All contemporaries know the name of the famous pianist and composer Raymond Pauls. The best concert halls of the Soviet Union and many foreign countries heard the works of the famous Latvian composer. He is the author of pop songs, miniatures for cinema and theater. His compositions harmoniously contain notes of jazz, folklore, blues, and modern rhythms. Raymond Pauls is a very interesting person. The biography and personal life of this celebrity deserves special attention.
Little genius
In 1936, little Raymond was born in Riga. His father, Waldemar, was a glass maker, and his mother, Alma Matilda, was an embroiderer. The family lived modestly. From a very early age, his parents noticed their son’s ability for music and began to develop them. At the first music institute, a specialized kindergarten was opened, where little Oyar-Raymond (initial name) was sent. The boy was only three years old at the time. At the age of four, Raymond had already mastered such a complex instrument as the piano. When he was 10 years old, the boy was sent to study at the music school named after. Darzinya, located at the conservatory. Here Professor Dauge gave him lessons. Even before the age of 15, Raymond could masterfully perform jazz compositions, so he easily entered the State Conservatory of Latvia in the performing department.
First steps in music
Where did Raymond Pauls start? The composer's biography is very rich. While still a student at the conservatory, he worked as a pianist in one of the clubs. Soon he learns to write his first creative masterpieces. The first musical miniatures were written for the puppet and drama theaters of the Latvian SSR. At the conservatory, he became the organizer of a pop sextet of his classmates. On Riga radio, compositions by young Pauls began to be heard more and more often, performed by a sextet and other professional singers. The most famous songs of that time: “Winter Evening”, “We Met in March”, “Old Birch”. The pianist entered the conservatory twice, the second time to the composition department, where he studied with Professor Ivanov.
Young Pauls began giving concerts throughout the Soviet country. Then he was entrusted with the Latvian Pop Orchestra. Here he writes music for the film "Three Plus Two" and collaborates with the poet Alfred Crookleys. Here are the musician’s famous compositions: “Ancient Harpsichord”, “Raindrop”, “Restless Pulse”.
Political career
In the early 90s, Pauls became interested in political issues. He is a member of the Supreme Council of Latvia. In 1990, the musician was elected to the People's Deputies of the USSR. At the same time, he became the head of the Ministry of Culture of the LSSR and continued to head it after Latvia gained independence. Pauls left his post in 1993, having made this decision himself. He spent the next five years as a cultural adviser. In the late 90s, he created a political force in Latvia - the New Party, of which he became the head. Then for four years Raymond Pauls was a deputy from the People's Party and even ran for President of Latvia, but at the last moment he recused himself. In 2009, the politician decides to no longer participate in the election race and devote himself only to art.
Activities of a musician today
For his great contribution to art and the development of the Baltic states in 2008, Raymond Pauls was awarded the Baltic Star Prize. The main direction of the composer’s work was the organization of a competition for young talents in Jurmala, which was called “New Wave”. Igor Krutoy and Alla Pugacheva became active assistants in organizing this event for the musician. For the spread of the Russian language in Latvia and for strengthening cultural ties between the two countries, the master was awarded. The award was presented to the artist by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Today the maestro continues to collaborate with the team of the Boys Choir named after. Darzinya. The composer also continues to create music for new musicals and films. In 2014, the premiere of the sensational musical “All About Cinderella” took place in Russia. Many people know that it was Pauls who wrote the musical theme for the weather forecast in the Vremya program. Among the young performers with whom the master worked, we can mention Valeria, Kristina Orbakaite, Ani Lorak.
And others. Organizer of the New Wave music competition, People's Artist of the USSR.
Childhood and youth
Raymond Pauls was born on January 12, 1936 in Riga. The future maestro had a unique family: father Voldemars Pauls, a Latvian by nationality, worked as a glassblower, and mother Alma-Matilda became a housewife after the birth of her son. However, her profession also turned out to be extraordinary: before starting her family life, Alma-Matilda worked for a long time as a pearl embroiderer.
Raimond Pauls's parents were not at all devoid of musical talent: the father of the future famous composer played drums in the Mihavo orchestra, which was the result of the amateur performances of several self-taught musicians. Rumor has it that shortly after the birth of his son, Voldemar Pauls accidentally came across Arthur Kubert’s book “Paganini”. After reading it, he was so inspired by the example of the famous musician’s work that he bought his son a violin and sent him to kindergarten at the Riga Music Institute.
This happened shortly before the entry of Soviet troops. Soon Voldemar Pauls sent his family from Riga to the village, where his wife and son were safer, and professional music lessons had to be forgotten for some time. But World War II ended, the Paulses returned to Riga, and at the age of ten, Raymond entered the music school named after. E. Darzina, who worked at the Latvian State Conservatory.
At first, ten-year-old Pauls did not do well academically. But his innate talent, Olga Borovskaya’s teaching flair, as well as the chocolates with which she generously treated gifted students quickly did their job. The future composer achieved success in playing the piano and finally fell in love with this universal musical instrument. He subsequently studied piano at the Latvian Conservatory. Jazep Vitol, and then at the same conservatory, but in the composition class.
Even in high school of music school, Raymond Pauls felt an irresistible craving for a musical direction that was far from classical - jazz. As the composer himself later admitted, he “threw headlong into jazz, like into a pool.” The young musician enjoyed playing at dance parties, improvising and playing the piano without notes. Having finally realized that music should become his profession for life, Pauls returned to the conservatory to study composition, as mentioned above.
Music
In 1964, Raimonds Pauls, despite his young age for such a position, became artistic director of the Riga Variety Orchestra. His music acquired a special charm and became recognizable in professional circles. A few years later, the composer’s first original program was presented at the Concert Hall of the Latvian State Philharmonic, and tickets for it, to Raymond’s surprise, were sold out.
In Latvia, Pauls became famous for writing music for Alfred Kruklis's songs “Winter Evening”, “Old Birch” and “We will meet in March”. He is also known to his compatriots as an employee of the Latvian State Television and Radio, where for many years he acted as a conductor, and then as an editor of music programs. The composer was also noted for writing the musical “Sister Carrie” and a number of other works that earned awards at music festivals. The maestro’s popular musicals include the works “Sherlock Holmes”, “The Mysterious Abduction”, “Diabolism”.
In 1975, he recorded the song “Yellow leaves are circling over the city...” that is still popular to this day. The melody of this song could be heard from all radios in the Soviet Union, and it can be considered the real beginning of the all-Union popularity of Raymond Pauls, which continues to this day.
The “finest hour” of the composer’s creative biography is usually called the time of his creative collaboration with Alla Pugacheva in the second half of the twentieth century, when Alla Borisovna was at the peak of her popularity. “A Million Scarlet Roses”, “Maestro”, “Without Me”, “Antique Watches” - these and other hits were warmed by people’s love and became symbols of the era in the history of the Soviet stage.
Alla Pugacheva - “A Million Scarlet Roses”Not only Alla Pugacheva noticed the talent of the Latvian director - among his creative partners were and remain the exquisite Laima Vaikule and the temperamental Valery Leontyev. Contemporaries say that in the 1980s, Valery Leontiev was not very pleasing to the Soviet authorities, and only the fact that Raymond Pauls calmly continued to invite him to concerts helped the artist stay afloat.
The composer creates masterpieces for singers and singers, for cinematographic films, and for theatrical productions. Thus, his music can be heard in the films “How to Become a Star”, “The Devil’s Servants”, “Robin Hood’s Arrows”, “Long Road in the Dunes” and others, in theatrical productions “The Green Maiden”, “Brand”, “The Count of Monte Cristo” , "Wild Swans". It is noteworthy that each of these theatrical productions subsequently won a prize at the Yugoslav festival. The composer also appeared on camera as an actor. In 1978, Pauls played in the film “Theater”, and in 1986 in the film “How to Become a Star”, in each of which he appeared as a pianist.
Raymond Pauls. Music for the film "Long Road in the Dunes"In 1986, Raymond Pauls took the initiative to create the International Competition “Jurmala”. The event was held for 6 years.
In 1989, Raimonds Pauls took the post of Minister of Culture of Latvia, and four years later he became the adviser to the President of the country on culture. Moreover: in 1999, the composer ran for president of his native country. But the musician soon realized that he was not ready for such responsibility. Having won in the first round and gained a majority of votes in parliament, he withdrew his candidacy.
Pauls devotes a lot of time to public affairs. Having bought land near Riga with a former school building, the composer opened a center there for talented children. In the capital of Latvia, the musician simultaneously headed a cultural and entertainment center. The composer has several restaurants serving national cuisine.
A political career and public life did not prevent the musician from expanding his own discography. In the early 2000s, the musician delighted fans with the new musicals “The Legend of the Green Maiden” and “Ladies’ Happiness.” A decade later, the works “Leo. The Last Bohemia" and "Marlene". But the most famous was the musical play “All About Cinderella,” released in 2014. Pauls wrote the music for the production at the request of Mikhail Shvydkoy for the Russian Musical Theater.
In the new century, the songs of Raymond Pauls became decorations on the albums of famous Russian performers.
Now Raymond spends most of his time in Latvia, maintaining contacts with pop performers, working in theaters in Riga and regularly presiding over the New Wave competition, which he himself created in collaboration with.
Until 2015, the music festival took place in Pauls’ homeland, and later moved to Sochi. The festival has become a launching pad for many popular performers, including,.
In recent years, Pauls has delved into performing activities. As a pianist, he visited most Latvian cities with recitals.
Personal life
At the end of the 1950s, Raymond Pauls went on a long tour with the Riga Pop Orchestra. One of the cities where the composer visited during his first tour in his life was Odessa. His future wife lived there: Lana (Svetlana Epifanova, that was the girl’s full name) captivated the young musician with her beauty. The girl graduated from the Faculty of Foreign Languages at the university. Philological education subsequently helped Lana adapt to Latvian society.
Despite the average height (170 cm with a weight of 72 kg), ordinary appearance and the lack of deafening popularity that awaited Raymond only in the future, Lana reciprocated her admirer’s feelings.
The lovers got married in Pardaugava. The newlyweds did not even have witnesses; they were an employee of the registry office and a janitor. But Raymond and Lana did not pay attention to everyday difficulties. Soon their daughter Aneta was born.
As Pauls himself later admitted in an interview, throughout his creative career he had problems with alcohol more than once, and it was precisely this side of life, such as family and children, that helped him quit.
Although in Soviet times the press often spread rumors about the romance of the gifted maestro and Alla Pugacheva, Raymond is still devoted to his wife. There were no shocks in the composer's personal life. This amazing marriage has already existed for more than half a century, and even in the photo from 2016 you can see with what tenderness the spouses look at each other.
The Pauls' only daughter became a television director, married a Dane of Polish origin and gave her parents two granddaughters and one grandson. In an international family, they speak several languages: Russian, English, Latvian. So far, only granddaughter Monica, who plays the piano, has followed in her grandfather’s footsteps.
In 2012, the Pauls couple celebrated their golden wedding. The composer decided not to attach excessive solemnity to the event, but simply organized a family dinner in the Latvian style in the rural house “Lici” near Salaca. This decision was largely influenced by the health status of the author of popular songs. A year before, Raymond underwent heart surgery, due to which he was forced to cancel a number of concerts and even participation in the anniversary concert of a friend and colleague, a poet.
Raymond Pauls and the children's ensemble "Cuckoo"However, by 2016, on the date of his 80th birthday, Raymond Pauls had already become strong enough and performed an anniversary concert in Moscow. The capital of Russia always welcomes the Baltic maestro with joy, so all Russian pop stars gathered at the celebration.
Raymond Pauls now
In 2018, the composer traditionally attended the opening of the musical season in Jurmala, the first sold-out concert of which took place in the Dzintari hall. Having taken the stage with his opening remarks, the maestro was in a good mood and even amused the audience with a humorous tale. It turned out that the policeman stopped Raymond's car and, not recognizing the composer, asked him to take an alcohol test.
Discography
- 1966 - “Latvian Variety”
- 1970 - “Songs by R. Pauls to the words of A. Kruklis”
- 1971 - “Pop songs by R. Pauls based on Latvian folk texts”
- 1980 - “The melodies of the French composer F. Fourmier are played by R. Pauls”
- 1981 - Jaak Joala “Songs of R. Pauls to the words of Anatoly Kovalev”
- 1982 - “We have a maestro visiting us. Evening of Raymond Pauls December 29, 1981"
- 1984 - Andrei Mironov “Old Friends”
- 1984 - Valery Leontyev “Dialogue”
- 1985 - “R. Pauls. Choir named after T. Kalnina sings songs to the words of J. Peters"
- 1986 - Aya Kukule “Songs of Raymond Pauls”
- 1987 - Valery Leontyev “Velvet Season”
- 1987 - Group CREDO “Scream”
- 1987 - Rodrigo Fomin “Path to the Light”
- 1988 - Laima Vaikule “Songs of R. Pauls to the verses of Ilya Reznik”
ALL-UNION MAESTRO RAYMOND PAULS
- a true symbol of elegance who does not change his tastes: one love for life, in clothes - only a tailcoat and black and white, in music he is faithful to the classics, in the stage - to lyrics. Author of music for such hits as “Yellow Leaves”, “Vernissage”, “Maestro”, “Antique Clock” and many others. A lot for one composer, but he continues to write even when he is involved in government affairs.
Glassblower's son
The future composer was born in Riga in 1936. His father Waldemar Pauls worked at that time as a glassblower, his mother Alma-Matilda was a housewife. The father, impressed by the book by Arthur Kubert, decided that his son should learn to play the violin. He bought Raymond instrument and placed him in the kindergarten music kindergarten at the Riga Music Institute. This was on the eve of the entry of Soviet troops...
In 1943, when Raymond went to school, his father sent the family away from the bombings to one of the villages. There the boy studied at a local school, and at the age of 10 he entered the special music school named after Emil Darzin at the Latvian State Conservatory. But studying was not easy for the boy. Thanks to the talented teacher Olga Borovskaya Raymond I gradually developed a taste for playing the piano. The sweets that the teacher secretly distributed to the most capable schoolchildren also played an important role.
In love with jazz
While still a student at a music school, Pauls I became very interested in jazz and started playing at dance parties. 
By his own admission, he “threw into jazz like into a pool.” Became my favorite composer, especially the youngest one Raymonda I was impressed by the fact that the pianist George Gershwin had neither general nor special musical education.
Dancing consumed all my free time Raymond Pauls, but he received invaluable practice in playing music without notes, from memory. And where notes were still needed, he learned to quickly sight read. Summer 1953 Raymond submitted documents to the Latvian State Conservatory and was accepted into the performing department. As a student, he worked part-time as an accompanist at a music school, without giving up the dance floors that had become familiar.
Odessa Muse by Raymond Pauls
The year 1958 passed under the sign of “Farewell, Conservatory!” The choice has been made - the Riga Pop Orchestra. And with him tours: Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine. The scene, which gave an extraordinary surge of strength, immediately took them away. Once the curtain came down, the tension needed to be released. And, as often happens with artists, with the help of alcohol. Among the cities where the first tour took place Pauls, – Odessa. One of the local beauties, Svetlana Epifanova, or, as her family called her, Lana, had the amazing fate of becoming a muse Raymond Pauls. His marriage to Lana is one of the most amazing examples of marital fidelity, lasting more than fifty years. After so much time at concerts Raymond sometimes plays the melody of his love - one of the first songs Gershwin. “When I play this melody, it seems to me that I am in Odessa. After all Gershwin from there…” admits the maestro. At the beginning of 1962, Raymonda and Lana had a daughter, Anete. This greatly influenced the decision Pauls stop drinking...
Confession of Raymond Pauls
To become a professional, Raymond returns to the student's bench: he studies at the conservatory again, but now in composition. And in 1964 he became artistic director of the Riga Pop Orchestra. His music became recognizable.
On November 27, 1968, the premiere of the first author's program took place in the Concert Hall of the Latvian State Philharmonic Raymond Pauls. He himself was amazed: all the tickets for 
this evening is sold out! Moreover, there were no tickets for the next ones. Inspired by their success, the musicians undertook a tour around the republic, which was a great success, but for some reason was kept silent in the press. In essence, Pauls and the orchestra members set about creating national popular music.
A few years later he headed the Modo ensemble. The song “Yellow leaves are circling over the city...”, which appeared in 1975, instantly became the most popular hit of the year: it was heard on the radio and in all restaurants from Riga to Magadan, not to mention Jurmala. Vacationers from all corners of the Soviet Union heard this melody in every Jurmala pub.
Maestro's daughter Anete grew up in a creative atmosphere: among friends Raymonda there were many talented people; almost all the pop stars visited their house. One day, for Anete’s birthday, he decided to teach her how to dance “for real.” As my daughter remembers Pauls, “he didn’t consider our fashionable stomps and stomps to be dancing.” It's amazing that Raymond, the famous “discoverer” of pop stars, forbade his daughter to become a singer!
Raymond Pauls – symbol of the musical era
The maestro's finest hour came when his creative union with Alla Pugacheva took shape. And today the songs “Maestro”, “Antique Clock”, “A Million Scarlet Roses”, “Without Me” are loved by the people no less than then. The singer and composer were forced to spend a lot of time together. Their “romance” was rumored everywhere, they almost got married! Was his wife jealous? “I was probably a little jealous,” admits Pauls. “How else can we explain the fact that she was present at all rehearsals and concerts?”
Cooperation Pauls with the temperamental Valery Leontyev and the sophisticated Laima, Vaikule became more than a legend. In the 1980s, the authorities “did not favor” Leontyev, and he would have remained “closed” to the capital’s venues for a long time if not for Pauls, who included it in his concerts. Somehow in one variety show Pauls, Pugacheva and drew attention to the young singer. Then they took a big risk by releasing a new star, so unusual for that time, on the stage. The maestro’s collaboration with Vaikule and Leontyev became very fruitful. To this day it is difficult to find such beloved hits as “The sunny days have disappeared”, “Love the pianist”, “Vernissage”, “It’s not evening yet”. After that he became an “all-Union maestro.” Awarding him the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1985 was recognition of a fait accompli. But, as you know, fame also has a downside...
Glory on the rise
with Alla Pugacheva
At one time he was fabulously rich. According to copyright law, every restaurant that included his songs in their repertoire transferred him a tidy sum. “You come to Sberbank and find out that several thousand have poured in,” says the composer. “At one time, I even surpassed the most “moneyed” composer, David Tukhmanov, in terms of income.”
And again, alcohol helped relieve stress after endless concerts. This type of distraction turned into a disease; the famous maestro became a binge alcoholic! His wife helped him get out. Thanks to her Pauls I found the strength to stop, and for the last 25 years I have not drunk a drop of alcohol.
Gave in to the lady
with Igor Krutoy
In 1989 Pauls became the Minister of Culture of Latvia, and in 1993 - Advisor to the President of the country on culture. Although Raymond repeatedly said that “an artist should mind his own business” and not politics; in 1999 he ran for the post of President of Latvia. “I did everything that was asked of me. I won in the first round, received the most votes in parliament, but before the decisive round I went to the podium and said that I was withdrawing my candidacy. If I had been chosen, I would have found myself in a very difficult situation. I am in favor of good relations with Russia, and this would cause resistance from our right.” And the maestro, like a true gentleman, made way for the lady - Vika Freiberga.
In recent years, the composer has been trying not to travel outside Latvia. All his foreign friends already gather in Jurmala in the summer at the “New Wave” competition, where he co-chairs along with Igor Krutoy. And to Latvian colleagues and fans Pauls I was luckier - the maestro is nearby all year round and actively works in Riga theaters.
DATA
In the first years of Latvian independence, the maestro was called a variety of names: both “red” and 
a communist, not letting him forget his former popularity in the Soviet Union and the fact that he was married to a Russian. By the way, Lana Pauls had to take an exam on knowledge of the Latvian language in order to obtain citizenship!
The composer was one of the organizers of the famous television pop song competitions in Jurmala, which took place in 1986-1989. Latvians consider him their national treasure. Music Raymond Pauls is close and understandable to listeners in both America and Japan, and the maestro’s most beloved audience is in Russia.
Updated: April 13, 2019 by: Elena
Pauls Raymond Pauls Career: MusicianBirth: Latvia" Riga, 12.1.1936
Raymond Pauls (real name Ojar Raymond Pauls) is a Soviet and Latvian composer, conductor, pianist, and politician. Born January 12, 1936. Raymond Pauls is the author of the music for many pop hits and film melodies. Pauls' songs are performed by such famous performers as: Larisa Dolina, Edita Piekha, Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Rotaru, Lyudmila Senchina, Laima Vaikule, Valery Leontiev and others.
Raymond Voldemar Pauls was born on January 12, 1936 in Riga in the family of a glassblower. His dad worked at the Iltsugem glass factory. From the age of three he attended the kindergarten of the 1st Music Institute, where the musical education of the future composer began.
In 1946, Raymond Pauls entered the music school at the Conservatory of the Latvian SSR. In 1953 he became a student in the performing department of the Latvian State Conservatory; his piano teacher was Professor Herman Braun. In parallel with his studies, Pauls worked as a pianist in pop orchestras of trade union clubs. After completing the course in 1958, Raymond Pauls worked in the Riga Pop Orchestra and gave concerts in Georgia, Armenia, and Ukraine.
In 1962-1965 he studied composition at the Latvian Conservatory, where his mentor was J. Ivanov, and in 1964 he took the post of artistic director of the Riga Variety Orchestra of the State Philharmonic of Latvia.
It was then that Pauls wrote his first songs that became widely known in the republic - “We Met in March”, “Winter Evening”, and then his service in cinema began (“You Are Needed”). Subsequently, the composer created music for a number of performances, films and television films ("The Devil's Servants", "Robin Hood's Arrows", "Death under Sail", "Theater", "Double Trap", "How to Become a Star").
In 1973-78 he was the artistic director of the instrumental ensemble "Modo", and in 1982 he became the editor-in-chief of music broadcasts of the Latvian Radio.
The composer became famous in 1975 with the song “Yellow Leaves”; over the next five years he created a few more hits - “I’ll Select the Music”, “Dance on the Drum”. In 1979, he created the musicals Sister Carrie and Sherlock Holmes.
A huge happy moment accompanied the creative union of Raymond Pauls and Alla Pugacheva: the songs “Maestro”, “Antique Clock”, “A Million Scarlet Roses”, “Without Me” were known throughout the country.
Then the composer worked with other famous performers - Valery Leontyev ("The Sunny Days Have Disappeared", "Cabaret", "Love the Pianist"), Laima Vaikule ("Vernissage", "It's Not Evening Yet", "Sherlock Holmes"), and his songs invariably became hits.
In the mid-1980s, the song “Grandfather and Grandmother”, performed by the children’s ensemble “Dzeguzite” created by Pauls, gained great popularity.
At the end of the 1980s, Raimonds Pauls initiated a song festival for young performers in Jurmala. In 1988, the composer became chairman of the Latvian State Committee for Culture, and then, after Latvia left the USSR, he took the post of minister of culture of the republic.
After resigning in 1993, Pauls served as cultural adviser to the President of Latvia.
In 1999 he ran for the post of President of Latvia, but lost the election.
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Ojar Raimonds Pauls (Latvian: Ojārs Raimonds Pauls) - Soviet and Latvian composer, conductor, pianist, politician. People's Artist of the USSR (1985). Honorary Doctor of the Latvian Academy of Sciences.
Author of music for many pop hits and film melodies. Raimonds Pauls can rightfully be called the founder of Latvian pop music. It was thanks to him that the initially “light” genre turned into serious art. And he is also at the origins of today’s prestigious international competitions for young popular music performers “Jurmala” and “New Wave”
Raymond Pauls was born on January 12, 1936 in Riga, in the Ilguciems district, into the family of workers Voldemar and Alma-Matilda Pauls, a glass blower and pearl embroiderer. His father was an amateur musician: he played percussion instruments in the Mihavo amateur orchestra.
Raymond Voldemarovich already played the piano as a child. From the age of three he attended kindergarten at the 1st Music Institute, where the future composer’s musical education began. He studied music in high school, under the guidance of E. Darzin.
In 1958, Raymond Pauls received his higher education at the Latvian State Conservatory, under Professor Herman Braun, in piano. Already at that time he showed himself to be an excellent piano performer. In parallel with his studies, Pauls worked as a pianist in pop orchestras of trade union clubs. He played in restaurants, studying jazz classics and contemporary songs. After completing the course in 1958, Raymond Pauls worked in the Riga Pop Orchestra and gave concerts in Georgia, Armenia, and Ukraine. Since 1964 he has been the musical director of the orchestra.
It was then that Pauls wrote his first songs that became widely known in his homeland - “We Met in March”, “Winter Evening”, “Old Birch”. At the same time, his work in cinema began - the composer created music for a number of films - "The Devil's Servants", "Arrows of Robin Hood", "Death under Sail" and others, as well as for many performances.
Already in the 1960s, Pauls's first song record was released, which was a huge success and sold millions of copies. During this period, Raymond gave about 100 sold-out original concerts. He was the first to attract the attention of the public to local performers; before that, people in Latvia listened mainly to German pop music.
In the early 1970s, Pauls created the Modo ensemble, which toured throughout the Union with incredible success. But the songs “Yellow Leaves” and “Blue Flax” in 1975 brought the composer particular fame in the USSR. Subsequent hits supported his popularity. In 1979, he created the musicals Sister Carrie and Sherlock Holmes.
The creative union of Pauls and Alla Pugacheva was a huge success: the whole country applauded the songs “Maestro”, “A Million Scarlet Roses”, “Without Me”, “Hey You Up There” and many others. His songs were also performed by V. Leontyev, L. Vaikule, S. Rotaru, E. Piekha, L. Dolina, A. Malinin, T. Bulanova... and many groups. Raymond wrote his most famous songs, which invariably became hits, in collaboration with I. Reznik, A. Voznesensky, and J. Peters.
In the mid-1980s, the song “Grandfather and Grandmother”, performed by the children’s ensemble “Kukushechka” created by Pauls, gained great popularity. Also, on his initiative, a song competition for young performers “Jurmala” was organized.
Raymond is also known as an active political figure. In 1985, he became a deputy of the Supreme Council of Latvia, then headed the Ministry of Culture, was an adviser to the President of Latvia on cultural issues, and was elected to the Seimas several times. Pauls even ran for the presidency of Latvia in 1999, but withdrew his candidacy. But even while doing government work, Raymond always remained faithful to music.
During these same years, the Maestro worked as an accompanist for the Latvian Radio choir, was the artistic director and chief conductor of the Big Band jazz orchestra, and wrote song cycles and concert programs. He created music for many theatrical productions and films.
From 1962 to 1965 he studied composition at the Latvian Conservatory, under the guidance of J. Ivanov.
From 1973 to 1978 - artistic director of the instrumental ensemble "Modo".
From 1978 to 1982 - conductor of the Latvian Radio and Television Orchestra.
From 1982 to 1988 - editor-in-chief of music programs of Latvian Radio.
In 1986, on the initiative of R. Pauls, the Jurmala competition for young performers was organized.
From 1988 to 1991 - Minister of Culture of the LSSR.
From 1991 to 1993, Minister of Culture of Latvia in the cabinet of Valdis Birkavs.
Since 1993 - Advisor to the President of Latvia on culture.
In 1998 he was elected to the Seimas on the list of the New Party, in 2002 and 2006 he was re-elected from the People's Party.
In 1999 he ran for the presidency of Latvia, but lost in the first round.
Raymond Pauls co-wrote his most famous songs with Ilya Reznik, Robert Rozhdestvensky, and Janis Peters.
Most famous songs in Russian have lyrics in Latvian.
Yellow leaves
I'll select the music
Blue linen
Drum dance
Two
Maestro
Antique clock
Million Scarlet roses
God forbid!
Without me
Sunny days have disappeared
Eclipse of the sun
Cabaret
Love the pianist
Vernissage
Not yet evening
Sherlock Holmes
Grandparents
Old harpsichord
Drops of pain
Recently, the Maestro practically does not write, he mainly performs as a pianist, plays with a symphony orchestra, and performs with actors, including artists of the Riga Russian Drama Theater. Today Raymond Voldemarovich Pauls lives and works in Riga (Latvia).
Father - Voldemar Pauls, repairman, drummer in the amateur orchestra "Mihavo".
Mother - Alma-Matilda, a pearl embroiderer.
Sister - Edite Paula-Vignere (Latvian), tapestry artist
Wife - Svetlana Epifanova, linguist.
Daughter - Aneta (born 1962), LGITMIK, majoring in television director.
Granddaughters: Anna-Marie (born 1989) and Monique-Yvonne (born 1994).