VALERIYA

BIOGRAPHY



With her unique talent and exceptional vocal abilities, Valeriya commanded the world's attention when she made her musical debut in the early nineties. Valeriya's appearance on the pop-scene was marked "Singer whom everyone had been waiting for", which describes her best. Being recognized with the most prestigious accolades in the industry, in less than a decade Valeriya emerged as one of the most popular and widely acclaimed talents from Russia.



Valeriya was the first Russian artist to team with top professionals in the music business to record and release her debut album in English. Recordings of "The Taiga Symphony" (1992), written by Vitaliy Bondarchuk and Richard Nyles, took place at the studios in London, Munich and Moscow and attracted musicians from "Pink Floyd", "Dire Straits", "Pet Shop Boys" , and Pavel Kogan's Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Her first holiday single "Merry Christmas to the World" was released in 1995 as a soundtrack for legendary English movie director Ken Russell's picture "Alice in Russialand".



The same year Valeriya recorded her folk-infused album of Russian romances "Stay With Me", released by "Olympia disk" UK company. Valeriya's video for the romance "Flowers" was recognized with prestigious accolades including 5 international awards, "Post Montreux 92", "Anigraf 92" and "Generation 92" among them. In 1992 Valeriya won international song contests "Bratislavskaya Lira" and "Jurmala-92", for "Viewers' Choice", and gave her first TV-performance. Valeriya was born in Atkarsk, Saratovskiy Region, and with mother, Galina Nikolaevna Perfilova and father, Iuriy Ivanovich Perfilov, both academic musicians, she was destined to become an artist. In 1992 Valeriya was awarded professional's degree at most influential Gnesin Academy of Music, being taught by the greatest Russian masters of vocal singing- professor Iosif Kobzon and Gelena Velikanova, both of them carrying "Narodniy ("People's") Artist of Russia" honorary titles. The same year Valeriya won prestigious TV-contest "Morning Star".



With the 1995 release of album "Anna", Valeriya was picked "Person of the Year" by Russian Union of Journalists. "My Moscow" single was released in December 1995. Two years later the next album "Familya. Part I" placed her at the top of the charts again.



The talent and proffesionalism of the brilliant artist made the heads of Gnesin Academy of Music invite Valeriya to teach especially gifted students of the academy the vocal techniques, which she did in 1996-1998. Since 1999 Valeriya is a member of International Union of Musicians.



In autumn 1999 Valeriya continued her success with a series of award-winning hit singles: "Metelitza", "Riga-Moscow", "Ti Gde-to Tam" ("You are somewhere there") from "The Best of Valeriya". In 2000 "Metelitza" won Hit-FM radio award "Stopudoviy Hit ot Hit-FM" for "Song of the Year". "Riga-Moscow" won the prize of Russian Sound Recording Industry "Record- 2001" for "Radio-Hit of the Year".



Valeriya has always been to date with the latest tendencies, a vivid example of which was the release of "First Internet Album" in 2000, compiled from songs selected through the Internet, where the album presentation itself took place. In 2001 the singer wins "Popov's Professional National Radio Broadcasting Prize" for "Radio-Favorite of the Year". Release of "Glaza Tsveta Neba" ("Sky-Blue Eyes") album went along with two gala concerts at the State Central Country Hall "Rossija".



2001 marked a turning point in Valeriya's life. At the zenith of her fame Valeriya suddenly breaks the contract with her manager (who is also the singer's husband and the father of her three children) and leaves show-business as she claims for good. Shocking facts of violent behavior and unfair attitude of the ex-manager and husband towards her were revealed. Since then till now Valeriya's name never left the headlines of Russian press, her private life has been in the full glare of publicity. Rejecting all business offers from major Russian record-labels and managers, Valeriya together with her three children leave for her native Atkarsk. For more than a year Valeriya, who was left broke by her ex-manager, lives there a very low-key life, totally devoted to bringing up her children. It started to seem Valeriya would keep her promise to never come back. Her chances of continuing the same successful career without the powerful manager are considered deem.



But Valeriya's destiny ordered otherwise: two years later famous Russian music manager Joseph Prigozhin, the president of "NOX MUSIC" record label, arrives in godforsaken Atkark and makes Valeriya an offer of a recording contract, and it was destined that Joseph soon became the one and only man in Valeriya's life. The whole country watched the development of their romantic relationship. Soon this story comes to a happy-end as the couple ties the knot. With Joseph Valeriya finds her family happiness, he also helps her to get ready for the comeback, where she is to hit yet another career milestone.



Elated with happiness, Valeriya launches an extensive all-russian tour, culminating in the release of her much-anticipated and most successful album to date, "Strana Liubvi" ("The Land of Love" which catapulted Valeriya to superstar status. The new peak in Valeriya's spectacular career was reached when song "Chasicki" ("locks") stayed at the top of the charts for a mind-blowing 15 weeks. "hasicki" along with second single "hierno-Beliy Tsvet" ("olor Black and White") won People's Choice "The Gold Gramophone" award and won the award of Russian Sound Recording Industry "Record- 2001" for "Radio Hit of the Year".



In accordance with the results of the polls carried out by top Russian weekly magazine "7 Days" Valeriya is named "the most popular and most beautiful Russian singer" of Year 2003. In December 2003 Valeriya was decorated by the Order "For the Revival of Russia" presented to outstanding statesmen and public figures who substantially contributed to the revival of Russia. Valeriya won top awards of Russian music channels among them "Muz-TV Awards 2004" and "MTV Russian Music Awards 2004", both for "Best Female Act". Having passed through all the hardships and overcome all challenges, Valeriya managed to find her happiness- both as a woman and an artist, becoming a role model for millions of women around the country. In 2005 Valeriya has launched her international tour, making a big tour in Israel and now heading to Germany, USA, Canada, Switzerland. In spring 2005, on Valeriya's bithday, The Geralds College under the President of the Russian Federation awarded Valeriya with Mariinskiy Order for Professional Achievements. This Order was established in 1828 and presented to most outstanding women. In fall 2005 Valeriya is to be decorated with honorary title "Zasluzhenniy ("The Honoured") Artist of Russia".



Valeriya who has always been attractive for advertisers, becomes the face of ad-campaigns of both domestic and major international brands such "Danone", "Lux Soap", "Emansi" and "Oriflame" beauty lines and signs contract with the leading international advertising agency BBDO GROUP. At present Valeriya is launching her first fragrance "De Lery", that is produced in France and the first order for which is 400 000 units. In the list of 50 best paid Russian celebrity actors, athletes, authors and musicians, revealed in the August issue of Forbes magazine, Valeriya is in the Top Ten being ranked 9th. By now Valeriya has recorded 8 top-selling albums which sold over 10 million copies, shoot 30 videos, her talent has been recognized with prestigious music awards. Starting the recordings of her next album in collaboration with famous European songwriters and sound-producers, Valeriya is set once again to redefine the heights of musical success with her talent, timeless appeal, beauty and strength of a truly Russian woman, whose image Valeriya personifies.



In the current 2006 year Valeriya has been made as much as one can imagine. Besides the release of the new album, the singer presented to the court of readers her new creation – the autobiography book “Life, tears and love”, which appeared in edition of 200.000 copies. Another singer’s passion, becoming now a part of business - is drawing. Valeriya became a designer! One of the greatest Russian jewellery companies “Smolensk diamonds” produced the collection of adornments “de Leri Jewelry”, made by Valeriya’s sketches. The music part of the singer’s life wasn’t less rich. She has many concerts, shows and TV programs under her belt. Valeriya took part in the recording of the hymn of the Russian application for the realizing in Sochi winter Olimpic Games 2014. On November the singer was awarded to the first-rate premium “Gold gramophone” in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Almaty. Valeriya brilliantly completed this year with the magnificent concert show in SC “Olimpiysky”, gathered more than 16.000 people.



During all her creative development, Valeriya has been regularly taking part in many charitable concerts and actions to the support of HIV infected people, people suffering of oncological diseases, especially children.