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Composition of blue berets. Yarovoy Sergey Fedorovich: biography and interesting facts

History of the Blue Berets group On the evening of November 19, 1985, in the soldiers’ club of the 350th Guards Parachute Regiment, which was pressed against the “take-off” of the Kabul airport, there was, as they say, “nowhere for the apple to fall.” Still would! The first concert of the new amateur ensemble was underway. And, most importantly, the native regimental, called “Blue Berets”! Their comrades, with whom they had gone to “combat” more than once, took the stage: the leader of the ensemble - the secretary of the Komsomol committee of the regiment, senior lieutenant Sergei YAROVOY, the company sergeant major, warrant officer Oleg GONTSOV, the squad commander, sergeant Sergei ISAKOV, the mechanic - driver of the combat vehicle, private Igor IVANCHENKO and private Tarikh LYSSOV, the only one who served in the regimental orchestra. This day is considered the birthday of the Blue Berets ensemble. Then, at the first concert, a variety of songs were played: from Alla Pugacheva to “Time Machine,” and the concert itself was a kind of result of one dispute. The fact is that the musical equipment donated to the paratroopers by the Belarusian Komsomol was nominally owned by the artillery regiment, but everyone wanted to play. Then Sergei Yarovoy put forward a proposal - whoever prepares a concert in a week gets the instruments and equipment. With the support of the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gennady Sergeevich Borisov and his deputy for political affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kazantsev, who met the desire of the children to organize their own group, and, by the way, forever remained devoted fans of the work of their native group, the competition was won by the ensemble of the 350th RAP. Rehearsing at night, in between combat operations, the ensemble began to write and perform their original songs. Soon, cassettes with recordings of the Blue Berets began to circulate throughout Afghanistan. Many of them became the best examples of the so-called “Afghan” song. These are “Memory” by Oleg Gontsov, “At the Dangerous Line” and “The Landing Goes into a Breakthrough” by Sergei Yarovoy and dozens and dozens of other songs that have become immensely dear to everyone who served on Afghan soil. From November 1985 to February 1987, the group performed concerts in front of many units of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops in the Republic of Afghanistan, at the USSR Embassy, ​​the Trade Representation, at the Central Committee of the DOMA, the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the DRA, at the Kabul Polytechnic Institute. While performing at a concert at the Kabul Polytechnic Institute, the Blue Berets met the only musical group in Afghanistan, Gulsor. 1987 However, the concerts were only pleasant moments, although they were the results of hard work at rehearsals and in the hard combat work of the paratroopers. All members of the ensemble were awarded state awards for fulfilling their international duty: captain Yarovoy, warrant officer Gontsov, private Ivanchenko, sergeant I. For two years of the group’s presence, Isakov. For two years in Afghanistan, S. Ufimtsev, M. Abashev, A. Rogachev appeared on stage as part of the Blue Berets, and V. Turkin, V. Panchenko, A. Pikulik, V. Belous took an active part in the group’s work. Combat General Viktor Pavlovich Kutsenko wrote a song especially for the Blue Berets. In March 1987, the group took part in the third round of the All-Union Television Competition “When Soldiers Sing”. This Competition and its television version, aired on Channel 1 of Central Television, were extremely popular among television viewers. The performance of the airborne ensemble "Blue Berets", and even directly from Kabul via teleconference, became a sensation. Thousands of young but gray soldiers who returned from the war, thousands of mothers whose sons still served in Afghanistan, millions of ordinary Soviet people worried about their children, forever gave their hearts to the Blue Berets ensemble. The victory in the Competition was unconditional! In the summer of 1987, the first disc was recorded - a giant, which in the shortest possible time became super-platinum. This record entered the top ten most popular in the country, according to a TASS survey. In October 1987, the ensemble came to Moscow for the first time and took part in concerts at the most prestigious venues in the capital: the Rossiya State Concert Hall, the Kremlin Palace, the Variety Theater, Luzhniki, and the Olympic Stadium - this is not a complete list of concert halls that applauded the paratroopers. The Headquarters of the Airborne Forces receives hundreds of applications from all over the country for the performance of the Blue Berets group. There is only one answer: “The ensemble is amateur. The participants are serving in the Republic of Afghanistan.” In February 1988, the ensemble became the Winner of the final of the First All-Union Television Competition “When Soldiers Sing.” The crowded 15,000-ton "Olympiyskiy" standing applauds the guardsmen - the paratroopers. Now laureates of the prestigious Competition, the Blue Berets are making a month-long tour of formations and units of the Airborne Forces. The ensemble became a cult group of the Airborne Forces. However, problems arise with the future fate of the ensemble. The group leader, Captain Sergei Yarovoy, returns from Afghanistan and receives a new assignment; warrant officer Oleg Gontsov decides to remain to serve in the DRA; the term of military service for the rest of the team members ends. The ensemble is on the verge of ceasing to exist. The Political Department of the Airborne Forces, headed by Lieutenant General S. M. Smirnov, understands that the ensemble must be preserved, because it has become a powerful force in the patriotic education of youth. Officers E. Zolotarev, E. Karataev, A. Reshetnikov are doing everything possible to ensure that the ensemble continues to work. Captain S. Yarovoy is tasked with selecting new team members. A compromise decision is made: the ensemble will be based in the Moscow region in one of the units of the Airborne Forces. But until the issue of the staffing structure is resolved, all participants will be engaged not only in creativity, but also in fulfilling their official duties. Back in October 1987, on the set of the program “When Soldiers Sing,” Sergei Yarovoy met his classmate at the Novosibirsk Higher Political School, senior lieutenant Yuri Slatov. The latter then performed his song “Orders are not for sale” and took first place among the authors and performers. After serving in Afghanistan, Yuri returned to the Union in 1986 and was assigned to the city of Maikop as assistant to the Head of the division’s political department for Komsomol work. Many who served in Afghanistan still have Yu. Slatov’s songs recorded on cassette tapes - “At the Airplane Gangway”, “Password - Afghan”, “Demobilizations Flew Away”, etc. Sergei Yarovoy invited his friend to join the Airborne Forces and connect his life with creativity. In May 1988, a new commander of the battalion, Captain Sergei Yarovoy, and a new propagandist of the regiment, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Slatov, appeared in the communications regiment in Bear Lakes near Moscow, they are also Laureates of the All-Union Competition. A new stage has begun in the life of the Blue Berets ensemble. Very quickly, new members were found and invited to the group: from the Pskov Airborne Division - Private V. Rimsha, at home, in Bear Lakes - Privates E. Serdechny and E. Rozhkov. Why soldiers and not professional musicians? The answer to this question has become the principle of staffing the ensemble since the very birth of the group. Only real paratroopers who know the service not from songs should perform on stage. During the period from September 1988 to June 1990, the group repeatedly participated in the filming of various television programs, in Competitions and Festivals, and toured the entire Soviet Union with concerts. The ensemble "jokingly" filled stadiums and Sports Palaces and successfully competed in terms of the number of spectators with the then incredibly popular "Tender May". All money collected from the concerts was transferred to local organizations of Warriors - Internationalists for the construction of monuments, assistance to the disabled and the families of the victims. More than a million rubles were transferred. Unfortunately, this money did not always reach those in need. Let this remain on the conscience of some former leaders of veterans' organizations. But even then, the first business trips to “hot spots” appeared in the ensemble’s tour schedule. Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Vilnius. Whatever may be said today about the mission of the Soviet Armed Forces in these cities and regions, the Blue Berets have always been close to ordinary soldiers and officers carrying out the orders of their country. The songs of the ensemble helped people in uniform to survive spiritually, under the constant pressure of human misunderstanding. It was in those years that the real persecution of the Army began. But the Blue Berets did not break, they were always true to their principles - to sing only the truth. By 1990, the ensemble's repertoire had changed significantly. Along with the songs written in Afghanistan by Sergei Yarov and Oleg Gontsov, new ones appeared - by Yuri Slatov. These were tough and angry compositions about what the Blue Berets saw during their tour: the collapse of the country and the Army, people's attitude towards the "Afghans", national wars and much more. And again “Berets” found their audience, the halls were full, people held their breath and listened to the song’s truth about life. It was then that the songs appeared - “You sent us there!”, “I don’t believe”, “Epaulettes of Russia”, “Philosopher”, etc. The result of the work of the third generation of the ensemble was the release of the giant disc “So the War Is Over” by the Melodiya company ". In June 1991, the regiment's amateur ensemble finally received "professional" status. From now on, the group began to be called the Concert Ensemble of the Russian Airborne Forces. Before this event, G. Razumov, A. Khamizov, M. Gurov, D. Kalmykov managed to play in the group. So, since June 1991, creativity has become the cornerstone of the lives of the members of the Blue Berets Ensemble. The battalion's political officer, Major Sergei Yarovoy, now becomes the full-time Artistic Director of the group, and the regiment's propagandist, Captain Yuri Slatov, becomes his deputy. Denis Platonov and Dmitry Vakhrushin, who are finishing their military service in the Svir Airborne Division, join the group; Yegor Serdechny, now an old-timer of the ensemble, also remains for extra-long service. Almost immediately, work began on a new program, but active touring activities did not stop. The group repeatedly visited Germany, Poland, the former republics of Yugoslavia, performed concerts for US Army personnel, and “discovered” the regions of the Far North, the Arctic, and the Far East. And everywhere the Blue Berets were greeted by a warm welcome from the audience, real people's love. The once great Soviet Union was collapsing, but for the airborne ensemble, born in the Afghan war, there were no borders, just as there are none now - applications for concerts come from all the former republics of the USSR. Unfortunately, the list of “hot spots” where the guys have visited is constantly growing: Transnistria and Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Chechnya, Bosnia and Kosovo. Coming to war, “Berets” try to give as many concerts as possible in front of soldiers at outposts, and sometimes right in battle formations. They often speak to residents, sometimes of warring parties, carrying out a peacekeeping mission. It is no coincidence that awards for bravery during stays in “hot spots” were added to the military Orders for the Afghan war. In 1994, the group recorded its fourth album, entitled “From War to War,” and in December 1995 a CD of the same name was released. Everything experienced during business trips to “hot spots” was reflected in the songs that were included in the fifth album, recorded in 1996 and called “Eh, Share...”. In March 1997, responding to numerous requests from veterans of various wars and former paratroopers, the Ensemble recorded its sixth album with old songs entitled “The Desk Calendar is Sad.” But the history of the legendary “Afghan” ensemble “Blue Berets” is far from over.. ......

The regimental amateur ensemble called “Blue Berets” is known throughout Russia and beyond its borders. Their first concert took place in November 1985. Last year, 2015, this team celebrated a very significant date - 30 years. Today, the Blue Berets, whose permanent leader is Sergei Fedorovich Yarovoy, is the only musical group in Russia under the armed forces, where absolutely all participants have become Honored Artists of the Russian Federation.

The song “Sineva” performed by them has long been an unofficial, but popularly recognized anthem of the Airborne Forces. The man whose creative destiny we will consider has been acting as the artistic director of the Blue Berets for many years, since 1991.

He is also the deputy head of the Airborne Song and Dance Ensemble. Sergei Yarovoy, whose biography will be discussed in our article, is a very interesting, colorful personality, definitely deserving of special attention.

Brief statements

Yarovoy Sergei Fedorovich, whose biography began in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, was born in April 1957. Little is known about his family, only that his father was a military man. Already a self-sufficient and well-known person throughout the country, Sergei Yarovoy admits that it was his father who had a huge influence on him at one time. After graduating from school in 1975, the guy was drafted into the army. He served for two years in one of the Kirovograd special forces brigades.

After Sergei Yarovoy completed his military service, he, apparently deciding to continue the path of his father, decided to enter a military school. The guy studied in Novosibirsk, at the airborne department.

Military career

After graduating from Yarovoy College, Sergei heads to Ryazan, where he holds the post of political officer in the 137th Parachute Regiment. In 1985, one might say, Yarovoy’s fateful acquaintance with the 350th Parachute Regiment, which was stationed in Afghanistan. It was this military unit that participated in almost all operations that were carried out on Afghan territory. In the period from 1985 to 1987, Sergei Yarovoy (whose activities were limited to more than just landings) participated in almost all regimental operations. In addition, the hero of our article served as secretary of the Komsomol.

Meeting with the Blue Berets and the beginning of creativity

When Sergei Yarovoy arrived at the famous 350th regiment, a certain amateur group had already been created on its basis. Its first founder was Oleg Gontsov.

Yarovoy joined this team, and, as eyewitnesses of those events now recall, the first composition of the Blue Berets performed their songs in the quarters, on two guitars, during breaks between combat operations.

Yarovoy's fatal dispute regarding equipment

The local ensemble had songs that one of their founders, Oleg Gontsov, wrote for them. But one of the main problems was the lack of professional equipment. At the same time, representatives of the Belarusian Komsomol presented the Soviet soldiers with such long-awaited equipment, but nominally the gift belonged to an artillery regiment. Since the paratroopers really wanted to play this equipment too, Sergei Yarovoy suggested that his comrades make a kind of bet with the artillerymen: those of them who manage to prepare a full-fledged concert in a week will receive full rights to own musical instruments. And, of course, the paratroopers won this dispute.

First success and all-Union glory

As a result of the dispute, the first concert of the legendary ensemble took place in November 1985. Its original composition included:

  • O. Gontsov - warrant officer;
  • S. Isakov - squad commander;
  • T. Lysov - private;
  • S. Yarovoy - captain, secretary of the Komsomol;
  • I. Ivanchenko - driver of a combat vehicle.

During the first performance, the guys covered the hits of then-famous performers, and a little later they appeared with their own original songs. Basically, of course, they all related to Afghan issues, and since this issue was very painful for the Soviet Union in those years, the guys very quickly became popular. Throughout Afghanistan, tapes of their songs began to be passed from hand to hand.

Touring and the likelihood of the group breaking up

Between 1985 and 1987, the Blue Berets performed in front of a huge number of units based in Afghan territory. And everywhere, without exception, they were received with great joy and warmth, because what they sang about was close to everyone serving in this place.

It is worth noting that the members of the group not only sang and performed. It would be more correct to say that their unique tours took place exclusively during breaks between military operations. For such selfless work, all members of the first composition of this amateur group were awarded state awards.

But still, the collective’s national, all-Union fame was brought to them by their victory in the popular competition “When Soldiers Sing.” The concert was broadcast on the First Central Channel, and the guys performed their song from Kabul, thanks to a teleconference. For the Soviet Union this became a real sensation, and the victory of the Blue Berets was truly triumphant.

Organization by Yarov of the second composition

In 1987, the group had already recorded its first disc, which went platinum; the group came to Moscow several times and gave concerts at the most prestigious concert venues at that time. But in 1988, the future fate of the Blue Berets was in jeopardy. Their ideological leader, Sergei Yarovoy, receives a new appointment. Other members of the group are also reaching the end of their service life. Of the entire first composition of the Blue Berets, only O. Gontsov wanted to stay in Afghanistan.

When an ensemble beloved by hundreds of thousands of Soviet listeners finds itself under direct threat of collapse, the political department of the Airborne Forces understands that this cannot be allowed to happen. A decision is made that the ensemble will now be based geographically in one of the Moscow Airborne Forces units. Yarovoy receives instructions to select a new composition.

He immediately remembers his classmate, Yuri Slatov, who also served in Afghanistan at one time, was involved in amateur performances and performed original songs. He invites his friend to join his new squad, and a new era begins for the Blue Berets. The second composition of the group is gradually being formed, which, in addition to Yarovoy and Slatov, included not professional musicians, but ordinary military personnel:

  • D. Platonov - senior warrant officer;
  • D Vakhrushin - warrant officer;
  • E. Serdechny - senior warrant officer.

Their success was simply stunning. They performed at a huge number of festivals and toured almost the entire Soviet Union with their concerts. The history of the Blue Berets also includes tours to terrible hot spots. They performed for soldiers in Kabul, Kosovo, Bosnia, Chechnya, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The team took part in the filming of many television programs, and many Soviet citizens knew the words of their songs by heart. It may seem that the group members should have become millionaires, but this conclusion, alas, is completely wrong. Throughout the history of its existence, the group has been non-profit. All the money collected for their concerts was sent to local organizations of internationalist soldiers.

Today, Sergei Yarovoy has been awarded several awards. At the same time, he and his faithful wife live a simple life, not overshadowed by enormous material wealth.

Concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces as part of the 47th Airborne Song and Dance Ensemble.

AMATEUR TEAM

The group's first concert took place on the evening of November 19, 1985 in the Republic of Afghanistan in the soldiers' club of the 350th Guards Parachute Regiment, which was pressed against the runway of the Kabul airport, with a full house.

And this was not surprising, because their comrades from their native regiment, with whom they had gone to “combat” more than once, took the stage:

  • Company sergeant major of the 350th RDP, warrant officer Oleg Gontsov (founder of the ensemble)
  • Secretary of the Komsomol committee of the regiment, captain Sergei Yarovoy (leader of the ensemble)
  • Sergei Isakov (squad commander)
  • Private Igor Ivanchenko (combat vehicle driver)
  • Private Tarikh Lyssov (member of the regimental band)

This was the first composition of the group, and November 19 became the ensemble’s birthday "Blue berets".

Then, at the first concert, a variety of songs were heard from the stage: from Alla Pugacheva to “Time Machine,” and the concert itself was a kind of result of one dispute. The fact is that the musical equipment donated to the paratroopers by the Belarusian Komsomol was nominally owned by the artillery regiment, but everyone wanted to play. Then Sergei Yarovoy put forward a proposal - whoever prepares a concert in a week gets the instruments and equipment.

With the support of the regiment commander, Lieutenant Colonel Gennady Sergeevich Borisov and his deputy for political affairs, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kazantsev, who met the desire of the children to organize their own group, and, by the way, forever remained devoted fans of the work of their native group, the competition was won by the ensemble of the 350th RAP. Rehearsing mostly at night, during breaks between combat operations, the ensemble began to write and perform their original songs.

Soon, cassettes with recordings began to circulate throughout Afghanistan. "Blue Berets". Many of them became the best examples of the so-called “Afghan” song. These are “Memory” by Oleg Gontsov, “At the Dangerous Line” and “The Landing Goes into the Breakthrough” by Sergei Yarovoy and dozens and dozens of other songs that have become immensely dear to everyone who served on Afghan soil.

From November 1985 to February 1987, the group performed concerts in front of many units of the Limited contingent of Soviet troops in the Republic of Afghanistan, at the USSR Embassy, ​​the Trade Representation, at the Central Committee of the DOMA, the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the DRA, at the Kabul Polytechnic Institute.

Speaking at a concert at the Kabul Polytechnic Institute, "Blue berets" met the only musical group in Afghanistan, “Gulsor” (1987).

However, the concerts were just pleasant moments, albeit the results of hard work at rehearsals, in the hard combat work of the paratroopers. All members of the ensemble were awarded state awards for fulfilling their international duty: Sergei Yarovoy - two Orders of the Red Star, Oleg Gontsov - two Orders of the Red Star, Igor Ivanchenko - the Order of the Red Star, Sergei Isakov - the medal "For Courage".

During the two years the group was in Afghanistan as part of the Blue Berets, S. Ufimtsev, M. Abashev, A. Rogachev appeared on stage; V. Turkin, V. Panchenko, A. Pikulik, V. Belous took the most active part in the work of the group. Especially for "Blue Berets" The song was written by military general Viktor Pavlovich Kutsenko.

In March 1987, the group took part in the third round of the All-Union Television Competition "When the Soldiers Sing". This competition and its television version, aired on Channel 1 of Central Television, were extremely popular among television viewers. The performance of the Blue Berets airborne ensemble, directly from Kabul via teleconference, was simply a sensation. Thousands of young but gray soldiers who returned from the war, thousands of mothers whose sons still served in Afghanistan, millions of ordinary Soviet people worried about their children, forever gave their hearts to the Blue Berets ensemble. The victory in the competition was unconditional!

In September 1987, the group recorded their first giant disc, which quickly became platinum. This record entered the top ten most popular in the country according to a TASS survey.

In October 1987, the ensemble came to Moscow for the first time and took part in concerts at the most prestigious venues in the capital: the Rossiya State Concert Hall, the Kremlin Palace, the Variety Theater, the Olympic Theater, the Luzhniki Theater - this is not a complete list of concert halls that applauded the paratroopers. The Headquarters of the Airborne Forces receives hundreds of applications from all over the country for the group’s performance "Blue berets". There is only one answer: “The ensemble is amateur. The participants are serving in the Republic of Afghanistan.”

In February 1988, the ensemble became the Winner of the final of the First All-Union Television Competition "When the Soldiers Sing". The overcrowded 15,000-seat "Olympic" standing applauds the guardsmen-paratroopers. Being a laureate of a prestigious competition "Blue berets" make a month-long tour of formations and units of the Airborne Forces. The ensemble becomes a cult group of the Airborne Forces.

However, problems arise with the future fate of the group. The team leader, Captain Sergei Yarovoy, returns from Afghanistan and receives a new assignment; warrant officer Oleg Gontsov decides to remain to serve in the DRA; the term of military service for other members of the team is ending. The ensemble is on the verge of ceasing to exist.

In the political department of the Airborne Forces, headed by Lieutenant General S.M. Smirnov, they understand well that the ensemble must be preserved, because he became a powerful force in the patriotic education of youth. Officers E. Zolotarev, E. Karataev, A. Reshetnikov are doing everything possible to ensure that the ensemble continues to work. Captain S. Yarovoy is tasked with selecting new team members.

A compromise decision is made: the ensemble will be based in the Moscow region (the village of Medvezhye Ozera) in one of the Airborne Forces units (the 196th separate communications regiment of the Airborne Forces, now the 38th separate communications regiment). But until the issue of the staffing structure is resolved, all participants will be engaged not only in creativity, but also in fulfilling their official duties.

Back in October 1987, on the set of a TV show "When the Soldiers Sing", Sergei Yarovoy met his “classmate” from the Novosibirsk Higher Political School, senior lieutenant Yuri Slatov. The latter performed his song “Orders are not for sale” and took first place among singer-songwriters. After serving in Afghanistan, Yuri returned to the Union in 1986 and was assigned to the city of Maykop as assistant to the head of the division’s political department for Komsomol work. Many who served in Afghanistan still have Yuri Slatov’s songs recorded on cassette tapes - “At the Airplane Gangway”, “Password - Afghan”, “The demobilization flew away” and others. Sergei Yarovoy invited his friend to join the Airborne Forces and connect his life with creativity.

In May 1988, a new commander of the battalion, Captain Sergei Yarovoy, and a new propagandist of the regiment, Senior Lieutenant Yuri Slatov, appeared in the communications regiment in Bear Lakes near Moscow, they are also Laureates of the All-Union Competition. A new stage in the life of the ensemble has begun "Blue berets".

Very quickly new members were found and invited to the group: from the Pskov Airborne Forces - private V. Rimsha, at home, in Bear Lakes - privates E. Heart And E. Rozhkov. Why soldiers and not professional musicians? The answer to this question has become the principle of staffing the ensemble since the very birth of the group. Only real paratroopers who know the service not from songs should perform on stage.

During the period from September 1988 to June 1990, the group repeatedly participated in the filming of a variety of television programs, in competitions and festivals, and toured the entire Soviet Union with concerts. The ensemble filled stadiums and Sports Palaces and successfully competed in terms of the number of spectators with the then incredibly popular “Tender May”. All money collected from the concerts was transferred to local organizations of internationalist soldiers for the construction of monuments, assistance to the disabled and the families of the victims. More than a million rubles were transferred.

Unfortunately, this money did not always reach those in need. Let this now remain on the conscience of some former leaders of veterans' organizations. But even then, the first business trips to “hot spots” appeared in the ensemble’s tour schedule. Nagorno-Karabakh, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Vilnius. Whatever they say today about the mission of the Soviet Armed Forces in these cities and regions, "Blue berets" They were always close to ordinary soldiers and officers carrying out the orders of their country.

STATE ENSEMBLE OF THE VDV

The songs of the ensemble helped people in uniform to survive spiritually, under the constant pressure of human misunderstanding. It was in those years that the real persecution of the army began. But "Blue berets" did not break, they were always true to their principles - to sing only the truth. By 1990, the ensemble's repertoire had changed significantly. Along with the songs written in Afghanistan by Sergei Yarov and Oleg Gontsov, new ones appeared - by Yuri Slatov. These were tough and angry compositions about what the guys saw during their tour: the collapse of the country and the army, people's attitude towards the "Afghans", national wars and much more.

And again the “berets” found their audience, the halls were full, people held their breath and listened to the song’s truth about life. It was then that the songs appeared - “You sent us there”, “I don’t believe”, “Epaulettes of Russia”, “Philosopher” and others. The result of the work of the third generation of the ensemble was the release of the giant disc “The War Is Over” by the Melodiya company.

In June 1991, the regiment’s amateur ensemble finally received “professional” status, and in August, the Order of the USSR Minister of Defense approved the staffing schedule for a separate concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces "Blue berets". From now on, the group began to be called the Concert Ensemble of the Russian Airborne Forces. Before this event, G. Razumov, A. Khamizov, M. Gurov, D. Kalmykov managed to play in the group. So, since June 1991, creativity has become the cornerstone of the lives of the ensemble members "Blue berets».

The battalion's political officer, Major Sergei Yarovoy, becomes the full-time Artistic Director of the group, and the regiment's propagandist, Captain Yuri Slatov, becomes his deputy. They come to the group Denis Platonov And Dmitry Vakhrushin, finishing their military service in the Svir Airborne Forces, Yegor Serdechny, now an old-timer of the ensemble, remains for extra-long service.

Almost immediately, work began on a new program, but active touring activities did not stop. The group repeatedly visited Germany, Poland, the former republics of Yugoslavia, performed concerts for US Army personnel, and “discovered” the Arctic, Far North, and Far East regions. And everywhere "Blue Berets" met with a warm welcome from the audience, real people's love. The once great Soviet Union was collapsing, but for the airborne ensemble, born in the Afghan war, there were no borders, just as there are none now - applications for concerts come from all the former republics of the USSR.

Unfortunately, the list of “hot spots” where the guys have visited is constantly growing: Transnistria and Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Chechnya, Bosnia and Kosovo. Coming to war "Blue berets" they try to give as many concerts as possible in front of soldiers at outposts, and sometimes right in battle formations. They often speak to residents, sometimes of warring parties, carrying out a peacekeeping mission. It is no coincidence that awards for bravery during stays in “hot spots” were added to the military Orders for the war in Afghanistan.

In 1994, the group recorded its fourth album, entitled “From War to War,” and in December 1995 a CD of the same name was released. Everything he experienced during his business trips to “hot spots” was reflected in the songs that were included in the fifth album, recorded in 1996 and called “Eh, Share...”. In March 1997, responding to numerous requests from veterans of various wars and former paratroopers, the ensemble recorded its sixth album with old songs called “The Desk Calendar is Sad.”

In November 2015, the Blue Berets Concert Ensemble of the Airborne Forces turned 30 years old. This is a significant date for any musical group, and even more so for the military. All members of the ensemble have long been awarded the title "Honored Artist of Russia".

But the story of the legendary “Afghan” ensemble is far from over. Plane tickets have long been purchased to fly off on the next tour, the schedule of which is scheduled for six months in advance, and everyday creative work is underway.

This means that more than once people will hear piercing, truthful songs about their children - the defenders of the Russian Land, performed by the ensemble "Blue berets"!

GROUP "BLUE BERETS" - 30 YEARS ANNIVERSARY

Concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the ensemble at the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army.

Separate concert ensemble of the Russian Airborne Forces
"BLUE BERETS"

The ensemble "BLUE BERETS" began its creative life as an amateur group of paratroopers of the 350th airborne division of the 103rd Airborne Division in 1985 in Afghanistan. All group members were awarded orders and medals for their participation in hostilities. Since the first concert, which took place on November 19, 1985, the artistic director of the ensemble has been then captain, and now colonel Sergei Fedorovich Yarovoy.
After winning the All-Union television competition “When Soldiers Sing” in 1987 and recording a giant vinyl disc, the ensemble became widely known among viewers and listeners throughout the Soviet Union.
By decision of the political department of the Airborne Forces, since May 1988, the group has been based in a separate airborne forces communications regiment in the Moscow region. Being an amateur vocal and instrumental ensemble, the group successfully tours the cities of the USSR, giving concerts in distant and nearby military garrisons, navies, border outposts, becoming one of the most popular army creative groups.

In August 1991, by Order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, the staffing schedule of the separate concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces “BLUE BERETS” was approved. In 1994, by Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General P.S. Grachev approved the “Regulations on the Airborne Forces concert ensemble “BLUE BERETS” as part of the 47th Airborne Song and Dance Ensemble”

Since 1991, the ensemble has been a professional team of the Ministry of Defense and the Airborne Forces. The composition of the “BLUE BERETS” is stabilizing.
Until this time, the group performed and worked with:
Oleg Gontsov
Sergey Isakov
Igor Ivanchenko
Tarikh Lyssov
A. Kozlov (cameraman)
Vladimir Turkin
Valery Panchenko
Stas Ufimtsev
Marat Abashev
Alexander Rogachev
Evgeny Rozhkov
Victor Rimsha
Gleb Razumov
Alim Khamizov
Mikhail Gurov
Denis Kalmykov (cameraman)
Evgeniy Borisovich Zolotarev (director)
Konstantin Efremov
Sergey Zapuskalov
Azat Khairutdinov
Konstantin Nesterov
Oleg Ivanenko

From October 1991 to the present day in the ensemble:

Yarovoy Sergey Fedorovich

artistic director of the ensemble,
Deputy Head of the 47th Airborne Song and Dance Ensemble,
Honored Artist of Russia,
colonel.

Slatov Yuri Alekseevich

deputy artistic director,
songwriter, program director,
Honored Artist of Russia,
colonel.

Platonov Denis Yurievich

accompanist, arranger, ensemble musician,
Honored Artist of Russia,
Senior Warrant Officer.

Serdechny Egor Evgenievich

ensemble foreman, band musician, sound engineer,
Honored Artist of Russia,
Senior Warrant Officer.

Vakhrushin Dmitry Alexandrovich

arranger, ensemble musician,
Honored Artist of Russia,
ensign.

Discography of the ensemble:

BLUE BERETS (1987)
In September 1987, the first Album of the Ensemble was released - \"Blue Berets\".
It included the first songs written by the band members.
The recording was made at the branch of the All-Union recording company "Melody" in Tashkent.
1. Banner of the Guards Regiment
2. The landing force goes into a breakthrough
3. Attack
4. Blue berets
5. At the Dangerous Line
6. Memory
7. Serpentine
8. War is no walk in the park
9. Enemies
10. Silver plane
11. Farewell

MEMORY (1988)
In April 1988, the album “Memory” was recorded in Moscow at the Melodiya company, which was released only on audio cassettes in a very limited edition.
There was no official release on gramophone records, so the recording became truly rare.
1. Time chose us
2. Sineva
3. April 27
4. Landing
5. In memory of A. Kostenko
6. Signalmen
7. Let's live
8. Nurses
9. Song about a friend
10. We dream about Afghanistan
11. Wake up, man
12. Back into battle

SO THE WAR IS OVER (1990)
In June 1990, the new group members recorded a disc dedicated to the end of the war in Afghanistan.
1. The war is over
2. 13300
3. Bro
4. Helicopter pilots
5. Cinema
6. Conscience
7. Letter to mother
8. Old Raven
9. Blue River
10. Combat friends

FROM WAR TO WAR (1994)
November 1994. After a long four-year pause, the ensemble's first laser disc, "From War to War," was recorded at the BB studio.
1. Was it in vain (Yu. Slatov)
2. Thank you, Mr. President (Yu. Slatov)
3. Do you remember, mother (D. Platonov)
4. Rus' (Yu. Slatov)
5. New day (D. Vakhrushin)
6. Photography (Yu. Slatov)
7. Shoulder straps (Yu. Slatov)
8. Roads (Yu. Slatov)
9. To the crew of 561 (Yu. Slatov)

EH, SHARE... (1996)
In 1996, the second laser disc of the group "Eh, share" was recorded at the Moscow studio "Liga".
1. Alpha
2. Raven
3. Russians
4. Memory
5. Sineva
6. New Year
7. Hot phone
8. To a friend
9. Meeting
10. Company
11.Bro
12.Cossack
13.Wild geese
14.Share

THE DESK CALENDAR IS SAD (1997)
In 1997, the third laser disc of the group, “The Desk Calendar is Sad,” was recorded at the Moscow studio “Liga.”
1. Blue berets
2. Orders are not for sale
3. Memory
4. Signalmen
5. At the plane's steps
6. Load 200
7. Nurses
8. Maestro
9. Letter to Mother
10.Silver plane
11.Conversation with a portrait
12.In the mountains near Peshawar
13. War is not a walk in the park
14.Demobilization
15.Sineva
16.V.F.Margelov

MEMORY. FAVORITES. SERIES “BEST SONGS OF RUSSIA” (2001)
In May 2001, the company \"Park Stars\" in agreement with \"Blue Berets\" in the series \"Best Songs of Russia\" released a collection - \"Blue Berets. Favorites. Memory\", which united the 20 best songs of the group.
1. Blue berets
2. Was it in vain?
3. Memory
4. Orders are not for sale
5. Bro
6. Shoulder straps of Russia
7. Demobilizations flew away
8. Play, maestro
9. Tell me, father
10. Sineva
11. Alpha fighters
12. They are somewhere nearby
13. Border
14. New Year
15. Do you remember, mom?
16. A blue bird fell
17. Old Bridge
18. If not us, then who
19. Roads
20. Don't burn bridges

WOUNDED CITY (2002)
In 2002, the fourth laser disc of the group “Wounded City” was recorded at the Moscow studio “Liga”. The album includes 14 compositions.
1. Banner of the Guards Regiment
2. You sent us there
3. Password - “Afghan”
4. Wounded City
5. Soldier
6. You are next to us
7. The desk calendar is sad
8. Russia
9. Sky
10. Two “turntables” on Mozdok
11. Striped nature
12. I had a dream
13. Call, friend
14. Sineva

DEDICATION (2005)
In 2005, at the MSRecords studio, sound engineer Evgeny Bulatov recorded the album “Dedication,” which marked the ensemble’s 20th anniversary.
1. Dedication
2. Without the past there is no future
3. Men's work
4. Officer
5. The boys are going to war
6. Come back soon
7. "Annushka"
8. War brought us together
9. I haven’t seen my grandfather
10. Sad story
11. And “LANDING TOUR” is never a former one
12. I shouted at the screen - “DINA”
13. There is no better airborne force in the world
14. Epilogue

Minefield (2009)

1. Minefield
2. Old Bridge
3. Let's sit and be silent, guys
4. Well, how are you?
5. Russian snow
6. Shy Reggae
7. V.F. Margelov
8. “Marine” and “landing force”
9. Sineva
10. Waltz of Novosibirsk graduates
11. Glory to us!
12. Winter romance
13. Everything will be fine!

Yarovoy Sergey Fedorovich(born April 22, 1957, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky) - artistic director of the Blue Berets ensemble, colonel.

Biography

On Saturday, August 4, 2012, a celebration dedicated to veterans of local events was held in the village of Balezino. At the holiday, already traditional for our village...

Sergei Yarovoy was born in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. In 1975-1977 he served in the Kirovograd special forces brigade. In 1977-1981 he studied at the Novosibirsk Higher Military-Political Combined Arms School at the airborne department. After graduating from college, he was sent as a company political officer to Ryazan, to the 137th Parachute Regiment.

In 1985, he arrived as a replacement in Afghanistan, served in the famous 350th Guards Parachute Regiment as part of OKSV, and was secretary of the Komsomol Committee. Participated in almost all combat operations of the regiment from 1985 to 1987. One of the most famous songs - Banner of the Guards Regiment - is dedicated to the 350th Guards Parachute Regiment.

The 350th Guards Parachute Regiment, along with the fact that it was the most “fighting” during the Afghan war, also became known as the most “singing”. It was here that the famous Blue Berets ensemble was born. The first concert took place on the evening of November 19, 1985 at the soldiers' club of the 350th Guards Parachute Regiment. The founder of the ensemble was a holder of three Orders of the Red Star, company sergeant major, warrant officer Oleg Gontsov. In 1985, Yarovoy joined the amateur ensemble of the regiment

“Blue Berets” (since October 1991) is a separate concert ensemble of the Airborne Forces, whose leader is to this day Sergei Yarovoy. At the same time, he is the deputy head of the 47th Airborne Song and Dance Ensemble. (Film-concert "Blue Berets" (selected 1985-2005)

Sergei Yarovoy is married, his wife Elena, two children - daughter Maria and son Artyom.

Awards

  • 2 Orders of the Red Star
  • Medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class with swords
  • Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
  • Badge of the Komsomol Central Committee "For Military Valor"


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