Ludmila Georgievna Zykina was born 10 June 1929 in Moscow into the family of workers. All of her relatives sang very well. She recalled that her granny had taught her old Russian songs.

During the Second World War the future star worked as a lathe operator at the Moscow Machine-Tool Factory “Ordzhonikidze” factory and even deserved the honorary title of the factory’s merited worker. After the war she worked as a nurse in Vishnevski Hospital and then as a sewer in Kashchenko Hospital. This is when her first audience appeared.

After the war in 1947 Ludmila Zykina studied music and took part in the All-Russian Contest of Young Singers. After the performance she was admitted to the Pyatnitsky’s State Russian Folk Choir. Later, in 1951, she became a singer of the Russian Song Choir of the All-Union Radio, and in 1960 she joined the Mosconcert.

She became very popular in 60-70 years when her solo singing career started. Her songs were devoted to militaries and women; she sang patriotic, war and folk-song. Many musicians wrote songs especially for her. In 1977 Ludmila Zykina created the State Academic Russian Folk Ensemble “Russia” and was its art director ever since, touring around the Soviet Union.

Then she began to teach young singers in Moscow State Institute of Culture. In 1973 Ludmila Zykina became the People’s Artist of Russia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. More the 200 songs in her execution are kept in the Russian Radio’s library. In 1982 Ludmila Zykina got the price – “golden disk” by Russian company “melody” and another one - by Germany.

The singer was also famous abroad – she made tours all over the word. She sang in Japan, Germany, France, Austria and Korea. Many famous people of art admired her singing – Charley Chaplin, Mirey Matie, Marcel Marceau, Salvadore Adamo, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Louis de Funes, Marc Chagall, Rockwell Kent, the groups “Beatles” and “Boney M”.

Ludmila Zykina also took part in social life. She was the member of Soviet Peace Fund, worked in the Moscow Children’s Fund and took care of the children from children's homes. She mongered the building of the Culture School in Germany and new concert complex in the centre of Moscow.

Ludmila Zykina celebrated the 80th anniversary since her birthday in 2009. Her choir “Russia” was going to tour around Russia with famous Russian songs. But she has passed away suddenly because of a heart seizure.

She performed for almost 60 years, was called “National voice of Russia”. Many famous compositors wrote songs especially for her. Her vocals of the songs: “Orenbursky pukhovy platok” (the downy shawl from Orenburg) and “River Volga” are famous all over the word.

Many people loved her and said - “She loved Russia and expressed her love in her songs”

Source:
www.vesti.ru
www.ludmilazykina.com