Failed teacher
In 1985, a significant meeting took place between Leonid Yaroshevsky and the future pop star. At that time, he was the leader of a jazz-rock quartet and was looking for a vocal soloist for his ensemble. He attended vocal competitions and at one of them he saw a young creature with blond hair. Ninth-grader Allochka stood out from other girls - calm, collected and serious beyond her years. Leonid recorded the data and soon went to provincial Atkarsk to meet the performer.
Alla's mother was categorically against her musical career - the girl was supposed to become a historian, and she saw no other future for her. The only and decisive trump card was Yaroshevsky’s statement that the Philharmonic would give the girl the opportunity to enter the Gnessin Institute, and this already promised completely different opportunities and earnings in the future. Having received her mother’s consent, he takes Allochka to Saratov.
Cabbage, erotica and wedding
At first, seventeen-year-old Alla lived in a hotel, but in 1985 such expenses were burdensome for a simple musician, and soon the girl moved to the apartment of Leonid Vladimirovich Yaroshevsky. By that time, he had divorced his wife, but still had no illusions about his soloist. For two years they lived as neighbors and shared together all the hardships of artistic life. The stores had empty shelves, but Alla masterfully knew how to cook cauliflower cutlets. The young man could not help but like such a mistress, and he proposed.
Having received a blessing from their mother, they had a modest wedding at home. The life of two people from the world of art began. Traveling around cities and villages, cold hotel rooms, outdoor toilets and the lack of any progress. At some point, Leonid received an offer to place his wife in a new musical group. But even Alla herself did not like the repertoire. She continued to sing in restaurants and taverns, and “Combination” with their simple songs became a popular group.
To somehow stay afloat, the girl even sang in an erotic show. Any income was necessary. The family had already moved to the capital, where life was more expensive, but it did not acquire any benefits.
How Valeria ruined the life of her first husband Leonid Yaroshevsky
Now the popular singer Valeria is happy with her third husband. Joseph Prigogine is not only the husband, but also the singer’s producer. The whole country was talking about Valeria’s divorce from her second husband. This has been the subject of many talk shows on television screens.
However, not everyone knows that the star also had her first husband, who was also from a musical background. The famous pianist Leonid Yaroshevsky, that was the name of Valeria’s first wife, although he was not married to the singer for a long time, he managed to love her with all his heart. After her departure, Leonid could no longer build family relationships with any woman. He still lives alone.
An entire book entitled “Valeria “Steam Locomotive” from Aktarsk” is dedicated to Valeria Yaroshevsky.
He was just looking for a soloist for the ensemble
Initially, Leonid Yaroshevsky came from a family of musicians. His father and mother created and worked in the vocal and instrumental ensemble “Singing Hearts”. Leonid did not want to join the ensemble, as he considered himself a jazz musician. It was with jazz music that he connected his future.
Leonid gathers his jazz ensemble “Impulse”. Young talents were soon noticed and invited to take part in the Moscow Music Festival. And then the problem arose. The fact is that the ensemble did not have a soloist. Yaroshevsky decided to start searching. This was not an easy task, since a jazz singer needs a singer with a strong and clear voice.
One day Leonid took part in a concert in his hometown of Saratov. Suddenly he heard a voice of amazing power. Interested in the strong voice and pleasant timbre, Yaroshevsky came out from behind the curtains to look at the singer. He saw a girl in front of him (the future star was still at school). As the pianist recalls, he was immediately struck by the singer’s huge blue eyes.
Having learned the girl’s name and who her parents were, Leonid went to Aktarsk. There he immediately came to the music school to talk with Alla Perfilova’s father. The man was the director of a music school. By coincidence, Alla was in a music school. Leonid invited her to become a soloist in his ensemble, but before that he asked her to perform something else without preparation. After carefully listening to the piece of music, Yaroshevsky was once again convinced that Alla was what he needed. As for Alla Perfilova herself, she agreed to perform in the ensemble with great joy. She saw her future on stage.
Alla Perfilova, 9th grade
There is only one problem left to solve - to convince Alla’s mother to let her daughter leave Aktarsk for Saratov. At first, the mother did not agree because her daughter was under 18 years old. In addition, Alla had to finish school, pass exams and go to college. Yaroshevsky had to give many arguments to get his mother to agree. Finally, the woman was convinced by the fact that her daughter would enter the Gnessin College of Music. Indeed, at the Saratov Philharmonic it was possible to get a referral to a reception in Moscow.
Future Valeria and her mother
Husband and wife
Soon Leonid realized that he had found not only a soloist for his jazz ensemble, but also his true love. He decided to divorce his wife. After the divorce, he could, without hiding his feelings, take care of Valeria. However, at first it was a purely platonic relationship. Leonid helped Alla pay rent.
After the divorce, he invited the young talent to move in with him. At that time there were no close ties between them. The girl's inaccessibility and her beauty connected the pianist more and more with her every day.
At this time, Alla achieved great success. She performed quite successfully, first at a youth festival in Moscow, and then at a competition in Jurmala. It was then that Yaroshevsky chose two steps. First he left the conservatory, where he showed great promise. Leonid did this because he realized that he needed to choose one thing. It was necessary either to develop Alla’s talent and promote her on the steps of the stellar Olympus, or to engage in her education and creativity. Leonid chose the first option. He decided to devote himself and his life to his beloved girl, who had high hopes.
When Yaroshevsky proposed marriage to Panfilova one evening, she immediately agreed. The young people played a modest wedding and went with the ensemble to perform in resort towns.
Having earned some money, the couple set off to conquer Moscow. Here they managed to get into one of the restaurants. Then they began to receive invitations to perform in other restaurants and bars. One day, Alla was noticed and invited to perform in the very popular female group “Combination” in the 90s. The girl refused the offer, as she preferred to perform a serious repertoire rather than “light” songs about “an accountant” and “sausage”. This decision was supported by Alla's husband. They continued their further performances in bars and restaurants.
Everything changed after Alla Panfilova met with producer Alexander Shulgin. He heard the girl singing and offered her cooperation. However, for this it was necessary to go to Germany for a short time to record the first solo album.
see also
Life
unequal marriage, family happiness and a beautiful daughter
parting
When Alla agreed to record a solo album and was going to go to Germany, Leonid did not object. After all, he understood that such a chance should not be missed. But Yaroshevsky’s soul scratched the cats. After all, Shulgin is a fairly famous producer and a rich man. This was evident from his car and clothes.
The pianist admits that he has always lived by the principle: no one can be close to himself. If a person wants to leave, he will leave. Therefore, Leonid freed his wife together with Alexander Shulgin.
However, after his arrival, it became clear to Yaroshevsky that the producer and Alla were connected not only by business relations. Everything was clear from the changes that occurred in Alla’s behavior. She became a stranger to Leonid, often leaving the house, citing the fact that she had a business meeting with Shulgin. Yaroshevsky suspected that he would soon have a serious conversation with his wife. However, it did not come to this, since Alla left one day, but did not return home for the night. She only came the next day to pick up her things. Then the pianist decided to talk to the producer, but it was useless. Alexander Shulgin assured Leonid Yaroshevsky that Alla would leave him anyway. It's just a matter of time.
It is difficult to imagine the feelings of a deceived husband. Leonid was so bad that he even tried to take his own life. Fortunately, he was rescued and provided timely assistance.
Life without a beloved woman
The divorce from Yaroshevsky was very difficult. The pianist could not find a place for himself. Therefore, when he was offered to go to work in Germany, the pianist happily agreed. He went headlong to work to forget and start a new life. Everything worked fine. Leonid Yaroshevsky built a fairly successful career in Germany. The pianist still lives in this European country and has no plans to return.
Leonid Yaroshevsky years later
As for her personal life, her first husband, Valeria, did not work. He himself explains this by saying that he has never met a woman whom he could love as much as his ex-wife.
Leonid Yaroshevsky spoke about the reasons that prompted him to write a book about Valeria. He often read lies about their relationship in interviews with his ex-wife. Therefore, I decided to tell the readers everything as it really happened.
Leonid Yaroshevsky now
Divorce
In one of the restaurants on Taganka, Alla was noticed by the then eminent producer Alexander Shulgin. His track record already included work with Cruise, and he often traveled abroad. All this impressed the girl, although she did not take his proposal to create a joint project seriously. The producer was persistent, and soon they were already working on the first song and video. All this irritated Yaroshevsky - even then he suspected something was wrong. The wife was constantly absent. And he was barred from entering the set.
Very little time passed and he heard fatal words from his wife about divorce, although very shortly before that she called Shulgin fat and disgusting. Leonid did not start scandals and after the divorce he went to work abroad.
Loose body
In the late 80s and
early 90s, musicians in restaurants earned much more than those who worked at theaters and philharmonic societies.
So Leonid and Alla settled into a bar near the Taganka Theater, where the main audience were foreigners. In this establishment, the singer met Alexander Shulgin. “He invited Alla to audition in Germany - in a studio with which he has been collaborating for a long time. Everything looked convincing. At that time, I was so confident in Alla that it never occurred to me to stop all contacts with Shulgin. Alla ordered a suit from a seamstress she knew especially for the trip. When the outfit was ready, it was decided to show it to Shulgin in the hope of hearing his approval. “Only prostitutes dress like that in the West,” was his reaction.
For some reason, Alla returned from this trip alone. They say Shulgin has some business to attend to. Arriving home, the singer immediately began to show off the clothes that someone gave her there.
- “Listen, Shulgin is so fat, disgusting, can you imagine his pink, fat, doughy body?” I looked at her questioningly. “Well, they have a pool in their studio, he was sunbathing there,” she explained. Something bad was swirling inside me again.
Young Alla at the poster of the group “Impulse”, led by Leonid
A little later, Shulgin decided to shoot a video. I arrived and got on the bus in which the filming participants were. Alla was inside, Shulgin was there too. “Hello, Sasha,” I turned to him. Silence in response. While I was drinking tea and looking around, Shulgin called Alla. After which she returned to me with the words: “Sasha says that your name is not on the list of participants in the shooting of the video.” I was disturbing him, but I heard it from her.
Leonid swallowed his insult.
As 1991 approached, work on the project was in full swing.
A question arose about a creative pseudonym for Alla. — Two Allas would be too much for one country. We began to think and went through all the possible options. I liked the name Lera, and I suggested to Alla that she take it for the stage. A few days later, Alla told me that Shulgin came up with the name Valeria, and even later, during the divorce of the star couple, the whole country learned that, it turns out, they wanted to name her that way at birth.
But the worst happened later, when Shulgin finished working on the video for the rising star.
“Sasha called and invites you to watch the video. Can I go? I was speechless. I could roughly guess what it meant to “watch a video” together with a young woman at night. Well, go ahead... You are an adult and have the right to decide for yourself what you can do and what you cannot do. Having quickly put herself in order, Alla got ready and left, but I couldn’t find a place for myself. It’s the first hour of the night, but she’s still not there. I called Shulgin. “Yes, Lenya, it’s too late to go home, I’ll come tomorrow.” She appeared the next day as if nothing had happened. She didn’t explain anything, but simply said: “Sasha said that we need to break up.” I asked her to meet with Shulgin. “Tell me, Sasha, what if things don’t work out between you and Alla?” - I asked. “Then someone else will pick it up,” was his answer.
Yaroshevsky could not stand it. Going outside, he bought a package of some sleeping pills, poured all the pills into his mouth and began to wait until he fell asleep forever. Deciding to enhance the effect of the sleeping pills, Leonid looked into the nearest pub.
“She always sang well,” says Leonid
“I probably looked pretty strange at that time, so the local boys pestered me.” Not realizing what would happen to me after, I took out an army canister of “Cheremukhi” and doused the entire gang.
Later, Valeria will tell in one of her interviews that I “calculated” the number of pills and took just enough of them so as not to die. What can I say? Let this next “little lie” remain on her conscience.
And the next day, when I arrived home, Alla said that she would live with Shulgin for now, since it was unsafe for her to stay here, because those hooligans came to her and demanded money. Soon Shulgin arrived, she quickly packed her things, and they left. A few days later, her parents arrived in Moscow. I don’t know for what reason, but the young people did not invite them to live with them, although Shulgin then had two apartments. And out of old memory, they stayed with me. I gave them my sofa, and I slept in the kitchen, borrowing a cot from a friend.
Soon Yaroshevsky had to move out of this rented apartment - the owner returned. He had nowhere to go, so he settled in the back room of the bar where he worked.
— Life was difficult, but possible. The synthesizer saved me - the only thing left from my past life. I composed all day and night and made a solo jazz program. And then the phone rang again...
— Lenya, you have a synthesizer, bought with our common money. Give me back my part urgently, I need to invest money in shares. And in Saratov, you and I bought bookshelves - six pieces - and two armchairs. So, three shelves and one chair need to be given to my mother.
I sold the synthesizer and went to take the money. Alla opened the door. At first I didn’t even recognize her - she had gained a lot of weight and was rounder. She was expecting a child - the same one with whom her mother so asked us not to rush. Later, Valeria will tell in an interview that she crashed the car and had to pay for the damage. She supposedly didn’t know where and how I lived, but if she had known, she would, of course, have called. But I told her about it!
Was it or wasn't it?
Not so long ago, Yaroshevsky wrote a book about his acquaintance and life with Valeria. He also attributes the authorship of her pseudonym to himself. In particular, he declares that he will never in his life believe that Shulgin beat his wife and she endured all this for 10 years. He remembers how quickly and sharply she fought back against the gopniks in bars, and the scar from the knife on her leg is most likely from her old boil. Valeria's first husband, Leonid Vladimirovich Yaroshevsky, believes that this was a smart PR move for the singer. He is also sure that their mutual acquaintances are not deceiving when they say that Shulgin will not beat him in vain.
He considers Valeria’s success and popularity to be his merit, because thanks to him, Valeria entered Gnesinka and took the first steps towards success. Has he forgiven the betrayal? No, and he is unlikely to ever forget this betrayal. Leonid will not tire of refuting the words of his ex that they broke up even before she began her affair with Shulgin.
Now Yaroshevsky lives in Germany and works as a musician in a restaurant. He did not marry for the third time and has no children. He gives interviews willingly, because it promotes sales of his book. Photos of Leonid Vladimirovich Yaroshevsky often appear on the pages of newspapers and magazines, but only in connection with his new revelations about life with Valeria.
Knife in the leg
Well, then things started to happen: performances, tours... Yaroshevsky took care of Alla in every possible way and helped her, while somehow still managing to study at the Saratov Conservatory.
True, then he still had to quit his studies - all his time was spent promoting Perfilova.
“During our communication, I became very attached to her. But I'm 26, and she's only 18. I couldn't afford to get into a serious relationship with a girl who's eight years younger than me. And Alla, it seemed to me, didn’t particularly want this.
The summer of 1987 was approaching. By this time, she had successfully passed the qualifying round for the Jurmala pop song festival, which took place in Sverdlovsk. We went there together - I had to accompany her. On the spot, it suddenly became clear that all the contestants would sing to instrumental soundtracks, despite the fact that many had arrived with their own musicians. I managed to negotiate with the Gorky ensemble to help record the accompaniment for the performance. Fortunately, everything went well, and Alla reached the finals of the competition.
Inspired by success, Leonid put on his evening suit, bought a bouquet of roses and went to Alla’s mother to
ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage.
“Everything happened surprisingly easily and quickly: mom didn’t object, and Alla agreed. But they decided to hold the wedding after the festival, so that they could calmly prepare for their performance on the largest variety television show in the country. My sister, composer Natalya Maslova
, wrote beautiful songs and exactly in the style that we needed.
She also knew how to sew. While we lived in Saratov, she made a lot of original and fashionable clothes for Alla, which she wore with pleasure. Later, in Moscow, already living with Shulgin
, Alla broke off all contacts with people from my circle, including my sister. During the difficult 90s, Natasha and her husband moved to Moscow. There, my sister tried to contact Alla, but... By that time, having already become Valeria, Alla did not help Natasha in Moscow either as a composer or as a person.
Galina Nikolaevna wanted Alla to become a history teacher, and could not even think that her daughter would grow into a pop star
Unfortunately, at that competition, Perfilova did not even make it to the second round.
Leonid was terribly upset, but Alla did not lose heart - after all, a wedding loomed ahead.
— In Saratov, a wedding dress could be bought using coupons from the registry office. Oh my God! Well, don’t wear these curtains and tulle accessories, passed off as a dress, to a wedding! The solution was found by itself and quite quickly. Alla’s cousin just recently got married and still has her wedding dress - foreign, very beautiful, with a veil, a hat and all sorts of incredible bells and whistles. It suited Alla very well. The wedding took place at our home, the closest people were there. Galina Nikolaevna, Alla’s mother, kept repeating: “Lenya, please, don’t rush with the children, let Alla finish college first.”
Soon after the wedding, the variety and satirical theater "Mikro" went on tour -
Minvody, Sochi, Crimea.
For Alla and Leni it was like a honeymoon. - And this has to happen - Alla has a boil on her leg. He grew up and was terribly sick. Alla couldn’t even work, she was lying in her room. Five days later, the abscess burst, leaving an impressive scar on his leg. Wasn’t it this scar that Valeria later referred to when she talked about how Shulgin stuck a knife in her leg?
The singer entered into her first marriage in 1987
Another look
Valeria never said a single bad word about her first husband. She was always grateful for everything he did for her. But she does not consider herself obligated to him, and after his scandalous interviews she stopped talking about him.
But her third husband, Joseph Prigozhin, considers Leonid Vladimirovich Yaroshevsky not a very decent person. What else can you call a person who waited 33 years to release a book and profit from its scandalous contents?
