Biography of Ivan Kuchin
Ivan Leonidovich Kuchin is a performer of original songs, who became famous for his prison-themed compositions. He knows firsthand about life behind barbed wire, far from friends and family - he spent 12 years in prison.
Singer Ivan Kuchin
Among more than two hundred of his musical works, sung with soul and heart, the most popular were “Lilacs are Blooming,” “Man in a Padded Jacket,” “White Swan,” and “In the Tavern.”
Ivan Kuchin: biography
Ivan Leonidovich Kuchin is a Russian chansonnier, author of the hits “And in the tavern a violin is quietly crying”, “White Swan”, “Izba”. An artist with a difficult fate, who had to go through years of imprisonment, lose his family, his mother.
Chansonnier Ivan Kuchin
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Life's difficulties were reflected in the work of the author-performer, which the listeners could not help but feel. They respond to the singer with their devoted love for the sincerity and truthfulness of their feelings.
Childhood and youth
The future master of chanson was born on March 13, 1959 in the city of Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky, located 20 km from the border of the Trans-Baikal Territory with Buryatia. He grew up in a family of simple workers. In one of his rare interviews, he called himself a Buryat.
Ivan Kuchin's mother
His father was a driver by profession, his mother worked on the railway. 12 years after the birth of Vanya’s first child, his sister Lena was born into their family. The mother was mainly involved in raising the children, since the head of the family abused alcohol.
At an early age, Ivan did not demonstrate any special creative inclinations - he did not sing in the choir, did not attend music school, and did not write poetry. His bright individual identity, spiritual wealth, talent as a composer and performer of his own music emerged later.
Ivan Kuchin in his youth
After graduating from school, he and a friend went to the capital of the Republic of Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, and entered the pedagogical school in the art and graphic department, which graduated specialists with qualifications as teachers of drawing and drawing. However, he did not graduate from the educational institution, as he quickly realized that he had made a mistake in choosing a profession. Having dropped out of school, the young man was drafted into the army. He served not far from home, in the Trans-Baikal Military District, and was a signalman. After demobilization, he played guitar in restaurants in Yalta and dreamed of creating his own recording studio.
Ivan Kuchin always dreamed of his own recording studio
Biography
Born on March 13, 1959, in a working-class family. His father, Leonid Ivanovich, worked as a driver, his mother, Nina Innokentievna, was a railway worker[1].
He studied at the art and graphic department of the Ulan-Ude Pedagogical School. He served in the army, in the Transbaikal Military District.
He spent almost the entire period from 1980 to 1993 in prison (a total of 12 years) - he was convicted four times, each time for theft. The first album, “Returning Home,” was recorded in 1985, but was not distributed by the author because it was seized by the police during another arrest. The album was distributed by police officers, and now it is circulating somewhere around the country. After the death of his mother, whom Ivan was unable to bury while in prison, he never went to jail again, and only then began to seriously engage in songwriting.
In 1993, he began recording songs after being released from Abagur Lesnoy (IK-12). He has been performing as a singer-songwriter since 1994; before that, in 1986 he recorded an album, which was sold under different names throughout the territory of the former USSR. Naturally, no one knew about Ivan Leonidovich himself at that time; there was a misconception that Alexander Novikov was singing these songs.
In 1995 he goes to Moscow. In 1996, he rents an apartment, improves his daily life, marries a young woman (future singer Larisa Kuchina) originally from the Altai Territory and records the album “The Fate of a Thief,” which became a sales leader in 1997.[2] In 1999, Larisa Kuchina’s solo album “The Branch Broke” was released, the words and music were written by Kuchin, the arrangement was made by him. He divorced his wife, and since about 1999 he has lived with his younger sister Lena, who is the director and manager of a home studio. Ivan lives very secluded, but in recent years he has begun to perform quite often and visits the CIS countries.
In 2001, the patriotic album “Tsar Father” was released.
In 2003, the album “By the Rowan Road” was released, containing 3 new songs and new versions of old ones.
In 2004, the album “Cruel Romance” was released.
On June 7, 2012, Ivan Kuchin’s new album, “Heavenly Flowers,” was released. This is the poet’s first work in more than 7 years. Some songs from the record have been played at Ivan Leonidovich’s concerts since 2008. The album was released.
On January 27, 2020, Ivan Kuchin’s new album “Orphan’s Share” will be released.[3].
I went to jail once, then a second, a third, a fourth... I don’t know how long it would have lasted. But when my mother died, and I could not bury her, at that moment my soul awakened, and I began to understand that I had already become an adult for the rest of my days, that I had no one else to rely on, that I no longer had my beloved. person. That’s when I began to write poems and songs seriously (and not as before - in fits and starts!). So, I saw a dream and wrote the song “Dream”. I never thought that I would go on stage, I just felt a spiritual need to sing. I've been away for twelve years. But it’s not something I’m proud of. It’s just that every person, especially in his youth, makes mistakes: I made them for twelve years. I sat because of my youth and stupidity. He didn’t kill anyone, he didn’t rape anyone, he didn’t throw his grandmother into a well, but he whistled the equipment in the cultural center... Article one - 144th, all four times. I had a dream - to make my own studio, record music. I was born near Chita, in the city of Petrozabaikalsk. Three years ago I moved from Barnaul to Moscow. My wife and I live there very secluded. I work hard in my home studio, recording my albums myself. I don’t go out anywhere again (I don’t have a car). I don’t perform in Moscow, I don’t go to concerts of other artists. The first album, recorded in 1985, was not specifically distributed by the author, but was seized by the police during Kuchin’s next arrest. The police distributed it.
— Ivan Kuchin — interview from the late 1990s
Prison term
Soon after demobilization, Ivan earned his first prison term after being caught stealing musical equipment from a cultural center.
Then, until his final release in 1993, he was imprisoned three more times, spending approximately 12 years of his life in correctional labor institutions, while managing to maintain his human dignity.
Ivan Kuchin spent a total of 12 years in prison
He served his last sentence in a correctional colony in the village of Abagur-Lesnoy, which was part of Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo region. There he was overtaken by the news of the death of his dearest person - his mother. He couldn't even see her off on her last journey. This circumstance forced the man to radically change his position in life and, instead of stealing, devote it to creativity.
Creative path
The current master of art songs began composing musical plays while in prison in the 1980s. He recorded compositions in the chanson genre for his debut album “Coming Home” in 1987. But he did not have time to release his debut album, finding himself once again behind barbed wire. All the musical material was then confiscated by law enforcement officers during the arrest, but found a warm response among their friends.
In 1994, the pop performer appeared on the big stage with two albums - “Novelties of Camp Life” and “The Years Are Flying,” which included the composition “Man in a Padded Jacket,” which became a breakthrough.
In 1995, not having permanent housing at the age of 36, Ivan took a risk and went to Moscow. During this period, his soulful compositions were an incredible success, and he had no roof over his head, huddled in attics or basements in the capital.
At the beginning of his career, Ivan Kuchin lived in basements and attics
But a year later, with the financial help of his fans, Novokuznetsk entrepreneurs, he was able to improve his life and rent an apartment. His work received a huge response. By 1997, with the release of the disc “The Fate of a Thief,” which sold millions of copies, the artist became the best-selling singer in the chanson style in the country. He was finally able to buy his own home and a good recording studio. Particularly popular songs from this collection were “The Years Will Pass,” “In the Tavern,” and “The Lilac is Blooming.”
During that period, the musician’s first video was released (for the song “White Swan”), as well as two new records - “Chicago” and “Forbidden Zone” with the hits “Loaded Revolver”, “Sweetheart”, “Rowan Bush”, “Sentimental Detective” "
In 1998, the performer pleased his admirers with another collection called “The Seal of the Cross.” It included 14 compositions, including “A on Black Eyelashes”, “Ring”, “Crystal Vase”, “Ordinary”, “Pain”. The artist also began to successfully tour with concerts in Russian cities.
Listeners fell in love with Ivan Kuchin’s music
The musician’s next album, entitled “Tsar Father,” appeared on store shelves only in 2001. It revealed him to his listeners as a more mature, humble and wise author and person. According to some critics, many of his tracks - “Counselor”, “Black Horse”, “Ledum”, “Native Places” - will definitely go down in the history of Russian literature. For them, the songwriter was awarded the Order “For Service in the Caucasus,” awarded to him personally by the Hero of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Gennady Troshev. These songs then helped many soldiers survive the hardships of military operations in Chechnya.
During this period, the extraordinary singer-songwriter moved with his sister to a village near Moscow, where he created everything necessary for creativity, equipped his own studio, where he himself wrote music, lyrics, made arrangements, piano and guitar accompaniment. In 2003, his disc “Rowan By the Road” was released. It includes time-tested and favorite songs and new finds.
A year later, his discography was replenished with the album “Cruel Romance” with the compositions “Gray Dress”, “Night”, “Neighbor”, “Friend”, “Pink Horse”. In 2012, he released a 13-track disc “Heavenly Flowers”, which included the songs “Black Woman”, “Mother’s Tears”, “Bay Horse”, “Bells”, “Willow”, “Hedgehog”.
In 2014, a new project by the pop artist “Black Gold” appeared, combining such compositions as “Ex-Convict”, “Villain Fate”, “High School Student”, “Beggar Woman”. A year later, he presented to the audience the disc “Orphan’s Share,” containing 14 songs (“The Years Are Flying,” “Krovinka,” “Unsuccessful Escape,” “On the Edge”), distinguished by their unique melody and signature style of the author. In 2016, he released the collection “Collection of Greatest Hits. Best songs".
Music
Ivan Kuchin began writing music in the early 80s while in prison. The first song “Crystal Vase” appeared in 1985, the artist will release it on the disc of the same name exactly 10 years later. Later in an interview, Ivan Kuchin told the story of how this song came about. He borrowed its plot from a conversation with an elderly prisoner who had been in prison since Stalin's times. Later, other poems appeared, with which the author filled seven notebooks. Miraculously, the material survived in the zone, because during the searches all prisoners’ records were destroyed.
Ivan Kuchin - “Crystal Vase”
In 1987, the singer recorded musical compositions in the chanson style for the first collection, “Coming Home,” but did not have time to publish them, since the entire film was confiscated by law enforcement officers. The album reaches the people through acquaintances and friends of police officers who liked the prisoner’s musical compositions. Among the first fans there were rumors that the author of the songs was Alexander Novikov.
Having moved to Moscow after his release, Ivan recorded two discs at the Marathon studio: “New Camp Lyrics” and “The Years Are Flying.” The second album included the artist’s first hit, “Man in a Padded Jacket.” The chansonnier’s work attracted the interest of Siberian entrepreneurs, who financed Kuchin’s third disc, “The Fate of a Thief.” The collection includes the hits “And in the tavern a violin is quietly crying”, “Lilacs are blooming”, “Years will pass” and “White Swan”. Within a year, the artist’s disc sold millions of copies. Based on the documentary video, Kuchin’s first video, “White Swan,” was created.
Ivan Kuchin - “Man in a Padded Jacket”
Ivan does not stop after his first success, since over the years he has accumulated a lot of musical material, and releases two more albums - “Forbidden Zone” and “Chicago”, which includes the songs “Sentimental Detective”, “Sweetheart”, “Bandit Knife”, “ Rowan bush." In 1998, the artist’s collection “Cross Seal” appeared on the shelves of music stores. Ivan Kuchin begins to tour with concerts, the artist is happily received in all cities of Russia.
Ivan Kuchin - “And in the tavern a violin is quietly crying...”
Having achieved financial well-being, Ivan purchases an apartment in Moscow and arranges his personal life. The artist’s next work appeared only in 2001. The disc was called “Tsar Father” and contained tracks written on non-prison topics: “Ledum”, “Photocard”, “Native Places”, “Counselor”. Videos were created for the songs “Tsar Father” and “Black Horse”.
Ivan Kuchin - “Ledum”
In the same year, the songwriter was honored to receive the Order “For Service in the Caucasus,” which was presented to the singer by General G. N. Troshin. Musical compositions often became an outlet for Russian soldiers that prevented them from falling into despair while participating in hostilities in Chechnya. The prison-themed song “Freedom” also becomes a hit.
In 2003, the artist’s discography was replenished with the collection “Rowan By the Road,” consisting mainly of hits from past years. A year later, the album “Cruel Romance” appears with the songs “Talyanka”, “Friend”, “Night”.
Ivan Kuchin - “There is a mountain ash on the road”
The artist’s next studio recording took place only 8 years later, but songs for the album “Heavenly Flowers” appeared in Ivan Kuchin’s repertoire starting in the late 2000s, and some (“Black Woman”) have waited in the wings since the artist’s time in prison. In an interview, Ivan Kuchin compared the songs for this album to precious wines that only get better with age. The artist explained such a long period of recording the disc by saying that he works independently, without producer support. He earns money to create and arrange songs through solo concerts.
The artist saved material for a full-fledged collection and in 2012 pleased fans with the tracks “Verba”, “Hedgehog”, “Caravan”, as well as a video for the song “Pacific Ocean” from the album of the late 90s. On January 27, 2015, the ninth album “Orphan’s Share” was released. A video was created for the song of the same name based on documentary footage.
Ivan Kuchin - “The Pacific Ocean”
Announcements of events and videos from concerts regularly appear in the artist’s unofficial communities on the VKontakte network. In 2020, Kuchin’s collection “Collection of Super Hits. Best songs". In 2017, Ivan Kuchin already visited several large centers of Russia: Pskov, Novosibirsk, Ufa.
According to the artist, he does not perform in the zone, since during his 12 years behind bars he developed an allergy to such a life. Reflecting on his own songs, Ivan Kuchin explains their popularity by the fact that he writes not about camps or prisons, but about a person who finds himself in a difficult, sometimes hopeless situation.
Personal life of Ivan Kuchin
The performer of the original song is divorced. He met his ex-wife Larisa in 1992 in Barnaul. She was a fan of his work and went to all his concerts. He loved her very much, dedicated songs to her, and helped release her solo album “A Broken Branch” in 1999, where he wrote all the lyrics and musical accompaniment.
Ivan Kuchin helped his ex-wife Larisa record an album
But the happiness did not last long - his young wife betrayed him, and they divorced. According to rumors, Larisa left for a younger man. The breakup had a hard impact on the creative nature.
After this, the musician became close to his younger sister Elena (married to Ogneva), who also had no family or children. She became his manager. They decided to live together in a village house, just as their late mother wanted.
Ivan Kuchin now
In 2020, the artist visited several Russian cities with concerts, including Novosibirsk, Pskov, Ufa, and presented listeners with both songs already loved by many and new compositions. In 2020, he worked on creating a new album.
Ivan Kuchin loves to communicate with his fans
The singer does not strive for publicity, prefers life and creativity in the village, in solitude, performing once a month and calling these performances not concerts, but meetings with friends. For a good half of the evening he simply communicates with his fans and answers their questions. As a matter of principle, he does not use the services of image makers, producers, or show directors.
“Ivan Kuchin is 60”
In the cold winter of 1996, in one of the Moscow passages in a music stall, I saw two audio cassettes “From camp lyrics” and “Crystal Vase”, the latter was generally decorated simply, ascetically.
I only bought the first one... there was no money, and the name Ivan Kuchin didn’t mean anything... I came home, printed it out, put it on and... and away we go - no one was writing such songs at that moment. There was no such style of arrangement, poetic style and such truly genre vocals.
And a year later, when Ivan Kuchin’s songs began to sound from every recording kiosk, a cassette and CD appeared - “The Fate of a Thieves”, which had the effect of a bomb exploding. At that moment, only Mikhail Krug and Alexander Novikov worked widely in the genre, everyone else made a very big nod towards the stage and the genre, it seemed, then went a little downhill... Oh, there was also Alexander Dyumin, who held the bar for everyone.
Not long ago we were talking with Mikhail Aleksandrovich Gulko, talking about the genre, modern authors, and suddenly he started talking about Ivan Kuchin:
- Mishanya, believe me, one of the brightest musicians for me and the most decent - Ivan Kuchin... he recently sent me his “Soldier” - I listened to it with tears... and once we were at the same concert with Vanya playing jazz - this must be heard... a very strong musician...
I think such a characteristic is worth a lot.
After Ivan Kuchin, many adopted this style and style of arrangement and off they went: Andrey Klimnyuk, the Butyrka group and many, many others... But it so happened that just as Ivan Kuchin was a lonely star in the sky, he remained so, moving to a safe distance from show business so as not to get dirty. He still writes only his own poems, his own music and his own arrangements, which he continues to improve. Despite the breaks in his work, he does not cease to be a relevant and modern author, and even, it seems, having changed his themes somewhat and recorded the “War Album”, he remained true to himself. He doesn’t have a single award, not even the “Chanson of the Year” award, but he draws packed houses all over the world...
He has a sharp tongue, knows his own worth, but remains a true artist from the people, still tours and can easily sing a cappella in the hall...
They say that Ivan Kuchin has hundreds of songs in stock, many of which are still waiting in the wings and we are waiting for them.
Publicist Viktor Platunov wrote a five-volume book about the work of Ivan Leonidovich Kuchin: “I am writing to you, mother..”, “Chicago”, “What is worse - death or prison?!”, “Rose on Blood...” and “Portrait”.
Happy birthday, Ivan Leonidovich! New songs and new records!
Text by Mikhail Dyukov blatata.com
Photo by Victor Zolotukhin blatata.com
