Muslim Magomayev (musician) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Muslim Magomayev
Муслим Магомаев

Born	Muslim Muhammad oghlu Magomayev (1942-08-17)17 August 1942 Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
Died	25 October 2008(2008-10-25) (aged 66) Moscow, Russia
Resting place	Alley of Honor, Baku, Azerbaijan
Occupation	Singer, composer, actor
Years active	1962–2008
Title	People's Artist of the USSR (1973)
Spouse(s)	Ofelia Veliyeva (m. 1960⁠–⁠1961) Tamara Sinyavskaya (m. 1974⁠–⁠2008)
Children	1
Relatives	Muslim Magomayev (paternal grandfather)
Awards	Istiglal Order (Azerbaijan) Shohrat Order (Azerbaijan) Order of Honour (Russia) Order of the Red Banner of Labour (USSR) Order of Friendship of Peoples (USSR)
Musical career
Genres	Pop Operatic pop Opera
Instruments	Vocals Piano

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Muslim Magomayev (born August 17, 1942 – died October 25, 2008) was a very famous singer from Azerbaijan and Russia. People often called him the "Soviet Frank Sinatra" because of his amazing voice and stage presence. He was known for singing both opera and pop songs.

Muslim Magomayev became a huge star across the Soviet Union and later in countries that used to be part of it. In 1973, he received the top artistic award, People's Artist of the USSR.

Early life and family
Becoming a music star
International fame and later career
Personal life and final years
Honors and awards
Popular songs
Images for kids
See also

Early life and family

Muslim Magomayev came from a family of talented artists in Azerbaijan. His grandfather, also named Muslim Magomayev, was a famous composer. He helped create modern classical music in Azerbaijan.

Muslim's father, Mahammad Magomayev, was a skilled artist who designed sets for plays. He died in World War II while serving in the army. Muslim's mother, Aishet Kinzhalova, was an actress. When Muslim was very young, his paternal grandmother adopted him.

As a child, Muslim learned to play the piano. He started taking singing lessons when he was 14. As a teenager, he loved listening to Italian songs and American jazz music. He studied piano and composition at the Baku Academy of Music.

Becoming a music star

Muslim Magomayev was only 19 when he first sang at an international music festival in Helsinki. A powerful government official, Yekaterina Furtseva, noticed his talent. She offered him a chance to sing at the famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, but Muslim decided not to take the offer.

In 1962, when he was 20, Muslim first performed in Moscow. He sang a difficult opera song and a popular tune called "Do the Russians Want War?" at a big concert. Right away, he became a celebrity. A year later, he held his first solo concert in Moscow, and it was completely sold out.

Muslim became famous as an opera singer, especially for his role in "The Barber of Seville". He also sang songs from other famous operas. But he soon turned to popular music, becoming a huge star in the Soviet Union. He was so popular that he often gave three concerts a day, filling large stadiums. His albums sold millions of copies!

International fame and later career

In the late 1960s, Muslim Magomayev performed with great success in Paris, France, at a famous venue called Olympia. The director there offered him a contract to sing internationally. Muslim thought seriously about it, but the Soviet government would not let him. They said they needed him to perform at government events.

In 1969, he won the Midem Gold Disc Award in Cannes, France. This award was for selling over 4.5 million albums. In 1973, when he was 31, Muslim received the highest artistic honor in the Soviet Union: People's Artist of the USSR.

In the 1970s, Magomayev moved to Moscow. He became the music director for the Azerbaijan State Bandstand-Symphonic Orchestra. He toured many countries, including Italy, France, Canada, and the United States.

Besides singing, Muslim Magomayev also wrote music for films and composed many songs. He even acted in movies and hosted TV and radio shows about famous musicians. Many other Soviet musicians, like Alla Pugacheva, looked up to him.

Personal life and final years

Muslim Magomayev married his first wife, Ofelia Veliyeva, when he was 19. Their marriage lasted less than a year. His daughter from that marriage, Marina, lives in the United States. Later, he married the opera singer Tamara Sinyavskaya.

In the early 2000s, Muslim Magomayev stopped performing regularly. He gave only a few concerts, often with his wife. He passed away on October 25, 2008, in Moscow from a heart attack. He was buried in the Alley of Honor in his hometown of Baku, Azerbaijan, next to his grandfather. Thousands of people came to his funeral to say goodbye.