Why Sergei Penkin got into the Guinness Book of Records and why he only became a student of Gnesinka 11 times

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

"Prince of Silver", "Mister Extravagance", "Silver Voice of Russia" … singer and composer Sergei Penkin - personality on the Russian stage is unusually bright and shocking. He is one of the few who can boast, in addition to external eccentricity, a magnificent strong voice in its breadth of four octaves. Thanks to this, his name was entered in the Guinness Book of Records, of course, quite deservedly. And the enviable persistence with which he stormed the examination committee of the musical alma mater is admirable even among the most inveterate skeptics and ill-wishers.

The work of Sergei Penkin is a unique style, skillfully created by the maestro's outstanding talent. His performances are always a fireworks display of vivid vocal skills, stunning costumes, carnival, and the artist's ability to captivate a discerning audience. Sergei Penkin is a singer capable of expressing the full depth of feelings in every song he performs.

His clear, strong voice, piercing to the depths of the soul, enveloping with its sincere and enchanting timbre, surprisingly plunges the viewer into an atmosphere of beauty and enchanting celebration. His stunning colorful music shows, fantastic costumes of his own design at one time became an indicator of his unique style, and over time, the stage face of the artist.

By the way, he invented his extravagant costumes, of which there are about 2,500 thousand pieces, and at the beginning of his creative career he sewed himself. His appearance has always amazed, surprised, and sometimes shocked the public, however, this still happens to this day. The artist still skillfully turns all his performances into bright unforgettable shows.

However, it is worth noting that the singer's personal life and biography, filled with various rumors, gossip and speculation, is no less interesting to the public than his musical work. Sergei Penkin, 58, rarely shares its details. And today we will slightly open the curtain behind which the singer carefully keeps his personal and intimate.

Turning the pages of a biography

Sergey was born in 1961 in the city of Penza. He was the fifth child in the Penkin family. Sergei's father worked in the railway depot as a machinist. Mother - worked in one of the Penza churches as a cleaner. She was of "noble" blood: the roots of her family went back to the old dynasty of the Dolinin, Penza nobles. The woman was deeply religious and introduced her children to the faith. From an early age, Sergei was associated with music and faith in God. From the age of 5, the boy sang in the church choir.

Seryozha studied at school with enviable pedantry, persistently comprehending all sciences. He certainly believed that it would definitely come in handy in his life. In parallel, Sergei studied at a music school, piano and flute, as well as vocals. After the eighth grade, he graduated from the Penza Music College. During his military service he sang in the "Scarlet Chevron" military ensemble. It was in those years that the young man decided to become an artist. And this desire was so great that, while still in the service, he traveled to Moscow for the entrance exams, but failed them.

Demobilized, the guy went to the capital again. However, it did not work out to enter the famous Gnesinka again. And in order to somehow catch hold of in Moscow, Sergei got a job in one of the communal offices. During the day, the future artist chalked the streets, and in the evenings, dressed in outfits with a million sparkles, he sang in the restaurant of the Cosmos Hotel. The audience was already shocked by the talent of the aspiring star, and in order to see the eccentric singer, they reserved places 3 months in advance.

And what is most shocking in this story is that Penkin made unsuccessful attempts to enter Gnesinka for 10 years. Sergei managed to take this fortress only after the 11th call. Due to a nervous shock, he even lost consciousness in the last exam. In parallel with his studies, the singer continued to work as a vocalist in restaurants, and at the end of the 80s the first overseas tours took place as part of a variety show.

Significant in the fate of the artist was the acquaintance with the famous at that time Viktor Tsoi. And the first step to the top of Olympus was the performance of Penkin at the concert of the rocker thundering all over the country, at which our hero not only got thunderous applause from the audience, but also gained fame. Since then, in the late 80s, during the formation of Russian show business, Sergei Penkin has always been one step ahead: shocking costumes in bright colors and unusual hats. Only Elton John, Michael Jackson or Boy George had such.

At the beginning of the 90s, the artist sang solo for the first time in St. Petersburg, after which Sergey was regularly invited to the best stages not only in Russia, but also in other countries. So the entire elite of Moscow came to see a bright and unlike anyone else artist with a wide range and unusual timbre of voice. Literally everyone was amazed at Penkin's masterful ability to transform into other singers. He sang superbly with the voices of Grigory Leps, Alexander Gradsky, Elton John and many other artists. Many of these looks have been appreciated by professionals. Alexander Gradsky once admitted that even his own mother would not distinguish Sergei in his image. And this talent assessment was the highest award for our hero.

Penkin actually became the first of the then Soviet artists who appeared on stage in such a bold, incredibly extravagant image. And the Soviet audience, tired of hymns, excessive patriotism and gray everyday life, accepted Sergei instantly and appreciated his extraordinary creativity.

By the way, in addition to performing, Penkin tried himself in cinema, he played in several films. The viewer could see him in the Hotel Eden, The Shootout Game, The Diamond Hand 2 and several other films of domestic production.

And now about personal and intimate …

The appearance and mannerism of Sergei Penkin, as well as his bachelor lifestyle, always made the public think - is he not gay? Some are really convinced that the artist belongs to gay people. Penkin himself does not react violently to such conclusions, although he constantly declares on occasion:

Anyway, the artist is convinced that

Women in the life of an artist

More than 15 years ago, Sergei Penkin broke up with journalist Elena Protsenko. In a recent frank interview, the artist spoke about the reasons for the failures in his personal life. shared Penkin.

Sergei Penkin met Elena back in London, during his first tour. She was an English journalist with Russian roots. He was 12 years older. Eyewitnesses said that Penkin then truly fell in love with the girl and filled her with many gifts, thus declaring his love. Sergei recorded the marriage proposal on a cassette and sent his beloved to England. They legalized their relationship, 10 years later - in 2002. On the wedding anniversary, he gave Elena a golden old family bracelet, decorated with diamonds and sapphires, and a year later they officially terminated the relationship.

The artist had both fleeting romances and civil marriage. So in 2012, the artist met his new love named Vladlena from Odessa. But the relationship with this girl did not work out either.

Looking forward to the future

Judging by the latest interviews, the singer and composer is in no hurry to tie the knot again, let alone have children. Now the pop star lives in a luxurious mansion himself. And at the same time he does not feel lonely at all. His relatives - niece and sisters - regularly visit him. And the only one to whom the singer would like to propose, he has not yet met. Penkin says in his few interviews that many women fall in love with him, not as a person, but as an artist.

The famous artist has no children yet. Sergey Penkin categorically excludes that he will use the services of a surrogate mother, as many of his colleagues in show business do. When asked whether he dreams of heirs in general, the artist answers meaningfully.

Summing up the above, I would like to note that despite any difficulties, Sergei in his work continues to keep up with the times, while doing what his heart tells him. He still collects stadiums, is loved by the audience, but he does not have a single title.

The singer recently opened his own vocal school and dreams of the Penkin Theater. When his parents died, in memory of them he built two churches in Penza at his own expense. In 2021, our hero will turn 60: - says Sergey Penkin.

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