Biography of singer Nikolai Trubach
Nikolai Kharkovets (Trumpeter) was born in the village of Peresadovo, Nikolaev region, Ukrainian SSR in April 1970. The boy grew up obedient and flexible, and began helping his parents early - he worked in the fields and played the trumpet at rural events. Nikolai’s musical talent was noted by his school teacher, who also gave him recommendations for entering the Semyon Denkovich pop orchestra. The experience gained during his school years allowed the young man to easily enter a specialized school in Nikolaevsk.
The admissions committee highly appreciated Nikolai's abilities, and he was accepted immediately into the second year of music school. And it was this period of his life that helped him decide on a pseudonym - in 1988, Nikolai received a diploma as a choral conductor and trumpeter.
Then there was service in the ranks of the Soviet army, where the young man continued his development in music - in the second year of service he was transferred to the orchestra of one of the units of the border troops near the city of Anapa.
Nikolai Trubach: I’m not chasing money because of a serious illness
Sobesednik.ru found out why the once popular singer Nikolai Trubach disappeared from the stage.
Today, singer Nikolai Trubach rarely appears in music shows and television programs; he can rarely be seen at parties and clubs. But in the late 90s, the name of this artist thundered throughout the country. Perhaps everyone knew his song “Blue Moon”. But at the peak of success, Nikolai Trubach disappeared from the scene. Many years later, the musician told us about the disease that suddenly struck him, to whom he owed his salvation, and also told us about the happy accident that gave him a role in a movie.
The author and performer of such hits as “Blue Moon”, “Women’s Love” and “5 Minutes” celebrated his birthday on the stage of the Moscow House of Cinema, where on April 11, 2020, the premiere of Alla Surikova’s new comedy melodrama “Love and Sax” took place. In the new film of the famous director, whom the whole country knows and loves for such films as “Be My Husband”, “Look for a Woman” and “The Man from the Boulevard des Capuchins”, Nikolai played a bandit.
“I got into cinema by chance,” recalls Nikolai. – At one of the elite parties, we found ourselves at the same table with Alla Ilyinichna Surikova, whom I have adored since childhood. The whole country loves her comedies, and I am no exception. We got to talking, and Surikova liked my humor. A few days later she called me and invited me to star in her film, a musical comedy, in one of the very juicy, bright roles. In the film “Love and Sax” I play a hardened bandit, with a huge mustache and many scars on his face. My hero looks very scary, but at heart he is good-natured,” the musician laughs.
The film “Love and Sax” is the story of a talented jazz saxophonist who is going through a personal and creative crisis. Nikolai Trubach admits that his fate is somewhat similar to the life of the main character of this film. Since childhood, Nikolai Kharkovets, this is the artist’s real name, adored music and singing. During his school years, he began playing the trumpet in a children's pop orchestra, and in 1985 he immediately entered the 2nd year of music school, from which he graduated with two specialties - choral conductor and trumpet player.
“I saw that trumpeters are always in front at parades and concerts,” Nikolai recalls his student years. “It seemed to me then that girls liked trumpeters.” And in those days the trumpet was a fashionable instrument. To my great pleasure and joy, the teachers who tested my physical and musical abilities agreed that the trumpet was the instrument on which I could achieve success.
This artist has many popular hits, but he especially highlights one of his songs. The shocking and provocative composition “Blue Moon,” which Trubach performed in a duet with Boris Moiseev, has been called a hit of all times for more than 20 years.
– I wrote it literally in one day. It was as if inspiration had descended from above,” the musician recalls. – When Boris Moiseev and I performed this musical ballad in the “Song of the Year” program, the hall exploded with applause. That's when it became clear that a hit was born.
In the late 90s, Trumpeter, at the very peak of his popularity, suddenly disappeared from the stage. His concerts were canceled without any explanation. The disappearance remained a secret for fans and colleagues, and only those closest to him knew that he was seriously ill. Exhausting tours undermined my health, and bilateral pneumonia began.
With his wife // Photo: Global Look Press
“Back then it was impossible to look at me without pain,” the artist recalls. – I lost a lot of weight, I weighed only 56 kilograms, which is half my usual weight. It was a terrible sight. I felt terrible: not only could I not work, sing or play the trumpet, I couldn’t even wash myself in the shower without outside help. The doctors did everything possible, but for a long time I did not feel better. Then the doctors started talking about surgery to remove the lung, which, without a doubt, would make me creatively disabled, because I don’t know any singers with one lung.
Nikolai spent about two months in Moscow Hospital No. 23. Not only the best doctors fought for his life, but also his wife Elena, whom Nikolai Trubach calls his guardian angel. The musician’s wife brought foreign medicines, studied the technique of restorative breathing exercises and categorically forbade doctors to perform surgery to remove the lung.
– I owe my salvation primarily to my wife Lena. She is the main wrestler and fighter, it was she who did not let me be stabbed. The doctors kicked her out of their offices, but she did not give up and in the end she was right. Therefore, to the last drop of blood I will be grateful to her for this.
After his illness, Nikolai radically changed his life. He gave up a big musical career, but in return, as the singer says, he received a happy family. Today, at 47, looking back, the musician admits that he has no regrets. His wife Elena not only put the artist on his feet, but also gave birth to two beautiful daughters.
“My illness became a signal that it was time to stop this wild race for success and money. I slowed down in time and am still working very measuredly. If I suddenly feel tired, I immediately take a vacation. I am very attentive to my health: I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I play sports. I lead an active lifestyle, write a lot of songs for different artists, and act in films. And I am very glad that over the last 15 years I have been able to pay enough attention to my family, my children. I think that I made the right decision - to end the crazy dance in our show business, which many of my colleagues are suffering from.
Maria Wingart
Career of Nikolai Trubach
Nikolai Trubach did not make any specific career plans in his youth, he was simply engaged in creativity. The opportunity to sing, even on the stage of small restaurants and clubs, completely satisfied him. He made his first test recordings while still serving in the army, and it was he who fell into the hands of producer Kim Breitburg, and he, in turn, showed them to Fridland Evgeniy, and he showed them to the Meladze brothers.
Nikolai Trubach at that time worked as a teacher at a music school in Peresadovo. There he was found by representatives of the Dialogue studio and convinced to go to Moscow and record several songs on professional equipment.
In 1995, it became obvious that Nikolai Trubach’s move to the capital was inevitable - the debutant’s songs were so popular that the organizers of all national concerts wanted to see him at their events. Over 5 years, Trumpeter released 7 solo albums:
- "History" (1997),
- «22» (1198),
- "Adrenaline" (2001),
- “White...” (2002),
- “Best Songs” (2003),
- “I don’t regret anything” (2007),
- “Were and We Will Be” (2012).
A scandal surrounding the singer’s name broke out in the late 90s, after he performed the song “Blue Moon” in a duet with the outrageous Boris Moiseev. Rumors and speculation about his sexuality did not frighten Trubach, he recorded another song with Boris and shot a video for it. Moreover, Trumpeter was also supported by other pop music performers - members of the group “Prime Minister” appeared in the video with them.
In the 2000s, the singer's career began to decline. But fans know that he did not give up creativity, writes new compositions, tours and even starred in two films.
Music
While living in Peresadovka, Nikolai Trubach visited Moscow, where he collaborated with the Meladze brothers and recorded his first hits “Women’s Love”, “Five Minutes” and “Learn to Play the Guitar” in the “Dialogue” studio. Trubach wrote the songs during his army service in Anapa, and thanks to Breitburg and Fridland they were heard in Russia and Ukraine. The musician felt comfortable in his parents' home and earned money by playing in restaurants and at weddings. He was not eager to move to the noisy capital, but in 1995 his career gained momentum, and a move to Moscow became inevitable.
In the summer of 1997, Nikolai Trubach recorded his first disc, “History,” which included hits heard on radio and television. In 1998, the 27-year-old musician gave fans his second album, called “Twenty Two.” It included revised songs from the first disc and 5 new ones, among them the hit “Blue Moon”, performed solo.
Nikolai Trubach and Boris Moiseev
The final of the 1990s saw the peak of Nikolai Trubach’s popularity, which was facilitated by a duet with Boris Moiseev with the same “Blue Moon”. A video clip was shot for the hit, which was regularly shown on TV. Another joint composition with Moiseev based on the words and music of Breitburg is “The Nutcracker”. A video also appeared for the song, in which Nikolai Trubach performed an excerpt from the ballet of the same name by Pyotr Tchaikovsky on the trumpet. The group “Prime Minister”, which was gaining momentum, starred in the video clip.
For many, “Blue Moon” performed by Trubach and Moiseev became a reason to convict the singer of non-traditional sexual orientation, to which Nikolai retorted:
“If I sang with Borya, it doesn’t mean I’m gay.”
Nikolai Trubach opened the new century with a new hit, recorded in a duet with friend and singer Igor Sarukhanov. In 2000, the performers presented music lovers with the song “Boat”. The composition was included in the new album “Adrenaline” in 2001. The following year is marked by the premiere of a new disc - “White...”. For the title, Nikolai Trubach used the song of the same name, which became the title track of the album.
In the same 2002, Nikolai Trubach, in a duet with Alexander Marshal, gave fans the song “I Live in Paradise,” which became a hit. This was the end of the bright streak in the performer’s career. The trumpeter broke his contract with producer Fridland. Rumor has it that Nikolai could not speak openly about his orientation, but was obliged to keep the intrigue, without confirming or denying rumors about “gayness.” At that time, the singer was married, his two daughters were growing up, and he was tired of intrusive rumors and gossip.
But there was another reason why Nikolai Trubach, being at the peak of his career, disappeared from show business for a decade and a half: the musician became seriously ill. Intense concert and touring activities without rest or weekends, cold in hotels without hot water, hasty treatment of colds and chronic fatigue resulted in double pneumonia. The singer was hospitalized with her, but a week later, not wanting to let the producers down, Nikolai escaped from the hospital room.
Nikolai Trubach on stage
The disease worsened, and the doctors, having examined the newly admitted patient, were horrified: the diagnosis left no chance of survival. Nikolai Trubach was offered to remove one lung, but the operation would have put an end to his career. The musician refused and together with his wife fought for life and full recovery. The treatment turned out to be lengthy: Nikolai spent a year in the hospital ward.
In 2007, the vocalist reminded of himself by releasing the album “I Don’t Regret Anything...”, and in 2011, in a duet with Sarukhanov, he sang and recorded a video for the song “Lucky Ticket”. In 2012, Nikolai Trubach, who returned to the stage, presented music lovers with the album “Were and We Will Be,” which included a joint composition with Igor Sarukhanov and the songs “Daughter,” “Love Unloved” and “Let Go of Love.”
In 2020, the vocalist, together with Lyubasha, recorded a new song, “Take off your fur coats,” where he not only sang, but also played the trumpet.
Interesting facts about Nikolai Trubach
The fact that Nikolai never strived for popularity is evidenced by the fact that he never bothered to obtain dual citizenship - he is still a citizen only of Ukraine.
In his youth, the talented guy worked as a tractor and bulldozer driver in his native village. He managed to learn how to plow fields and make silage on a livestock farm.
Nikolai was called a trumpeter long before he decided to take just such a pseudonym. This is what his fellow villagers and school friends “called” him for his love for musical instruments of this type. But no one called the guy that “to his face” - he didn’t like the nickname.
A busy touring schedule almost led the singer to serious surgery. The onset of pneumonia was missed, complications appeared, and standard treatment methods did not help. Not only his relatives, but also many of his stage colleagues came to the singer’s aid. Nikolai Trubach spoke about this period of his life only once, and never again allowed journalists to touch on this topic.
Personal life of singer Nikolai Trubach
After the duet with Moiseev, the press published news about the singer’s gayness like hot cakes, adding more and more juicy details. Nikolai himself did not give any comments, continued to maintain friendly relations with Boris, and recorded another composition with him. And only close friends from the world of show business knew that he was married, and that peace and harmony, love and mutual understanding reigned in their family.
Nikolai stole his future wife Elena from a fairly wealthy man, and this could have threatened him with serious trouble. The young people met at a radio station, where the girl worked as a DJ and correspondent. Even during the interview, Nikolai realized that he had fallen in love. Immediately after the recording, he made inquiries about the girl and found out that she was married. Only two years later, Nikolai confessed his feelings to Elena, but their relationship began after she divorced her husband.
In one of the interviews, Elena admitted that being the wife of Nikolai Trubach is quite difficult - providing a reliable “rear support”, raising two daughters, treating her husband, and attacks from journalists and numerous fans fell on her shoulders. But, being a wise and loving woman, Elena managed to endure all this, survive and save her family.
