Leonid Leonidovich Bortkevich - pop singer, Honored Artist of the BSSR. For many years he was a soloist of the legendary ensemble "Pesnyary". Laureate of festivals held in the USSR, Poland, Bulgaria, East Germany. Songs performed by him: "Birch sap", "Belarus", "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" and many others were known by the whole country.
Bortkevich did not have a musical education, but his voice won the head of the Pesnyary ensemble Vladimir Mulyavin, who invited Leonid to his team.
Childhood
Leonid was born in Belarus, in the city of Minsk, on May 25, 1949. In the family, he was a very late child. The father died before his son was born, from the wounds received during the war, and mother was forced to raise and support the child alone.
The boy became interested in music early on, loved to sing, learned to play the trumpet, but was not going to devote his life to music. Possessing a natural voice, Leonid successfully performed in a children's choir organized at the local House of Pioneers, where he was taken in elementary school.
After graduation, Leonid decided to get the profession of an architect, enrolling in a college. Studying was easy for him; he was one of the best students. His cinema project became the student’s thesis, and later the basis for the construction of the building in Minsk.
In addition to architecture, Leonid continued to study music. At first he performed with a student orchestra, and then became one of the soloists of the Green Apples ensemble, where Vladimir Mulyavin later saw him. His beautiful voice and remarkable appearance conquered the girls and while still a student Leonid met his first love - Valentina. The romantic relationship lasted about a year, but after the college ended, the young people broke up.
The beginning of the creative path
At one of the ensemble’s performances, which Bortkevich performed, was attended by the head of the Pesnyary VIA - V. Mulyavin. Hearing Leonid’s beautiful voice, Vladimir immediately invited a talented singer to come to his audition. Having sung several musical compositions written by Mulyavin, Leonid was immediately accepted into the legendary group. From that moment, a creative biography of the future pop star and ensemble lead singer began. At that time, Bortkevich turned 21 years old, and fate really gave him a happy chance, which influenced his whole future life.
Together with the "Pesnyary" Bortkevich a few days later went on his first tour in the capital. Mulyavin wrote several new songs for the soloist, with which he entered the stage. The success was huge, the singer was immediately noticed and loved by the audience. After the capital’s tour, the ensemble went on a musical journey through the cities of the Soviet Union and in each of them conquered the public with its melodies, professionalism and amazing voices. A few years later Bortkevich was already awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Belarusian SSR.
After the first touring performances, Leonid brought home a huge amount of money earned. Remembering his first successes, Leonid said that he exchanged the first money he earned for small bills and laid them out at home on the couch in order to surprise his mother. Seeing a huge amount of money, and he first earned about 4000 rubles, my mother was in a state of shock, and Leonid with great difficulty managed to convince her that he really earned that money. This amount could well be enough to buy a new car, but the family decided to make repairs, change furniture, buy the best TV and ensure a comfortable life.
Bortkevich and "Songs"
Together with the team, Leonid performed at numerous festivals and competitions. They were invited to concerts not only in the cities of our country, but also abroad.
In 1976, Pesnyary performed in the United States, where they gave about 150 concerts. Musical critics and the audience enthusiastically received Russian musicians, it was a real success for young musicians. He was offered a contract and a world tour, but, due to the political situation of those years, Pesnyarov and Leonid Bortkevich were never released from the country.
The circulation of the collective’s records was approaching 45 million. Their popularity was huge, not a single concert concert could do without their participation. Performances on television and radio, record records, the creation of new compositions and constant tours - the whole group lived in this mode, together with their main soloist - Leonid Bortkevich.
10 years after the start of his performances in Pesnyary, Leonid decided to continue his education and entered GITIS. He had to choose between tours and studies, and he chose the latter. At the same time, Bortkevich met with Olga Korbut - the famous gymnast. They have a relationship and soon Olga becomes the wife of Leonid, and after a few months they leave for the USA for permanent residence.
But this was not the end of the singer’s career in Pesnyary. Already living in America, Leonid invited Vladimir Muliavin to visit. After a long conversation, Mulyavin persuaded Leonid to come to the country and again perform as part of the Pesnyary. Leonid agreed, and this was a new round in his creative biography. He returned to Russia, leaving his family, and began performing in the updated composition of "Pesnyarov".
In the early 2000s, a disaster happened - Vladimir Mulyavin died. A new leader was needed and Leonid hoped that he would take this place. But the decision of the Ministry of Culture was not in his favor, and the group was headed by Valery Storozhonok. Bortkevich did not find a common language with Valery and as a result left the collective, soon establishing a new group under the same name "Pesnyary" in order to preserve the heritage of Vladimir Mulyavin and the traditions of the ensemble.
