Valery Meladze

Date of Birth: 23.06.1965

Place of Birth. Education. Valery was born in Batumi (Georgia). He graduated from music school in his childhood with a focus on piano. In 1983, he enrolled in Nikolaev Shipbuilding University. There, his musical career began with the band VIA 'April', where his older brother Konstantin Meladze worked as a keyboardist and arranger of the repertoire.

Career. In 1989, the Meladze brothers were invited by Kim Breitburg to become members of the popular Soviet band 'Dialog', which worked in the style of art rock. Konstantin wrote several songs for the albums 'In the Middle of the World' and 'Autumn Cry of the Falcon'. Since then, he has been the sole author of the songs Valery sings.

The first hit in Valery Meladze's solo career was the lyrical composition 'Calm My Soul, Violin' (1993), which earned him the title 'Discovery of the Year 1994'. At the end of 1994, the primadonna of the Russian stage, Alla Pugacheva, invited Valery Meladze to participate in her highly popular 'Christmas Meetings'.

Another major success came from Valery's collaboration with his brother's protégés - the girls of the band 'VIA Gra'. The songs 'Ocean and Three Rivers', 'There is no more attraction', and their accompanying videos remained at the top of various charts and rankings for a long time.

Valery Meladze's solo concert 'Ocean' took place in November 2005 with great success: only one of the 12,000 tickets remained unsold.

He participated in several television projects. In 2005, he co-hosted the show 'Land of the Soviets' on NTV along with Ruslana Pysanka and took part in the project of the 'Russia' channel 'Secret of Success'. In 2007, he and his brother led 'Star Factory - 7'.

In 2012 and 2013, he hosted the first season (together with Ekaterina Varnava and Natalia Stefanenko) and the second season (with Natalia Stefanenko and rapper Potap) of the project 'Battle of the Choirs'.

In 2017, from February to April, he was a mentor on the project 'The Voice. Kids of the fourth season' along with Dima Bilan and singer Nyusha.

In 2018, he was again a mentor in the project 'The Voice. Kids', in the fifth season - together with Pelageya and Basta.

In September 2018, he became a mentor in the new project 'The Voice. 60+' (Season 1) together with Pelageya, Lev Leshchenko, and Leonid Agutin.

In February 2019, he was once again a mentor in the project 'The Voice. Kids', in the sixth season - together with Pelageya and Svetlana Loboda.

In February 2022, concerts of Valery Meladze in Russia began to be canceled after he criticized the Russian government for the war with Ukraine. In April 2022, Meladze resumed his concert activities.

Awards. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, Valery Meladze was named the best artist of the year (according to the Russian National Music Prize 'Muz-TV'), and his duet with the group 'VIA Gra' was named the best duet of the year (according to the 'Muz-TV' and 'Russian Music Awards 2004').

In September 2006, the artist was awarded the title 'Honored Artist of the Russian Federation'.

In the spring of 2008, Konstantin and Valery Meladze were awarded the International Prize for Culture and Arts at the ceremony 'Man of the Year 2007' held at the National Palace 'Ukraine' in Kyiv.

According to a survey by 'Gallup Media', Valery Meladze is one of the ten most popular Russian performers.

Discography. 'In the Middle of the World' (band 'Dialog', 1991), 'Autumn Cry of the Falcon' ('Dialog', 1993), 'Calm' (1995), 'The Last Romantic' (1996), 'Samba of the White Butterfly' (1998), 'It Was All So' (1999), 'Present' (2002), 'Tenderness' (2003), 'Ocean' (2005), 'Despite' (2008), 'My Brother' (2015).

Personal Life. First wife - Irina Meladze (Malukhina). Valery and Irina married in March 1989. The relationship between the spouses practically ceased in 2012 and they divorced in 2014. Children: daughter Inga (1991), daughter Sophia (1999), daughter Arina (2002).

Second wife - Albina Dzhanabaeva (1979), Russian actress, singer, presenter. Former singer of the women's pop group 'VIA Gra'. They have been married since 2014. Children: son Konstantin (2004), son Luka (2014), daughter (2021).

23.06.2022.