Hands up soloists Alexey Potekhin. Alexey Potekhin - biography, information, personal life

At the turn of the century, the group “Hands Up” churned out one teenage anthem after another. The duet of two charming guys won the hearts of the Russian audience and even surpassed “Tender May” in the number of performances. Ex-member of the group Alexey Potekhin continues to write music to this day and release compositions aimed at both time-tested audiences and young people.

Childhood and youth

Potekhin Alexey was born on April 15, 1972 in Novokuibyshevsk (Samara region). His father worked as an engineer, and his mother worked as the head of the personnel department. Despite the fact that the parents were not creative people, music was constantly playing in the house. Mom was a fan of symphony orchestras, and dad listened to pop music. Older brother Andrey also instilled in Alexey a love for foreign performers (Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, The Cult, Metallica)

At school, Potekhin earned a reputation as a hooligan. He drove teachers to nervous breakdowns and often made fun of his classmates. The obstinate young man also could not boast of exemplary studies. Teachers gave him grades for drawing wall newspapers.

Parents, in order to rein in their son who had gotten out of hand, sent him to the basketball section. There they “knocked the crap out of Alexei.” He was not only instilled with a love of sports, but also taught to strictly follow a daily routine (after classes at 2 p.m. he went to art school, then at 5 p.m. to training).

After graduating from school, Alexey went to study in the regional center - Samara - and entered a technical school there. Having received a diploma as a shipbuilding technician, the guy continued to gnaw on the granite of science already at the Samara Technical University, from which he graduated in 1991 with a degree in systems engineer.

But, as time has shown, Alexey did not turn out to be a “techie”.

"Hands up"

And Alexey Potekhin worked at the radio station “Europe Plus” (Samara), where Sergey hosted a musical program (“Hit-hour”), and Alexey hosted a humorous program (“Rhymes from Potekhin”). Despite the fact that the guys worked side by side for a long time, they only met in 1991.

Even at that time, the fame of radio presenters did not cover the tirelessly growing ambitions of young people. They decided to take it to the next level and create the group “Uncle Ray and Company.” The next three years were spent in creative search and musical experiments.

In 1994, at a rap festival in Moscow, where they got there by chance, their performance was recognized as the best. But from a commercial point of view, the project was unsuccessful. Fame came to the musicians only two years later, when they finally moved to the city of great opportunities.

Producer Andrei Malikov, who had previously worked with the Tekhnologiya and Van-Moo groups, helped Zhukov and Potekhin rise to the heights of musical Olympus. The guys met him in 1996 at the Baboon Records studio. First of all, the man recommended that the guys change the long, non-binding name of the group to the capacious and sonorous “Hands up!” Malikov then convinced the record company J.S.P. invest in filming the first videos and releasing the band's debut album.

The first hits of the group “Hands Up!” – “Kid” and “Student” - “blew up” the radio airwaves. Later, videos were shot on them, which were often broadcast by both TV channels and radio stations. The songs quickly gained popularity and became favorite disco hits of the time. Inspired by the success, the creative team released the album “Breathe Evenly.”

After this, tours of Russian cities began. Tickets for the concerts were sold out long before the group's arrival, and the artists' performances were sold out.

When the project began to generate serious income, Zhukov and Potekhin “escaped” from Malikov and opened their own production center, “Dancing Men” (2000). Having failed to defend his rights to the name and songs, the producer tried to promote other artists and made the sensational “Rat-Jealousy” with the then little-known artist. But the man could not achieve such stunning success with anyone else.

In 2006, fans were shocked by the news that their favorite group had broken up. Fans had only one question: why did Alexey Potekhin leave? The answer was simple: the once best friends could no longer exist harmoniously within the framework of one project. Their views on what product should be released to the masses differed. The mental connection was lost.

Zhukov was tired of being a hostage to the image of “the guy singing about Alyoshka.” The charismatic performer wanted to develop further and conquer new heights, but alone.

Each of the participants went their own way. Potekhin began producing young performers, and Sergei took up a solo career, continuing to use the popular name of the group in his work.

Zhukov explained this by the fact that an agreement had previously been concluded with Potekhin, according to which the rights to “Hands Up,” which previously belonged to both of them, passed into his sole possession. Alexey claimed that he was a victim of deception and at one time even planned to sue his former colleague, but it never came to the point of lawsuits and noisy proceedings.

During its existence, the “Hands Up!” team released 14 official and 12 unofficial albums. Each new song of the group became a hit. “My baby”, “He kisses you”, “Ataman”, “I’m already 18”, “Alyoshka”, “Territory”, “Tears are falling” - this is not a complete list of tracks that fans all over the world still know by heart country.

Among other things, the guys have repeatedly become prize-winners and laureates of prestigious music festivals, charts and awards (“Album of the Year”, “Golden Gramophone”, “Song of the Year”, “Russian Radio Hit”).

Solo career

After the collapse of “Hands Up!” Alexey Potekhin released a collection of dance music Potexinstyle-3

In the spring of 2008, the artist, together with the vocalist of the Turbomoda group Vladimir Luchnikov and member of the Svoi group Ruslan Achkinadze, toured the country.

Their group "Track and Blues", despite their soulfulness, did not find popularity among young people. And even cooperation with the notorious participant in the reality show “Dom-2” Alessandro Materazzo (2008) did not bear fruit.

In 2013, the artist and his wife presented a new track “Summer-Winter” as part of the Russian internet television (PeoplestarTV) project. In 2014, the Arena Moscow club hosted a presentation of the singer’s debut solo album entitled “I Can’t Do Otherwise.”

Later, the enterprising composer returned to the “Track and Blues” project and changed both the name and the lead singer of the group. At the moment, Alexey, together with his good friend Sergei Bogdanov, is promoting their common group “Raise your hands up”.

Personal life

In the “Popular Truth” program (2011), Potekhin said that in his biography there was a moment when, in his youth, he and his best friend Sergei Zhukov fell in love with the same girl. At that time, the guys’ priority was friendship, and neither one nor the other thought about organizing their personal lives. The comrades agreed that no one would care for the beauty.

It is reliably known that the performer was married twice. The man met his first wife, Irina Tolmilova, as part of the “Hands Up!” team. The girl danced and “sang along” to the duet to the soundtrack. The charismatic young lady won the heart of the romantic, and in April 2002 the young people legalized their relationship.

For two years the couple tried unsuccessfully to have a child. There were rumors that while married to Alexei, the woman had a miscarriage, and Irina could no longer have children. Potekhin and Tomilova unanimously denied this information. Before finally parting, the young people lived separately from each other for a short time. The “pause” did not become a “savior” and finally separated the lovers.

On September 12, 2009, Potekhin married for the second time. Alexey's chosen one is called Elena. The girl has nothing to do with show business and before meeting the singer she worked as a veterinarian. Despite the fact that the couple did not sign “incognito”, this event was not covered in the press. The fact is that on the day of their wedding there was also a wedding at and, so the media’s attention was focused on the eminent figure skater and music producer.

In March 2010, the artist shared the news with fans that he had become a dad. The wife gave birth to Potekhin's daughter, whom it was decided to name Maria. During the birth, the musician was in Moscow and personally delivered his wife to the Family Planning Center.

Despite the fact that Elena left work for the sake of her daughter, the young mother does not sit idle: the young lady works as a makeup artist and often participates in professional photo shoots.

Alexey Potekhin now

At the moment, Alexey continues to tour the country, performing at concerts songs both from his personal repertoire and the beloved hits of the group “Hands Up!” It is reliably known that the star of the 90s is now working on new material and promises to release a fresh composition in the near future.

Among other things, the artist performs as an invited guest at various festivals and shows (“Brides of the Moscow Region”, “Big Disco”).

In 2017, Potekhin began collaborating with a company engaged in the production of textile products, and on his page

Alexey Evgenievich Potekhin. Born on April 15, 1972 in Novokuibyshevsk, Samara region. Russian musician, radio host, producer. Former member of the group “Hands Up!”

Older brother - Andrey Potekhin.

Everyone in the family loved music, which Alexey also became involved with from an early age.

He studied at an art school and basketball section.

He learned to play the guitar, composed songs, and worked part-time as a DJ at discos. At that time he was into heavy rock - Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Foreigner, The Cult, Metallica.

After graduating from high school, he went to study in Samara at a river technical school, which he graduated in 1991.

He was a presenter at the radio station “Europe-plus” in Samara, where he hosted the program “Rhymes from Potekhin.” There on the radio in 1993 he met.

In December 1994 they moved to Togliatti, where they tried to record songs in a studio. At the same time, they regularly travel to Samara to broadcast on Radio Europe Plus.

In Tolyatti, together with Sergei Zhukov, he created the group “Uncle Ray and Company”.

In May 1995 they find themselves in Moscow. We worked as DJs at the Moscow radio station “Rocks”, then held a series of discos in Tbilisi.

At the end of 1995, the musicians broadcast a cassette with several songs to Radio Maximum and signed: “This music will make you raise your hands up.” The cassette fell into the hands of presenters Olga Maksimova and Konstantin Mikhailov, who played the song “Good Morning” in their show and announced: “Young group “Hands Up!”.” Since then, this name has been assigned to the group - "Hands up!".

Then producer Andrei Malikov became interested in the group, and concerts and tours began.

Group "Hands up!" recorded the song “Baby”, which became popular, followed by the hit “Student”. The songs “Baby” and “Student” are in the top ten of the “Russian Radio” hit parade “Russian Hill”. In the spring and summer of 1997, video clips were shot for these songs. A session vocalist, Elizaveta Rodnyanskaya, a member of the Melissa group, was found to record the female parts.

In 1998, the group received six silver medals, three gold medals and one platinum disc for the huge number of copies sold. In 1999, the group became the winner of three diplomas at the second annual award of the Russian recording industry.

In 1999, the album “Without Brakes” was released, which sold 12,000,000 copies.

Their songs “My Baby”, “Sorry”, “Ay Yay Yay Girl”, “Alyoshka”, “Thought”, “Kind, Gentle, Affectionate”, “Little Girls”, “He Kisses You”, “Go Away” became hits. , "Whirlpool".

Hands up - Ay yay yay girl

In the late 1990s, the group created its own music label “Dancing Men” (“B-Funky Productions”), which began producing pop groups “Turbomoda”, “Boys”, “Revolvers”, “Shark”, singer Murphy.

In 2006, the group “Hands Up!” fell apart. About the reasons for his departure, Alexey Potekhin said: “Everyone asks me why I left “Hands Up!” I’ll answer you: because we all became adults, but Sergei didn’t think so, he was comfortable. He is comfortable now. I always wanted fame, but I didn’t.”

He admitted that although the whole country sang their songs, he did not earn much money: “The most interesting thing is that of all the two hundred and thirty songs that we wrote, everyone was only interested in the simplest ones. “La-la-la-la, all day I I hum" - we became famous on such songs. Every girl in the country had “Hands Up!” cassettes, but this did not affect our financial situation in any way.”

After the collapse of the group “Hands Up!” in 2006, Alexey Potekhin, together with his friend Vladimir Luchnikov, created a project called "Raise Your Hands Up". He began touring with the group. Released a collection of dance music Potexinstyle-3.

Alexey also started producing young performers such as Superboys, J Well (ex-member of the Discomafia group). During the period 2006-2008, 3 collections of dance music Potexinstyle were released, combining many young performers and hits of famous groups such as “Demo”, “Turbomoda”, “Planka”, etc.

Then Alexey took up the TRACK&blues project, to which he invited ex-vocalist of the Turbomoda group Vladimir Luchnikov and ex-member of the Svoi group Ruslan Achkinadze. In 2007, Alessandro Materazzo, a former participant in the TV show Dom-2, was invited to join the TREK&blues group, who toured with them in the summer of 2008 in the south of Russia.

In 2013, the artist and his wife presented a new track “Summer-Winter” as part of the Russian internet television (PeoplestarTV) project.

In 2014, a presentation of his solo album entitled “I Can’t Do Otherwise” took place at the Arena Moscow club.

In 2016, at a concert dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the group “Hands Up!”, Potekhin and Zhukov reunited on stage again. However, their communication never resumed.

For the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Alexey Potekhin wrote a song for “Buranovskie Babushki”.

Collaborates with a company engaged in the production of textile products.

Alexey Potekhin's height: 182 centimeters.

Personal life of Alexey Potekhin:

Was married twice.

The first wife is Irina Tomilova, a dancer of the “Hands Up!” group. We got married on April 13, 2002. Divorced in 2004.

The second wife is Elena Potekhina, a veterinarian by profession, but works as a stylist. We got married on September 12, 2009.

Alexey Potekhin with his wife Elena and daughter Maria

Alexey loves antique things, which he collects.

Discography of Alexey Potekhin:

2011 - Leo-Scorpio
2014 - I can’t help it

Before becoming a musician of the popular group “Hands Up”!”, Alexey Potekhin worked at the Samara radio station “Europe Plus”, where he had a humorous program. Their union with fellow DJ Sergei Zhukov in 1991 was the beginning of a long collaboration in a new musical group. Their first song, “Baby,” immediately fell in love with the youth audience and became the key to more than ten years of successful creativity. The duet received many prizes in various categories of Russian competitions and five Golden Gramophone statuettes. Songs of the group “Hands Up!” four times became laureates of the “Song of the Year” award. In 2006, this group broke up and each of the singers went their own way. Alexey became the founder of the new project “TRACK&Blues”, promotes young talents and goes on tour as a performer of songs from the old repertoire. Alexei Potekhin's wife has nothing to do with the stage

Potekhin married twice in his life and his first marriage was directly related to the “Hands Up!” group. At the very peak of their popularity, two singers: Zhukov and Potekhin, were so busy with their creative careers that their personal lives had no development: due to the lack of wives or more or less permanent girlfriends, they were even suspected of having a penchant for unconventional love interests. The young guys simply did not immediately cope with the all-Russian success and adoration that fell on their heads, therefore, they devoted themselves entirely to the stage. Then the state of affairs changed: having strengthened themselves in their glory and got used to it, they became simpler and more reasonable: life went on. Zhukov was the first to get married in 2000, and in 2002 his stage partner decided to join the army of “married men”. Moreover, he had no need to go far: Alexey was dating a girl from the group’s backup dancer, Irina Tomilova.

Irina danced and “sang along” to the duet to the soundtrack, creating a decorative background during the performance, and completely satisfied the audience. In April 2002, she and Alexei got married, but this information was hidden among the audience: only initiates and those who found information knew about the wives of the main performers: fans should not be disappointed. This marriage lasted two years and there is no exact information about why it broke up. They said that Irina was expecting a child, then rumors appeared that it could not be saved. Potekhin himself admitted in an interview that he and his wife continue to communicate, but do not live together, and any girl who can make him a father can become a candidate for the role of his wife. However, information that his ex-wife is now married and has a child refutes the version of Irina’s infertility.

In addition to the gossip, there was also a message in Express Newspaper that, having heard about the construction of a luxurious mansion in a reserved resort town on the Curonian Spit near Kaliningrad, allegedly started by Alexei Potekhin, meticulous journalists asked him for details. Alexey suggested that this building might signify “Ira’s dad,” his ex-wife, who lives in Kaliningrad. A person, presumably, not poor and influential enough to afford such a luxury. Potekhin himself, according to him, does not have that kind of money. In light of these circumstances, Alexei’s divorce from Irina could have other reasons.

In 2009, Potekhin married a second time, and in March 2010 his daughter was born. Alexey’s new wife’s name is Elena and, according to her husband, she worked in the “field of veterinary medicine.” The lovers dated for two years before they decided to get married, and are absolutely happy that they have a child. For the sake of her daughter, Elena parted with her work, devoting all her attention to her. The girl was named Masha and Potekhina is very pleased with the sound of her name, her middle name is Maria Alekseevna. During the birth, the musician was in Moscow and himself took his wife to the Family Planning Center.

He often has to leave for concerts in the Russian outback and this is due to Zhukov’s ownership of the repertoire of their former duet. Even the name of Alexey’s team is now “Raise your hands up!”, and the stage venues are much more modest than before. But Alexei Potekhin’s wife can be calm: her husband will be able to provide a decent existence for her and her baby, because he works for the good of his family.

Recently the group "Hands Up!" won the MUZ-TV award in the category “Best Song of the Fifteenth Anniversary”. The award for the composition “My Baby” was taken by Sergei Zhukov, who appeared on stage without Alexei Potekhin. But once the guys were inseparable.

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Journalists contacted the former member of the team and found out why he was no longer visible. “Yes, I left show business for a while, but I didn’t stop making music,” said Potekhin. “I recently wrote a song for “Buranovskie Babushki.” It will be dedicated to the World Cup.”

The artist did not say anything nasty about his former colleague. “Everyone asks me why I left “Hands Up!” I’ll answer you: because we all became adults, but Sergei didn’t think so, he was comfortable. He’s comfortable now. He always wanted fame, but I didn’t.” ,” Alexey spread his hands.

Apparently, the musicians do not maintain relationships after the breakup of the band. “Are we communicating? Ask him. Although you’re unlikely to get through to him. He’s a VIP,” the performer answered evasively.

If Zhukov continues to lead an active social life and occasionally appear in the news (for example, in connection with a sensational story), then Potekhin has forgotten the sharks of his pen. “Honestly, I’m very surprised that you wanted to interview me. I haven’t been popular for a long time. I’m on the Internet - there’s silence. Nobody writes. Although I’m ready to answer everyone!” – the website “Interlocutor” quotes the artist.

Alexey admitted that even though the whole country sang his compositions, he did not get rich. “The most interesting thing is that out of all the two hundred and thirty songs that we wrote, everyone was interested only in the simplest ones. “La-la-la-la, I hum all day long” - we became famous with such songs. Every girl in the country had cassette tapes." Hands up!”, but this did not affect our financial situation in any way,” Potekhin complained.

According to a former member of the group “Ruki Verkh!”, all the money went to other people. “Our producers had everything. They had apartments, cars, wives. We had nothing. If you ask how much Andrei Cherkasov, who managed us, and the ARS Records company earned for us, I will answer you: one hundred and forty million rubles. Be sure to write about it!" - asked the artist.

Alexey Evgenievich Potekhin (b. April 15, 1972 (38 years old) Novokuibyshevsk (Samara region) - Russian musician, producer. Member of the group “Hands Up!” (the group officially broke up in 2006).

Biography

Alexey was born into a very musical family: a tape recorder was constantly playing at home and they listened to records. Mom liked symphonic music more, and dad liked pop music. His older brother got him interested in foreign music. The boy had a lively and cocky character, but his parents insisted that he attend art school and the basketball section.

After graduating from school, Alexey went to study in the regional center, Samara. He entered the river technical school, and now he remembers this time with warmth:

There were other teachers there who, despite their venerable age, joked around like young people. This period in my life was the best because I made great friends.

At home, fresh hits were regularly played, and Alexey began to perceive music with interest, at first he simply listened, and then bought a guitar and began composing himself, even managing to work part-time as a DJ at a disco. His tastes included* Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Foreigner, The Cult, Metallica* and others in the same spirit. He is still a fan of creativity Jimmy Page And Hendrix.

After graduating from technical school in 1991, he entered the Samara State Technical University - as Alexey himself recalls,

“Mom influenced.”

He graduated from it in 1996 with a specialty* in systems engineering.*

Worked at a radio station "Europa Plus" in Samara, hosted the program "Rhymes from Potekhin". Created a group in Togliatti "Uncle Ray and Company" together with Sergei Zhukov. This was the beginning of a great future called "Hands up!". But so far these were only hopes that could not even bring income. To earn some money, the duo held a series of discos in Tbilisi.

Then they returned to Moscow and began working at a recording studio "Baboon Records", creating arrangements for other groups for the right to simultaneously record songs for their own. By that time, a new name had been chosen - "Hands up!".

With the involvement of a professional producer, the music business began to develop. The group became incredibly popular after the release of their first album. "Breathe evenly", and the musicians began touring around the country and abroad. Since then, countless concerts have been held and many songs have been written. "Hands" many awards were awarded. After the closure of “Ruk” in 2006, Alexey has been producing young performers such as Superboys, J Well(ex-member of the group Discomafia).

During the period 2006/2008, 3 collections of dance music Potexinstyle were released, combining many young performers and hits of famous groups, such as At the moment, Alexey is working on his new project TRACK&blues, to which he invited ex-vocalist Gr. Turbomod (Vladimir Luchnikov) and ex-member of the Svoi group Ruslan Achkinadze. In 2007 Alessandro Materazzo, a member of the TV show DOM-2, with whom the group toured in the summer of 2008 in the south of Russia and abroad, was invited to the TRACK&blues group.

Alexey has a hobby:

Alexey has an older brother Andrey, a former member of the gr. T*urbomoda, Boys, Revolvers.* Today Andrey is the manager and organizer of performances of Alexey’s new project TRACK&blues.