Art, literature & culture

Birth of Vladimir Vysotsky

25 January 1938

Vladimir Vysotsky was born on 25 January 1938 in Moscow. A Soviet singer-songwriter, poet and actor, Vysotsky became a cultural icon, performing songs with a gravelly voice and a guitar that spoke candidly of ordinary life, war, prison and the absurdities of Soviet society. His records were never officially released in large numbers, yet cassette tapes spread across the country, and he drew huge audiences. He worked at Moscow's Taganka Theatre, playing Hamlet, and acted in films and television. His fame was matched by a struggle with addiction. His funeral during the 1980 Olympics in Moscow drew enormous crowds, and his songs remain popular.

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