Saanhan luvan)

1975 - LP "The Most Beautiful Christmas Carols" (Kauneimmat joululaulut) (available on CD)

1977 - LP "Do Dna"

1978 - LP "Shine, Glow, Love! / Nadya" (Loista, pala, rakasta! / Nadja)

1980 - A contract with Lido in Paris

1981 - LP "Jesus is the Lord" (Jeesus on Herra), which went gold in Finland and also in Sweden as the first Finnish artiste

1982 - LP "The Feast of My Lord and My God? (Minun Herrani ja Jumalani juhla)

1983 - LP "Hallelujah - Jesus is Coming" (Halleluja - Jeesus saapuu)

1985 - LP "Jerusalem - the Apple of My Eye" (Jerusalem - Minun silmäteräni), most widely spread of all recordings in Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian versions (available on CD)

1992 - First concert at the world famous Odessa Opera House

1993 - CD "The Land of Pilgrim's dreams" (Matkamiehen unten maa)

1994 - Collection CD "Viktor Klimenko TREASURES" (Viktor Klimenko Aarteet), 22 most popular songs

1995 - CD "Hymn for Love" (Hymn till Kärleken)

1996 - Collection CD "Viktor Klimenko 20 Favourites Isn't Somebody Dearest to Everybody" (Viktor Klimenko 20 suosikkia Jokaiselle joku on kai rakkain)

1997 - iCollection CD "Viktor Klimenko 20 Favourites Stenka Rasin" (Viktor Klimenko 20 Suosikkia Stenka Rasin)

1997 - Collection CD "Viktor Klimenko The Best 1" (Viktor Klimenko Tähtikooste 1)

1997 - Invited to the concert on the Independence Day of the State of Ukraine as an emigrant representative

1999 - CD "Vine" (Viinipuu)

1999 - CD "O, Holy Night" (Oi Jouluyö)

2000 - Performed to over 50,000 people in Novosibirsk and at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow

2000 - Collection CD "Viktor Klimenko The Best 2" (Viktor Klimenko Tähtikooste 2

2002 - CD "The City Over There Viktor Klimenko & The Angels" (Kaupunki tuolla Viktor Klimenko & The Angels)

2002 - Concert at Finlandia Hall (60 years of age and 40 years as an artiste)

2003 - Collection CD "Viktor Klimenko The Pearl of the Black Sea 40 Most Popular Songs" (Viktor Klimenko Helmi Mustanmeren 40 Suosituinta kappaletta)


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