Willi Tokarev: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=AugustJuly 20192020}}

|image name = VilliWilli Tokarev 2012.jpg

| image_size =
| caption = Tokarev in 2012

|origin genre = [[Russian chanson]]

|label website = {{URL|willitokarev.ru}}

'''VilenWilli Ivanovich Tokarev''' ({{Lang-ru|link=no|Вилли Ива́нович То́карев}}; 11 November 1934 – 4 August 2019), known professionally as '''Willi Tokarev''', was a Russian-American singer-songwriter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/the-new-emigration/398068.html|title=The New Emigration|newspaper=[[The Moscow Times]]|date=2 January 2010-01-25|accessdate=2014-10access-date=10 October 2014}}</ref> In the 1980s, he became famous throughout the [[Soviet Union]] for his songs about life as a Russian ''[[émigré]]'' in New York in [[Brighton Beach]].<ref name="golosameriki20131010" />

HeVilen Ivanovich Tokarev was born Vilen Tokarev in the small [[Cossack]] village of ChernyshovChernyshev in [[Adyghe Autonomous Oblast]], [[North Caucasus Krai]], Soviet Union, on 11 November 1934. His father was a [[Kuban Cossacks|Kuban Cossack]] by birth.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adygvoice.ru/newsview.php?uid=13400|publisher=Voice of Adygea (Голос Адыга)|title=Вилли Токарев выступил с концертом на своей исторической родине|date=2 November 2013-11-25}}</ref> His parents named him in honor of [[Vladimir Lenin]] (see [[names of Soviet origin]]), as the Soviet name "Vilen" is an [[acronym]] for "'''V'''ladimir '''I'''lyich '''Len'''in".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0QXAQAAIAAJ|title=Диалог длиною в жизнь: беседы с великими и знаменитыми|author=[[Dmitry Gordon]]|author-link=Dmitry Gordon|publisher=Izdatelʹskiĭ Dom "Skhili Dnipra"|year=2006|isbn=9789668881015}}<br />{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.rucom/books?id=Iq6fAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT192&lpg=PT192|title=The View from the Vysotka: A Portrait of Russia Today Through One of Moscow's Most Famous Addresses|author=Anne Nivat|chapter=Chapter 21. Wing A. Entryway 9, Third Floor: Willy and Julia Tokarev|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2014|isbn=9781466865815}}</ref><ref name="akazak20090927">{{cite news|url=http://akazak.ru/chitalnyj-zal/interesnye-stati/117-villi-tokarev-lkogda-tebya-podgonyayut-nado-govorit-lokejr-i-delat-po-svoemur.html|title=Вилли ТОКАРЕВ: "Когда тебя подгоняют, надо говорить "О'кей", и делать по-своему…"|author=Aleksandr Kazakevich|date=2 September 2009|access-09date=30 November 2014|archive-27date=4 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704074808/http://akazak.ru/chitalnyj-zal/interesnye-stati/117-villi-tokarev-lkogda-tebya-podgonyayut-nado-govorit-lokejr-i-delat-po-svoemur.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1941 his family moved to the town of [[Kaspiysk]] in Dagestan. In 1948, he made his first sea voyage, as a fireman. After the obligatory military service, in which he served in the signal corps, Tokarev moved to Leningrad.<ref name="officialwebsite-biography">{{cite web|url=http://willitokarev.ru/biography|title=Biography|publisher=Willi Tokarev official website}}</ref> There he pursued a formal education in music by joining the string department of the music school at the [[Saint Petersburg Conservatory|Leningrad Conservatory]] ([[double bass]] class). During his study, Tokarev worked in the Anatoly Kroll Orchestra, in the [[Jean Tatlian]] Sympho-Jazz Ensemble, in the Boris Rychkov Ensemble, and later in the ensemble Druzhba, conducted by Aleksandr Bronevitsky with [[Edita Piekha]] as vocalist. As a music student, he also started writing songs, notably "Rain" ("Дождь"), which was recorded by Edita Piekha, and "Winter Song" ("Зимняя песенка"), recorded by her as well.<ref name="vechernysaransk20141107">{{cite news|url=http://www.vsar.ru/10542_Villi_Tokarev:_%C2%ABMne_let_40__I_ni_godom_bolshe_%C2%BB|title=Вилли Токарев: "Мне лет 40. И ни годом больше!"|newspaper=Vecherny Saransk|date=7 November 2014-11-07}}</ref>

Tokarev said that he "probably became a singer by chance. Nikolay Nikitsky, a film actor and singer very popular at the time, invited me to accompany him at his concerts. Once during a concert he offered me to sing one of my songs myself. When I finished, the audience gave me an ovation. Nikitsky, seeing such a success, told me, 'Willi, you have to sing!'" And Tokarev, in addition to playing [[double bass]] and writing songs, started singing.<ref name="vechernysaransk20141107" />

From 1970 to 1974 he lived and performed as a singer in the town of [[Murmansk]].<ref name=KP>{{cite news|url=http://www.kp.ru/daily/26157.5/3045142/|title=Мурманский календарь: 11 ноября. Признание Мурманчан было Токареву особенно приятно|trans-title=Murmansk calendar: 11 November. Tokarev enjoyed the acclaim by Murmansk residents|publishernewspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]|language=Russianru|date=1 November 2013-11-11|access-date=6 August 2019-08-06}}</ref> According to Tokarev, he moved from Leningrad because at the time in Moscow and Leningrad, jazz fell out of favor with the authorities, while in Murmansk he could be himself.<ref name=KP/> In Murmansk Tokarev worked as a singer at the restaurant "White Nights" where he led the music band "Nord-West".<ref> {{cite news |last= |first=|title=Не стало автора легендарной «"Мурманчаночки»"|trans-title=The author of legendary "Murmanchanochka" passed away |url=https://severpost.ru/read/82622/ |language=Russianru |work=SeverPost.ru |locationdate=6 August |date=2019-08-06|access-date=6 August 2019-08-06 }}</ref>

In 1973, Tokarev's song "Murmanchanochka" ("Murmansk Girl") became a huge local hit.<ref name="officialwebsite-biography" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mvestnik.ru/shwpgn.asp?pid=201110114038|title=Здесь люди умеют дружить|date=1 October 2011-10-11|publisher=Murmansky Vestnik}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://murmansk.kp.ru/daily/26157.5/3045142/|title=Мурманский календарь: 11 ноября. Признание Мурманчан было Токареву особенно приятно|date=1 November 2013-11-11|newspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.online812.ru/2009/09/21/009/|title=Тайсон тоже человек. К нему можно подойти, поговорить|date=2 September 2009-09-29|publisher=Gorod 812|access-date=30 November 2014|archive-date=7 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807064609/http://www.online812.ru/2009/09/21/009/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://adigeatoday.ru/?article_id=12140|title=Самый известный певец-уроженец Адыгеи отмечает 80-летие|publisher=Agygea Segodnya|date=1 November 2014-11-17}}</ref>

In 1974, Tokarev emigrated from the USSR to the United States, to [[New York City]]. At first he accepted any job in order to survive. On one occasion, he was fired from a job as a [[courier]] on [[Wall Street]] because of his poor English;<ref name="officialwebsite-biography" /> afterward he studied the language on his own with an audio cassette course.<ref name="vechernysaransk20141107" /> After getting a driver's license, Tokarev began working as a taxi driver and was finally earning decent money. It took him four years in a taxi to collect $15,000 to record and release an album.<ref name="svoboda20091111" /><ref>{{citeCite newsweb|url=httphttps://www.newizv.ru/news/culture/200729-06-292007/71893-villi-tokarev.html|title=Вилли Токарев. "Американский паспорт мне не мешает" —&#124; Новые Известия|website=Newizv.ru|access-date=10 August 2019}}</ref> The album, released in 1979 on [[vinyl record]],<ref name="svoboda20091111">{{cite news|url=http://www.svoboda.mobi/a/1875291.html|title=Юбилей Вилли Токарева: балалайка для Карнеги-Холла|publisher=[[Radio Svoboda]]|date=1 November 2009-11-11}}</ref> was a serious songwriting effort, but was only mildly successful. His second album, ''V Shumnom Balagane'' (1981), full of humorous songs stylized as urban folklore of the Russian criminal underground, made him famous in the Russian-speaking community of New York.<ref name="officialwebsite-biography" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shanson.tv/person/8971.html|title=Willi Tokarev. Biography|publisher=TV Chanson}}</ref> The restaurant where Tokarev worked as a singer started to pay him well and soon he was able to buy a flat on the seashore and a car.<ref name="vechernysaransk20141107" />

Back in the Soviet Union, his songs about the United States written from the perspective of a Russian émigré also became very popular.<ref name="golosameriki20131010">{{cite news|url=http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/willie-tokarev-in-new-york/1765828.html|script-title=ru:Вилли Токарев в Нью-Йорке: и не страшно, и не грустно...|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|date=1 October 2013-10-10|accessdate=2014-10access-date=10 October 2014|language=Russianru |title=Golos-ameriki }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/10/nyregion/from-russia-with-love-for-us-goods.html|title=From Russia, With Love for U.S. Goods|first=Celestine|last=Bohlen|date=10 January 1989|accessdateaccess-date=29 November 2014|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.whatson-kiev.com/?go=News&in=view&id=9497|title=The Last of the Defectors|publisher=What's On, #No. 7 (2014)}}</ref> They weren'twere not broadcast and were de facto forbidden, but they were widely known.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1676866/|title=Для тамбовчан выступит легендарный Вилли Токарев|publishernewspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]|date=4 March 2014-03-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kp.ru/online/news/1680961/|title=В Тамбове отменили концерт известного шансонье|date=1 March 2014-03-10|newspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]}}</ref>

In the late 1980s, Tokarev began traveling back to the USSR.<ref name="golosameriki20131010" /> As he recalls, when in 1988 he went on a "test trip" to the Soviet Union with Impresario [[Leonard Lev]], he was greeted in the [[Sheremetyevo International Airport|Sheremetyevo Airport]] by a crowd of people asking him for autographs and to take a photo with them, and was very surprised that the people knew him somehow.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://russian-bazaar.com/ru/content/721.htm|title=Тот самый Вилли|newspaper=Russian Bazaar|issue=#17 (313)}}</ref> His first tour across the Soviet Union, organized by Gosconcert (the Soviet Union State Concert Organization), took place in 1989 and consisted of 70 concerts.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kp.ru/radio/stenography/55289/|title=Вилли Токарев: "Россия – страна высочайших талантов. Но на сцену пускают только тех, кто платит"|date=1 December 2012-12-11|newspaper=[[Komsomolskaya Pravda]]}}</ref>

Tokarev permanently returned to Russia in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myn-taganka.ru/index.php/pochetnye-zhiteli/27-jiteli/79-tokarev-villi-ivanovich|title=Токарев Вилли Иванович|publisher=Внутригородское муниципальное образование Таганское в городе Москве (официальный сайт)}}</ref> SinceFrom 2005, he has beenwas a resident of Moscow. He lived in the famous [[Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://themoscownews.com/realestate/20110228/188452922.html|title=Inside Moscow's titans|first=Lidia|last=Okorokova|date=28 February 2011|publisher=The Moscow News (online newspaper)|accessdateaccess-date=10 October 2014}}</ref> and was named a Honorary Resident of Moscow's [[Tagansky Raion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myn-taganka.ru/index.php/pochetnye-zhiteli|title=Honorary citizens|publisher=Внутригородское муниципальное образование Таганское в городе Москве (официальный сайт)}}</ref>

Tokarev was still active at the age of 80, touring and recording new songs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blatata.com/glavnews/145726-villi-tokarev-80-let-ne-srok.html|title=Вилли Токарев – 80 лет не срок|publisher=Blatata.com|year=2014}}</ref> As of March 2013, his discography included 48 studio and 5five compilation albums. He also had cameo appearances in several movies, including ''[[Day Watch (film)|Day Watch]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.onlinetambov.ru/content/news/nashynews.php?ELEMENT_ID=855151|title=В Тамбове выступит Вилли Токарев|publisher=OnlineTambov.ru|date=5 March 2014-03-05}}</ref>

In early 2017, Tokarev performed a new song, "Trumplissimo America!", at a function in Moscow in support of [[Donald Trump]]'s inauguration as the 45th President of the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/donald-trump-russia-anonymous-masks-supporters-celebrations-a7538541.html|title=Donald Trump supporters in Russia wear 'Anonymous' masks during inauguration party in Moscow|author=May Bulman|publishernewspaper=The Independent|date=2 January 2017-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://abcnews.go.com/International/russia-celebrates-eve-donald-trumps-inauguration/story?id=44911375|title=Russia Celebrates on the Eve of Donald Trump's Inauguration|author=Dragana Jovanovic|publisher=ABC News|date=2 January 2017-01-20}}</ref>

At the age of 62, Tokarev married for the fourth time. His wife Julia, nowwho became a [[Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography]] graduate, was over forty years his junior. They had two children: daughter Evillina (born around 1999) and son Milen (born around 2003). Tokarev also hashad two sons from previous marriages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fakty.ua/84985-villi-tokarev-quot-lyuba-uspenskaya-na-svoih-koncertah-chastenko-zabyvaet-obyavit-chto-pesnyu-quot-lyuba-lyubonka-quot-napisal-ya-no-ya-na-nee-ne-obizhayus-quot|script-title=ru:Вилли токарев: «Люба Успенская на своих концертах частенько забывает объявить, что песню «Люба-Любонька» написал я… Но я на нее не обижаюсь»|publisher=Fakty i Kommentarii (newspaper)|date=2 April 2002-04-23|language=Russianru}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.solidarnost.org/thems/znamenitost/znamenitost_1370.html|title=Заслуженный "еврей" Брайтон-Бич|publisher=Solidarnost (newspaper)|issue=45|date=1 December 2004-12-01}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://zriteli.co.il/notes/1067|title=Вилли Токарев: Евреи научили меня жить!|date=2 April 2005-04-25|publisher=Zriteli.co.il}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://fakty.ua/23605-villi-tokarev-my-s-zhenoj-planiruem-ecshe-zavesti-detej|script-title=ru:Вилли Токарев: «Мы с женой планируем еще завести детей»|publisher=Fakty i Kommentarii (newspaper)|date=1 November 2009-11-11|language=Russianru}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.bulvar.com.ua/arch/2005/33/43959c6c83ac5/|title=Вилли ТОКАРЕВ: "Жена моложе меня не намного – всего на 43 года. Мне уже 71, дочери шесть лет, а сыну – два с половиной"|work=Bulvar Gordona|date=6 September 2005-09-06}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://fakty.ua/63448-villi-tokarev-quot-kogda-v-89-m-ya-vernulsya-na-rodinu-mne-prishlos-suditsya-s-alloj-pugachevoj-quot|script-title=ru:Вилли токарев: «Когда в 89-м я вернулся на Родину, мне пришлось судиться с Аллой Пугачевой»|publisher=Fakty i Kommentarii (newspaper)|date=1 November 2014-11-11|language=Russianru}}</ref>

Willi Tokarev died in Moscow on 4 August 2019, reportedly from [[cancer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://handofmoscow.com/2019/08/04/the-cause-of-death-of-willy-tokarev/|title=The cause of death of Willy Tokarev. {{!}} Russian news EN|last=Andry Kut|language=en-US|access-date=6 August 2019|archive-date=6 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806010024/https://handofmoscow.com/2019/08/04/the-06cause-of-death-of-willy-tokarev/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was 84 years old at the time of his death.

Tokarev was a multiple winner of [[Radio Chanson]]'s Chanson of the Year Award, the final time being in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://chanson.ru/about/news/villi_tokarev__poluchat__shanson_goda_pochetno_.html|title=Вилли Токарев: "Получать "Шансон года" почетно!"|work=Radio Chanson|date=2 February 2014-02-27}}</ref>

{{reflistReflist|30em}}<!--

: <small>{{cite news|url=http://www.movieweb.com/hollywood-beat-the-russians-are-coming-to-the-hollywood-beat|title=HOLLYWOOD BEAT: The Russians Are Coming to The Hollywood Beat|work=Movieweb.com|date=2 May 2007-05-29}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.artsfreepress.com/events/jubilee-concert/|title=Jubilee Concert|publisher=Arts Free Press|year=2014}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.ciudadccs.info/2010/02/willy-tokarev-dedico-canciones-a-chavez-porque-el-trabaja-por-su-pais/|title=Willy Tokarev: Dedico canciones a Chávez porque él trabaja por su país|publisher=Ciudad CCS.|date=2010-02-25|accessdate=2014-10-10|language=Spanish}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.rnv.gob.ve/index.php/willy-tokarev-dedico-canciones-a-chvez-porque-l-trabaja-por-su-pas|title=Willy Tokarev: Dedico canciones a Chávez porque él trabaja por su país|publisher=RNV – Radio Nacional de Venezuela|date=2 February 2008-02-24}}<br />{{cite news|url=http://www.golos-ameriki.ru/content/willie-tokarev-in-new-york-concert/1913278.html|trans_title=Willi Tokarev: America and Russia should become genuine friends|title=Вилли Токарев: Америка и Россия должны подружиться по-настоящему|publisher=[[Voice of America]]|date=1 May 2014-05-13|accessdate=2014-10access-date=10 October 2014}}</small>-->

* {{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.rucom/books?id=Iq6fAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT192&lpg=PT192|title=The View from the Vysotka: A Portrait of Russia Today Through One of Moscow's Most Famous Addresses|first=Anne|last=Nivat|chapter=Chapter 21. Wing A. Entryway 9, Third Floor: Willy and Julia Tokarev|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2014|isbn=9781466865815}}

* {{Official website}} {{ruin iconlang|ru}}

[[Category:20thRussian singer-century male singerssongwriters]]

[[Category:21st20th-century American male musicianssingers]]