Vladimir Mulyavin
| Vladimir Mulyavin | |
|---|---|
 Vladimir Mulavin on a belarusian stamp | |
| Background information | |
| Native name | Владимир Георгиевич Мулявин |
| Born |
January 12, 1941 Yekaterinburg, Russia |
| Origin | Minsk, BSSR, USSR |
| Died |
January 26, 2003 (aged 62) Moscow, Russia |
| Genres | Folk, World music, Rock |
| Occupations | musician, composer |
| Instruments | guitar |
| Years active | 1969–2003 |
| Labels | Melodiya |
Vladimir Mulyavin (Russian: Влади́мир Гео́ргиевич Муля́вин; Belarusian: Уладзімір Мулявін (Uladzimir Muliavin); January 12, 1941, Sverdlovsk — January 26, 2003, Moscow) was a Belarusian rock musician and the founder of the folk-rock band Pesniary.
Biography
Vladimir Muliavin was born in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) in the family of a worker at the Uralmash plant. He started playing the guitar at the age of 12.
In 1956, after graduating from school, he entered Sverdlovsk Musical School, department of stringed instruments. He was expelled from the school for misconduct and an overt interest in jazz, nevertheless he was reinstated after some time, and he left the school by own initiative.
Between 1958 and 1963, he worked as a staff musician at different regional orchestras.
In 1963, he was offered a job with the Belarusian State Philharmony and moved to Belarus.
In 1965—1967 Muliavin conducted his compulsory two-year military service, near Minsk. He founded a vocal quartet in the company and took a part in the Belarusian military district ensemble foundation.
With the Pesniary
After his discharge from the army returned to the Belarusian State Philharmony and in 1968, he created the folk pop and rock group "Liavony". In 1970, he became its leader and the group was renamed Pesniary.
The band gained significant popularity across the whole USSR and was among the first successful and officially recognized Soviet rock bands. For his work, Vladimir Muliavin was awarded the title People's Artists of the USSR.
An ethnic Russian himself, Muliavin was inspired by Belarusian folklore. He later also recorded several Belarusian national songs as Pahonia on the lyrics by Maksim Bahdanovich.
He died on January 26, 2003 in Moscow, suffering results of a car accident 6 months before.
A street in Minsk (Bulvar Muliavina) was named after Vladimir Muliavin soon after his death.