Folk Singer. She was called "the Queen of Russian folk song". Raised in poverty near Saratov, she was sent to an orphanage on the death of her mother, and there learned to sing, though she never had formal musical training. She often performed for her factory co-workers, and made her professional debut at Rostov-on-Don in 1923. During WWII, she toured throughout the war zone, performing for the front line troops, especially her signature pieces, "Valenki" and "Katyusha". During the Battle of Berlin, she sang for the victors on the steps of the burning Reichstag. She was named Honored Artist of the Soviet Union in 1942, but, after the war, she and her husband, General Vladimir Kryuchkov, were sent to the gulag for "anti-Soviet activities"...there, she became a heroine of both guards and other prisoners. Allowed to return to Moscow after Stalin's death, she continuued performing until her death. Madame Ruslanova left a number of recordings, and was honored on a Russian postage stamp in 1999. Ruslanova crater on Venus is named for her.
Folk Singer. She was called "the Queen of Russian folk song". Raised in poverty near Saratov, she was sent to an orphanage on the death of her mother, and there learned to sing, though she never had formal musical training. She often performed for her factory co-workers, and made her professional debut at Rostov-on-Don in 1923. During WWII, she toured throughout the war zone, performing for the front line troops, especially her signature pieces, "Valenki" and "Katyusha". During the Battle of Berlin, she sang for the victors on the steps of the burning Reichstag. She was named Honored Artist of the Soviet Union in 1942, but, after the war, she and her husband, General Vladimir Kryuchkov, were sent to the gulag for "anti-Soviet activities"...there, she became a heroine of both guards and other prisoners. Allowed to return to Moscow after Stalin's death, she continuued performing until her death. Madame Ruslanova left a number of recordings, and was honored on a Russian postage stamp in 1999. Ruslanova crater on Venus is named for her.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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