Edita Stanislavovna Piekha (born 31 July 1937) is a Soviet and Russian singer and actress of Polish descent. The peak of her popularity in the countries of the former USSR was in the 1960s. Her most famous song is “Our Neighbor”. (Наш сосед) She was given the title Honorary Citizen of St. Petersburg. In addition to Russia and

Eastern European Eastern Europe is a subregion of the European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic connotations. Its eastern boundary is marked by the Ural Mountains, and ...

countries, she also performed in

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

and other countries. Her first performance aboard was in

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...

in 1966. In 1988 she was awarded the title of

People's Artist of the USSR People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. The term is confusingly used to translate two Russian language titles: Народный арти ...

. In 1996, Piekha was named a living legend in the Ovation Award, along with such Russian pop icons as Alla Pugacheva and Valery Leontyev. However, not a single song of Piekha made it into the charts of the USSR or other countries. In 2016 she took part in the ''Rendezvous music festival'' in Jurmala. Apart from singing, Piekha is a well known public activist for humanitarian causes, and is a supporter of orphanages in Russia.

Life and career

Piekha was born in Noyelles-sous-Lens, France in 1937 to an ethnic Polish family. Her father was Stanisław Piecha, a mining worker from

Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( ; ; ; ; Silesian German: ; ) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, located today mostly in Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic. The area is predominantly known for its heav ...

, and her mother was Felicja Korolewska. Her father had died when Edita was only 4 years old. As well as this she had an older brother named Paweł, who took over working in the mine after Stanisław's death. Paweł himself died aged 17; due to

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

. From 1946 to 1955, Edita Piekha lived in Boguszów,

with her mother and stepfather communist named Jan Gołąbas well as her half brother Józef. There, she studied music, and sang with a choir and graduated from a pedagogical lyceum in

Wałbrzych Wałbrzych (; ; or ''Walmbrich''; or ) is a city located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in southwestern Poland, seat of Wałbrzych County. Wałbrzych lies approximately southwest of the voivodeship capital Wrocław and about from the Czec ...

. In 1955, Piekha moved to

Leningrad Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...

to study

psychology Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Its subject matter includes the behavior of humans and nonhumans, both consciousness, conscious and Unconscious mind, unconscious phenomena, and mental processes such as thoughts, feel ...

on a state scholarship.Biography of Piecha (in Polish)
/ref> From 1955 to 1957, she attended A. A. Zhdanov Leningrad State University (now known as

Saint Petersburg State University Saint Petersburg State University (SPBGU; ) is a public research university in Saint Petersburg, Russia, and one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Russia. Founded in 1724 by a decree of Peter the Great, the university from the be ...

). At the University she had joined within a Polish choir with fellow Polish students. There, she met composer and pianist Aleksandr Bronevitsky. Together, they formed the first popular band in Russia, named Druzhba, and gave their first TV performance on New Year's Eve, 31 December 1955, with the Polish song "Autobus czerwony", which became a popular hit in the USSR. In 1956, Piekha began studying singing and composition at the Leningrad Conservatory. In 1957, the ensemble Druzhba and Edita Piekha won Gold Medal and the First Prize at the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow. There, Piekha made history with her performances of the popular hit " Moscow Nights", which she was able to sing in several languages to international audiences from 130 nations. In 1968, she won a gold medal at the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

with a song " Ogromnoe nebo" ("Vast Sky").Огромное Небо
In Russian. Piekha was especially popular among international audiences because of her ability to sing and speak in many languages, such as French, German, Polish and Russian, among others. As well as being the first Soviet artist to move freely around the stage talking to the audience and 'breaking away' from the microphone. After the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students, ensemble Druzhba and Piekha released several sold-out records of their songs, eventually becoming one of the most popular bands in the former

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. In 1972, Piekha and the ensemble Druzhba entertained international audiences at the XX summer Olympics in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. In 1976, she formed her own band, and remained one of the popular female singers in the USSR. She also continued performing internationally and toured over 20 countries. Over the years, Piekha made more than 30 concert tours in

alone. Among the highlights of her career were her appearances at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

, New York and at the Paris Olympia. During the 2000s (decade), Piekha gave several performances on Russian television. She also has been giving annual birthday performances in Saint Petersburg, a popular tradition she has been maintaining for many years. Piekha has been residing in Saint Petersburg since 1955. Her daughter, Ilona Bronevitskaya, has been a popular singer and actress in Russia. Her grandson, actor and singer Stas Piekha, emerged as one of the winners of the Star Factory show in 2005. On her 70th birthday, Piekha received an "Anniversary greeting" from the

President of Russia The president of Russia, officially the president of the Russian Federation (), is the executive head of state of Russia. The president is the chair of the State Council (Russia), Federal State Council and the President of Russia#Commander-in-ch ...

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

, and was decorated with the "Order of Merits" for her lifelong contribution to music and international cultural relations of Russia. In 2012, British dance group Ultrabeat, recording under the name WTF!, remixed Piekha's "Nash Sosed" and called their version "Da Bop", which rose in the Dutch charts to No. 4, while in the same year "Nash Sosed" was also remixed into a song, "Party People", by DJs Gary Caos and Rico Bernasconi."Gary Caos vx Rico Bernasconi feat. In-Grig - La trompette", 98.5 fm Montréal
French singer Daniele Vidal's French and Japanese renditions of "Nash Sosed" were popular in Japan in the 1970s. Piekha got a star on the Moscow Star Square in 1998. Brooklyn band Svetlana and the Eastern Blokhedz has been paying tribute to Piekha, bringing her music to an American audience that was, until then, mostly unfamiliar with the singer.

Discography

Studio albums

* 1964: ''Эдита Пьеха'' * 1966: ''Ансамбль "Дружба" И Эдита'' (with Дружба) * 1967: ''Ансамбль «Дружба» И Эдита'' (with Дружба) * 1972: ''Эдита Пьеха И Ансамбль «Дружба»'' (with Дружба) * 1974: ''Эдита Пьеха'' * 1980: ''Эдита Пьеха'' * 1981: ''Ни Дня Без Песни'' * 1983: ''Улыбнитесь, Люди'' * 1986: ''Почувствуй, Догадайся, Позови'' * 1987: ''Моим Друзьям'' * 1989: ''Возвращайся К Началу'' * 1994: ''Я Вас Люблю'' * 2000: ''Никогда Любить Не Поздно''

Filmography

*'' Secret Agent's Destiny'' (1970) as Josephine Claire *''

Incorrigible Liar ''Incorrigible Liar'' () is a 1973 Soviet musical comedy film directed by Villen Azarov. Plot Alexei Ivanovich Tyutyurin (Georgy Vitsin) is a very kind and gentle person who has been working as a hairdresser for twenty years. When there is an oppo ...

'' (1973) as herself (cameo appearance) *'' Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat'' (1975) as Lida Bosse (voiced by Svetlana Svetlichnaya)

Recognition

* Order for contribution to Peace and Art (France) * Honorable Diploma of the All-Russian competition of singers in Sochi (1976) * Awarded the Nephrite Disc by recording label " Melodiya" as a bestselling recording artist. * Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1968) * People's Artist of the RSFSR (1976) *

(1988) *

Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" The Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" () is a state decoration of the Russian Federation. It was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree 442. Until the re-establishment of the Order of St. Andrew in 1998, it was the highest order of ...

; **2nd class (31 July 2017) - for outstanding contribution to the development of domestic culture and many years of fruitful activity **3rd class (10 August 2007) - for outstanding contribution to the development of musical art and many years of creative activity **4th class (30 July 1997) - for outstanding contribution to the development of musical art *

Order of the Red Banner of Labour The Order of the Red Banner of Labour () was an order of the Soviet Union established to honour great deeds and services to the Soviet state and society in the fields of production, science, culture, literature, the arts, education, sports ...

(1987) * Order of Friendship of Peoples (1980) * Medal "Soldier-Internationalist" (Afghanistan) - for concerts in Afghanistan and the soldiers in the hospitals, from 1979 to 1988. * Gold Medal and Grand Prize of the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow (1957) * Three Gold Medals in the 9th World Festival of Youth and Students in Sofia (1968) * Winner of the International Variety Competition in Berlin * Winner of the "Ovation Award", the "Living Legend" National Award of Russia * Main award of the international music fair in Cannes * Personal Star on Star Square at the concert hall "Russia" in Moscow (1998) * Winner of the Russian National Prize "Ovation" in the field of musical art in the "Masters" (2008) * Gold Cross of Merit (2012) , - ! colspan="3" style="background: red;" , Ovation , - , -

Notes

References

External links

* The Official Edita Piekha Site (in Russian

* Singer Edita Piekha performs a concert on the occasion of her 70th birthday

* * Photo of Edita Piekha from the Rosfoto image collection

* PJECHA Edita :
Edita Piekha
at iTunes * {{DEFAULTSORT:Piekha, Edita 1937 births 20th-century Russian actresses 20th-century Russian women singers Living people People from Pas-de-Calais Actresses from Hauts-de-France Honored Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the RSFSR People's Artists of the USSR Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland) Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 4th class Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour French emigrants to the Soviet Union French people of Polish descent Russian contraltos Russian film actresses Russian people of Polish descent Russian pop singers Soviet film actresses Soviet people of Polish descent Soviet pop singers Soviet women singers French-language singers from Russia Polish-language singers German-language singers of Russia