Edita Pekha
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Edita Piekha (Pyekha) is a popular singer and actress in Russia and in
the states of the former Soviet Union.
She was born Edith-Marie Piecha on July 31, 1937, in Nual-su-Lance,
France. Her father, Stanislaw Piecha, was a miner, and her mother,
Felicia Korolewska, was a school teacher. In 1946 young Edita Piekha,
with her mother and stepfather, returned to Poland. There she studied
at the Walbrzych State College of Pedagogy, graduating with honors in
1955, majoring in Russian language. That same year she was sent on a
scholarship to continue her studies at Leningrad State University.
There she studied Psychology and languages, and also was active in
student concerts as a singer. She was invited by Russian composer
Aleksandr Bronevitskiy to perform
with his band, Druzhba, on the popular TV show "New Year's Eve" on
December 31, 1955. She became an instant celebrity in the Soviet Union
with a popular Polish song 'Autobus Czerwony' by the famous composer
Wladyslaw Szpilman. Then she
transfered from Leningrad University to Leningrad Conservatory and
studied singing and acting.
Edita Piekha shot to international fame with her performances at the
1957 Moscow International Festival of Youth and Students. There she
sang in several languages, such as French, Polish, German, and Russian,
and performed before international audiences from 130 nations. She made
history with her performance of the popular hit 'Moscow Nights' which
she delivered in several languages to international crowd at the
closing show of the Moscow festival. After the festival, Piekha and
ensemble Druzhba (aka... Friendship) released several records of their
songs. During the 1950s - 1970s Piekha and Druzhba were one of the most
acclaimed popular acts in the USSR.
In 1972 Piekha with ensemble Druzhba were part of cultural programs at
the XX Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. In 1976, Edita Piekha formed
her own band and continued successful touring and recording career in
the Soviet Union. At that time Piekha was one of the very few Soviet
actors cleared for international business. She has been touring
internationally since the 1960s and gave concerts in more than 40
countries worldwide. During the 1960s - 1980s she gave more than 30
concert tours in East Germany alone.
Piekha was the first Soviet singer who was really able to dance while
singing on stage, she introduced such dances as twist, shake and rock'n
roll to culturally deprived audiences in the Soviet Union. Several of
her international tours were managed by the legendary impresario
Bruno Coquatrix, who invited Piekha to
perform at Olimpia Hall in Paris. She also took several high-risk
concert tours in Afghanistan and the neighboring Soviet republics
amidst the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s.
Edita Piekha was designated People's Actress of the USSR, and was
decorated for her contribution to culture in the Soviet Union. After
the collapse of the Soviet Union, she remained popular in Russia and
countries of the former USSR. Edita Piekha has been giving her
traditional annual concert series every Summer during the 'White
Nights' Festival in St. Petersburg. There, in July 2007, she celebrated
her 70th birthday with performances to sold-out audiences.
Edita Piekha is living in her suburban villa in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Her daughter, Ilona Bronevitskaya
and her grandson Stas Pekha are popular
singers in Russia.
the states of the former Soviet Union.
She was born Edith-Marie Piecha on July 31, 1937, in Nual-su-Lance,
France. Her father, Stanislaw Piecha, was a miner, and her mother,
Felicia Korolewska, was a school teacher. In 1946 young Edita Piekha,
with her mother and stepfather, returned to Poland. There she studied
at the Walbrzych State College of Pedagogy, graduating with honors in
1955, majoring in Russian language. That same year she was sent on a
scholarship to continue her studies at Leningrad State University.
There she studied Psychology and languages, and also was active in
student concerts as a singer. She was invited by Russian composer
Aleksandr Bronevitskiy to perform
with his band, Druzhba, on the popular TV show "New Year's Eve" on
December 31, 1955. She became an instant celebrity in the Soviet Union
with a popular Polish song 'Autobus Czerwony' by the famous composer
Wladyslaw Szpilman. Then she
transfered from Leningrad University to Leningrad Conservatory and
studied singing and acting.
Edita Piekha shot to international fame with her performances at the
1957 Moscow International Festival of Youth and Students. There she
sang in several languages, such as French, Polish, German, and Russian,
and performed before international audiences from 130 nations. She made
history with her performance of the popular hit 'Moscow Nights' which
she delivered in several languages to international crowd at the
closing show of the Moscow festival. After the festival, Piekha and
ensemble Druzhba (aka... Friendship) released several records of their
songs. During the 1950s - 1970s Piekha and Druzhba were one of the most
acclaimed popular acts in the USSR.
In 1972 Piekha with ensemble Druzhba were part of cultural programs at
the XX Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. In 1976, Edita Piekha formed
her own band and continued successful touring and recording career in
the Soviet Union. At that time Piekha was one of the very few Soviet
actors cleared for international business. She has been touring
internationally since the 1960s and gave concerts in more than 40
countries worldwide. During the 1960s - 1980s she gave more than 30
concert tours in East Germany alone.
Piekha was the first Soviet singer who was really able to dance while
singing on stage, she introduced such dances as twist, shake and rock'n
roll to culturally deprived audiences in the Soviet Union. Several of
her international tours were managed by the legendary impresario
Bruno Coquatrix, who invited Piekha to
perform at Olimpia Hall in Paris. She also took several high-risk
concert tours in Afghanistan and the neighboring Soviet republics
amidst the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s.
Edita Piekha was designated People's Actress of the USSR, and was
decorated for her contribution to culture in the Soviet Union. After
the collapse of the Soviet Union, she remained popular in Russia and
countries of the former USSR. Edita Piekha has been giving her
traditional annual concert series every Summer during the 'White
Nights' Festival in St. Petersburg. There, in July 2007, she celebrated
her 70th birthday with performances to sold-out audiences.
Edita Piekha is living in her suburban villa in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Her daughter, Ilona Bronevitskaya
and her grandson Stas Pekha are popular
singers in Russia.