| Valentina Tolkunova | |
|---|---|
Valentina Tolkunova, 22 May 2007 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Valentina Vasilevna Tolkunova |
| Born | 12 July 1946 Armavir, Krasnodar Krai, Soviet Union |
| Origin | Moscow, Soviet Union |
| Died | 22 March 2010 (aged 63) Moscow, Russia |
| Genres | Pop, Jazz |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1966–2010 |
| Associated acts | VIO-66 |
Valentina Tolkunova (Russian: Валенти́на Васи́льевна Толкуно́ва, 12 July 1946 – 22 March 2010) was a Soviet and Russian singer and was bestowed the title of Honored Artist of RSFSR (1979) and People's Artist of RSFSR (1987). Her performances exhibited a kindhearted mood and sincerity, and her voice was noted for its clarity.
At age 18 Valentina Tolkunova entered Moscow State University. In 1966 she became a member of Yury Saulsky's jazz band VIO-66 as a soloist and jazz singer. In 1971 she graduated from the Gnessin State Musical College and recorded songs for the TV series Den' za Dnem (Day After Day). 1972 was Tolkunova's breakthrough year, due to a noted performance of songs by Vladimir Shainsky, and marked the beginning of a successful career in radio and TV. In 1973 she began a busy collaboration with the Moscow Philharmonic Concert Association (Moskonzert), and in 1989 she founded and became the director of her own theatre. Over a thirty-year recording career, Valentina Tolkunova released at least thirteen albums. She also won many awards in Soviet republics and was a 23-time winner of the "Song of the Year" competition on television.[1][2]
On 16 February 2010, Tolkunova became ill during a concert in Mogilev, Belarus, and went to a local hospital where she was diagnosed with brain tumor before being transferred to the Botkin Clinic in Moscow. On 22 March, she went into a coma and died two hours later of a brain tumor.