Leonid tailor family and children. The mysterious death of chanson star Leonid Portnoy shocked the country

In this article you will learn about who Leonid Portnoy is. The biography, photos and features of this artist’s creative path will be given below. We are talking about a chanson performer.

Biography

So, our hero is singer Leonid Portnoy. His biography began in Odessa. It was in this city that he was born in 1950, on November 6. His parents are professional musicians. Our hero’s mother graduated from the Kyiv Conservatory, choosing a vocal class. My father was a dance school teacher. It is obvious in what creative environment Leonid Portnoy was brought up. His biography received a new round of development in the seventies. During this period, while in Odessa, he was the vocalist of the group “Crickets”.

Creation

It was as part of a vocal-instrumental ensemble that Leonid Portnoy began his career. His biography during this period was closely connected with the House of Folk Art. Later he worked at the Odessa Philharmonic.

But it turned out that the musician emigrated. Leonid Portnoy chose America for his future life. His biography at that time was filled with performances. They took place in Chicago restaurants. This continued from 1977 to 1983. In 1983, the artist moved to Canada, namely to Toronto. There he sang together with Russian, Spanish, and Italian musicians.

In 1985, Portnoy recorded his debut work. It was the album “Halfway”. In 1987, the album “Night Stars” was released. In 1988, the album “Be with Me” appeared. In 1989, the work “And Life Goes On” was recorded. In 1991, “Symphony of Love” appeared. He also authored the following albums: “Freeze Frame”, “Give Me Hope”, “Let’s Separate”, “Life Goes On” - one of the most famous.

Fame

In 1990, our hero became the winner of the Italian Song Festival, which took place in Canada. In 1992, Philip Kirkorov, returning from Canada, where he visited the chansonnier, released a joint vinyl disc, which was called “Moscow-Toronto”. In 1994, Leonid Portnoy went to Moscow. In the Russian capital, Tigran Keosayan, a famous director, shot a video for the musician for a composition called “Son and Daughter.” This work has not left television screens for a long time.

In 1995, the same director shot the next video clip for the song “Old Friend.” In 1998, Igor Dimarin and Mikhail Tanich wrote a song especially for our hero called “Let’s go our separate ways.” The video clip was shot by the director and cameraman. This work was also broadcast on television for a long time.

From 1999 to 2002, the singer actively performed in cities in America, Germany, and Israel. After a long tour, he returned to Russia. This happened in 2002, in the spring. The artist’s songs are still incredibly popular today, especially in karaoke bars. The most famous works “Son and Daughter” and “Who Made You Like This” later also became part of Philip Kirkorov’s repertoire. In recent years, he has retreated from show business. He led a quiet lifestyle.

The musician passed away when he was 65 years old. The death of his father was confirmed by the musician’s son, Kirill. Now you know who Leonid Portnoy is. The artist's biography is described in detail above.

Leonid Portnoy is known in Russia as a popular performer of his own songs, composer and author of poetry. One of Portnoy’s most famous hits was the song “Son and Daughter,” performed by Philip Kirkorov. In addition to this, the song “Who Created You Like This” was especially popular among Russian listeners, which was masterfully sung by Leonid Yakovlevich himself and his other works. He lived most of his creative life abroad, so he is known more to the Russian-speaking population of the USA and Canada than to listeners in our country. The cause of death of Leonid Portnoy was not officially announced.

He was born in Odessa in 1950, into a family involved in vocal art. Leonid's mother, a professional singer, had a beautiful coloratura soprano. The boy was interested in music since childhood and showed great ability in this. He started singing early and in 1970 he entered the children's VIA "Crickets", and later became an actor in the Odessa House of Folk Art. In 1977, Portnoy moved to Chicago, where he began singing in restaurants. At that time, Italian pop music was in vogue and he sang in Italian. In addition, he learned English well.

In 1983, Portnoy moved to restaurants in the Canadian city of Toronto, where he continued to hone his vocal skills. Since 1985, Leonid Yakovlevich began touring cities in the USA and Canada, then moved to Germany and Israel. In 1990, he even won the Italian Song Festival held in Canada. During these trips, he accumulated a wealth of musical experience and tried his hand at composing his own songs. His first visit to Russia after leaving took place 17 years later, in 1994. Tailor arrived with rich creative baggage: he had many of his own songs, among which was “Son and Daughter,” which he wanted to shoot as a video. During this trip, Leonid met many cultural, art and music figures, and made interesting acquaintances and connections.

During the period from 1988 to 1997, Portnoy released 7 albums, which reached Russian listeners and many lovers of Russian chanson were familiar with his work in absentia. Leonid Yakovlevich's vocal abilities deserved attention and he became one of the favorite chansonniers for connoisseurs. In 2002, after a large concert tour, Portnov, together with his third wife Tatyana and stepson Kirill, who loved him like his own, came to Moscow with the intention of settling in the Russian capital. The singer was no longer going to lead a hectic life full of trips, concerts and troubles. Tired and feeling his fifty years as a special milestone, the musician was attracted by the warmth of the hearth and thoughtful creative work. Health also made itself felt to Leonid, who was once unrestrained in his emotions and bad habits.

He was happy in his third marriage and his wife shared his hopes for a calm, measured life. Previously, Tatyana usually accompanied him on tour and was also tired of the nomadic life with its anxieties and worries. However, towards the end of his life, Leonid Yakovlevich’s health problems became more complicated. The son recalled that he began to increasingly complain about his heart, get tired and become depressed. Producer Joseph Prigozhin said that two months before his death, Portnoy talked to him for a long time on the phone and complained about the public, which very quickly forgets those whom it applauded with delight just recently. According to rumors, he continued to drink and smoke a lot, despite the danger of complications, the advice of doctors and the persuasion of his loved ones.

He died in August 2016, suddenly and unnoticed, at night. Tatyana, who came to wake him up in the morning, saw that he was dead. The doctors called by the ambulance confirmed the death of 65-year-old Portnoy and did not draw hasty conclusions before the examination of the pathologist - as the press reported. Speculation about why Leonid Portnoy died leans towards the version of failure of the cardiovascular system, most likely the heart, but no concrete conclusion has been received. If the relatives of the deceased have reasons to hide some other conclusion, they have every right to do so, but perhaps everything will become clearer later. According to media reports, Portnoy's body was taken to Canada to be buried next to the graves of his parents: this was the decision of his wife.

Leonid Portnoy was born into a creative family. My father taught at a famous dance school. And my mother, a graduate of the Kyiv Conservatory, was a professional vocalist (coloratura soprano). It is not difficult to guess that from childhood the family had a great influence on the development and direction of the interests of the future chansonnier.

By the age of 20, Leonid had established himself as a serious soloist in the then very popular VIA "Crickets". The team was a kind of beat group that did not disdain performances in restaurants and performed world songs of “The Beatles” and “The Rolling Stones”.

At the same time, he showed himself in the House of Folk Art, thanks to which he perfectly mastered acting. And just two years later, the Odessa Philharmonic found a new star. Subsequently, when Leonid had to immigrate to the United States, he more than once recalled with gratitude these years, which, for sure, became decisive for him.

From 1977 to 1983, Portnoy lived in Chicago. Pleasure and nostalgia are embodied for him in the possibility of musical performance. And Leonid does not miss the slightest opportunity. Soon he was recognized by local musical figures and offered a joint project in Canada. In 1983, he moved to Toronto, where he was offered a place in the best establishment in the city. Here he works with Spanish, Russian and Italian musicians.

Such a wealth of experience and daily honing of vocals almost automatically leads to the recording of the first album in 1985 (“Halfway”), with which concert tours begin in the USA, Canada, Israel, and Germany. As Leonid himself later admits, it was the period of work in Toronto that turned out to be important and directly influenced the sound of his compositions.

Subsequent records are not long in coming. And one after another, the Night Stars appear in the light" (1987), "Be with me" (1988), "And life goes on" (1989). In 1990, Leonid Portnoy took first place at the Italian Song Festival in Toronto. Almost immediately after This was followed by the release of a new album, “Symphony of Love” in 1991. Around the same period, he made acquaintance with Philip Kirkorov.

And a little later, in 1994, Portnoy decides to visit Russia to film a video for the song “Son and Daughter” from his new album “Freeze Frame” (1994). Here, the already established artist meets Igor Krutoy, Philip Kirkorov, Tigran Keosayan (who will become the director for the “Son and Daughter” video, as well as for some other works), Mikhail Tanich, Igor Demarin. According to Leonid, they will play a decisive role in the artist’s decision to move to Moscow.

In 1995, along with the album “Give Me Hope,” the most recognizable track to this day, “Who Created You Like This,” was presented. The following years will also become no less successful: “Son and Daughter” (1996), “Let’s Separate” (1997). Between 1999 and 2002, Portnoy repeatedly toured many cities in America, Canada, Israel and Germany. In May 2002, the artist arrived home, in Moscow, and, inspired by long tours, almost immediately began work on the collection “Life Goes On” (2003).

In the subsequent period, the artist deservedly enjoys his rest. And almost all concert venues in Moscow are trying to book a concert by Leonid Portnoy. In 2008, the next collection “Who Made You Like This” was released, which included the most famous hits that had previously been published on separate albums.

The state award became a kind of recognition for the artist. Leonid Portnoy was awarded the Highest Order of Public Recognition “Honorary Citizen of Russia”.
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The popular Russian chansonnier and songwriter Leonid Portnoy, who died in August 2016, was known not only to fans in our country. He was well known to Russian-speaking residents in the United States. And not only Russian speakers: Portnoy sang in English and Italian. His original song “Son and Daughter” became one of Philip Kirkorov’s hits. Leonid died quite suddenly, in his sleep, for no apparent reason. True, his son Kirill remembered that his father had a bad heart. Leonid Portnoy's wife, Tatyana, has still not recovered from the shock.

Leonid's life took place on two continents and there were quite a lot of events that influenced his family life. He was married three times, as he once admitted to a journalist interviewing him. Born in Odessa, Portnoy, along with his parents, left the country in the late 70s. From 1977 to 1983 he sang in Chicago restaurants and nightclubs, and then moved to Canada, where in 1990 he won the Italian Song Festival. Probably his first two marriages occurred during this time. Both of his wives, as he recalled, were 21 years old at the time of their wedding.

The third wife, Tatyana, oddly enough, was also 21 years old at the time of their marriage. At this time she already had a son, Kirill, from her first marriage, for whom Tailor replaced his deceased father. The 24-year-old son spoke about this after Leonid’s death with sincere gratitude and love. In 2002, the Portnoy family returned to Russia. Already middle-aged and tired of constant traveling and concerts, Leonid preferred home comfort and tranquility to all parties. His family provided him with constant support, understanding and warmth.

They say that he drank heavily and smoked, and was offended by the public, which quickly forgets its idols. In particular, Portnoy complained about this to producer Joseph Prigozhin: they spoke on the phone two months before his death. But lately, the singer, at the insistence of his family, has been saving his strength and trying to be calm. He valued his wife's opinion and listened to her. The couple, as before, spent a lot of time together. Before arriving in Russia, Tatyana often accompanied him to concerts and meetings with friends.

Living mostly abroad, Leonid Portnoy rarely became the object of attention of the Russian press. Therefore, information about his children may not be entirely accurate. According to Kirill, his father accepted him as his own, despite the existence of two children from previous marriages. From his words it is clear that in addition to two boys, Leonid also has a daughter, Sondra, whose photo, along with himself, he posted on his Internet account. Now she, of course, is already a completely grown-up girl.

It is noteworthy that Portnoy provided all the photographs of his wife on the Internet with affectionate remarks: “Beloved,” “My Tatyana,” “Lyubushka.” It was she who found him dead in the morning, suspecting nothing and hoping to live with him “happily ever after.” After this tragedy, Leonid Portnoy’s wife did not talk to anyone for a long time and did not want to go out. She insisted that her husband must be buried in Canada, next to her parents, despite the high cost of transporting the body and the hassle.