Vladimir Vysotsky was born on January 25, 1938, in Moscow, Russia, to Soviet army colonel Semyon Volfovich and German language translator Nina Maksimovna. He grew up with his grandmother Dora Bronshteyn and his brother Alexey. Vysotsky showed an interest in poetry and theatre from a young age, and he began attending drama courses while also receiving his first guitar in 1953.
Initially, Vysotsky attended the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering, but after one semester, he dropped out to pursue a career in acting. He enrolled at the Moscow Art Theatre Studio-Institute to hone his skills. Despite not being officially recognized as a poet or singer by Melodiya, Vysotsky began sharing his music through low-quality recordings on vinyl discs.
Vysotsky's music quickly gained popularity, even finding its way into space with Russian Cosmonauts. He had a unique style that mixed social and political commentary with humor, making him a beloved figure in Soviet art and culture. Alongside his music career, Vysotsky also made a name for himself as an actor, appearing in over 30 roles on screen. Films like Two Comrades Were Serving and Dangerous Tour showcased his versatility and talent.
Vysotsky had a complicated personal life, being married multiple times and involved in various romantic relationships. He married his first wife, Iza Zhukova, in 1960, and later Lyudmila Abramova in 1965. He had two sons with Abramova, Arkady and Nikita. Despite his marriages, Vysotsky had affairs with actresses Tatyana Ivanenko and Marina Vlady. He eventually married Vlady in 1969.
Vladimir Vysotsky's influence in Russia is often compared to that of Bob Dylan in the United States and Jacques Brel in France. His music and poetry continue to resonate with audiences, showcasing his lasting impact on Soviet culture. In 2015, Vladimir Putin and Sergey Sobyanin honored Vysotsky by officially renaming a street in Moscow as Vladimir Vysotsky Street.
He passed away at the young age of 42 after a lengthy battle with addiction, leaving behind a remarkable body of work that continues to be celebrated and remembered to this day.
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