David Ashkenazi (Russian: Ашкенази Давид Владимирович, 25 December 1915 – 19 February 1997) was a Russian pianist, concertmaster and composer.
Ashkenazi was born on 25 December 1915 in Nizhny Novgorod. He studied piano at the local music college and in the Moscow Conservatory. He was a concertmaster for a number of celebrated Soviet pop singers, including Isabella Yuryeva, Klavdiya Shulzhenko, Lyudmila Zykina, Marina Gordon, Vadim Kozin, Mark Bernes, Iosif Kobzon and others.
He was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia in 1996.
In 1964 he has acted with violinist Naum Latunsky in a bright episode of the film "The Garnet Bracelet" under famous A.Kuprin's story. He has written a romance on Jacob Polonsky's verses "When in a separation presentiment" which are in repertoire of many romance’s singers.
David Ashkenazi was the father of the famous pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy.
He died on 19 February 1997 in Moscow, Russia.