This artist has many fans - he is always elegant on stage, and performs songs soulfully and sincerely. In his life he had to go through many trials, and one of the most difficult for the singer was the death of his wife. Wife of Mikhail Shufutinsky Margarita passed away in June last year, during the artist’s tour in Israel. This happened unexpectedly, and therefore became a real blow for Shufutinsky. Mikhail Zakharovich lived with his wife for forty-four years, and she was always a true keeper of the hearth and a faithful wife.
In the photo - Shufutinsky with his wife and children
Margarita gave her husband two sons - David and Anton, who long ago became adult men and started their own families. The singer was always kind to his wife and did not like it when someone interfered in their family life. According to Shufutinsky, news about his novels and even that he was divorcing his wife often appeared in the press. The artist treats these rumors philosophically, but the fact that this could offend his wife upsets him very much. Therefore, one day he even sued one of the newspapers for reporting that he was going to break up with Margarita.
Mikhail Shufutinsky’s wife lived in America, in Los Angeles, and the singer himself lived mainly in Russia, and this was connected with his work. This marriage could well be called a guest marriage, because the spouses saw each other from time to time - when Mikhail Zakharovich had a break from performing, he went to his wife. The artist said that after so many years of married life they became so close that they understood each other instantly and could recognize by the tone of their voice what was happening in the lives of each of them.
In the photo - Mikhail Shufutinsky with his wife Margarita
Shufutinsky called his wife kindest person- Margarita never raised her voice, and for their entire large family, consisting of children and seven grandchildren, she was a real guardian angel. The children of Mikhail Shufutinsky also live in different countries- the elder David, having married Angela Petrosyan, remained in Moscow, and the younger Anton, together with his wife Brandy and his family, settled in Philadelphia. The entire large family of Mikhail Shufutinsky often gathered together, either in Moscow or in Los Angeles, and therefore, despite the long distances that separated them, they always felt strong family ties.
The artist experienced the death of his wife very hard, because, as one of the close friends of the artist’s family said, Mikhail Shufutinsky’s wife was not just a wife for him, but also a devoted friend, the mother of their sons and the grandmother of numerous grandchildren. Their home was always cozy and hospitable, and many called Margarita the ideal of a woman who understands and forgives.
In the photo - with Svetlana Urazova
Thirty-nine-year-old Svetlana Urazova, a participant in his show ballet “Ataman,” helped him get out of the severe depression that beset the artist after the death of his wife. She is almost twenty-eight years younger than Shufutinsky and has long felt sympathy for Mikhail Zakharovich. Svetlana has been working in the artist’s show for fifteen years, but before, when Shufutinsky was married, there was no close relationship between them. When Mikhail Zakharovich, having learned about the death of his wife, flew to Los Angeles, Svetlana followed him, and from that time they became inseparable. According to friends, after Shufutinsky started an affair with Urazova, he became much calmer, new love helped the artist recover from the tragedy. Mikhail Zakharovich took very good care of his new darling, on tour they are always inseparable. Svetlana receives expensive gifts from Shufutinsky, and in the future they are going to vacation together in Israel. Svetlana has an adult daughter, with whom she shares all her secrets.
My children are not spoiled
MIKHAIL Zakharovich, how did you meet your wife?
Margarita is my second, but I would say, only wife. When we got married, I was 24 years old, and by then I had already seen some things in life. Rita told her parents that she would go to Sochi to relax with her friend, but in fact she came to visit me in Magadan. Our first son, David, was also born there. Rita managed to both raise him and work. She graduated from cinematography school and, while in Moscow, edited films. There was no such work in Magadan, and she had to become a hairdresser, and in the evenings I sang to my own accompaniment in a restaurant.
Who chose the names of your children?
We named the eldest David in honor of my grandfather, and Anton... We were expecting a girl and wanted to name her Anna in honor of my wife’s mother, who died early as soon as we got married. A boy was born and we named him Anton. My wife and I always decide everything together, we never put pressure on each other, especially in choosing names.
Was it scary to emigrate with small children?
The children went through all the troubles and victories with us. When we were in Italy (everyone who went to America was sent to Italy, and those who went to Israel were immediately sent there through Austria), we were given money to rent an apartment in New York. In our suitcase we had sheets, duvet covers, books, several lenses - that “frayer set” that was allowed to be exported from Russia. We sold all this in America for $500 to resellers and lived on this money for some time... My children already understood then that they were in a country where they needed to earn money themselves. Before asking me to buy a car or a soldier, they always asked: “Dad, do we have money?” They grew up in an ascetic environment and were never spoiled.
Grandchildren - sheer charm!
What are they doing now?
David (he is 2 years and 3 months older than Anton) graduated from the University of California (Northridge), worked at CNN, for Turner, then created own company. Later I brought him to Russia, he dubbed the feature film “Anastasia” and since then has been working in Moscow as a dubbing producer, fulfilling orders from American film companies. There are 70 people under his command. David constantly travels between London, Bratislava, Copenhagen, and Budapest, where he recruits actors. He recently participated in George Lucas' project "Star Wars 2" (1.5 months doing sound). He has seriously established himself in this area and now, if desired, he can get a job in any foreign company. He doesn’t have children yet, but he has a permanent Muscovite girlfriend who, apparently, will sooner or later become his wife. In the meantime, David laughs it off: “Dad, I married into business.” He really has a “crazy schedule”: he works all day long- during the day he talks on the phone in the office, and at night he communicates on the Internet, since it is daytime in America at this time.
Anton (he is now 27) after graduating from school in Beverly Hills entered the university in Santa Monica, but did not go to study. He gave us a surprise by enrolling in NEVI (government troops, amphibious assault forces, in common parlance - “seals.” - Author’s note). They do not participate in wars, only in special operations. By the beginning of hostilities they are recalled. Of course, there were difficulties. A couple of weeks later, when they were allowed to call, I heard some noise in handset. I ask: “Son, what’s going on?” It turned out that a man’s cry was heard from 30 phones at the same time. He was the only one who didn't cry. My wife and I once attended his training in San Diego. They make real macho guys out of them. Anton has always been capable, but he lacks perseverance and perseverance. Unexpectedly for us, he decided to prove to everyone that he a real man, and did a brilliant job with it. Now I'm proud of him. He has many awards. He was in both Iraq and Bosnia. I've seen a lot, but I'm not used to talking about it. After serving 2 years under the contract, he again entered the university. At first he did a combination of jobs, and after demobilization he continued his studies as a full-time student. He will be a doctor. He writes rap and loves music. And David only plays the guitar and piano for himself, but does not sing.
Is Anton married?
He has a wife and two sons. Anton's wife Brandy is a black girl. They went to school together and he immediately fell in love with her. Brandy graduated from school later than Anton and immediately went to join him in Hawaii, where they now live.
Weren't you confused by your son's choice?
We are not racists, and I was not at all embarrassed by the fact that our family became international. And then, look at my grandchildren (Mikhail Zakharovich nods towards the portraits standing on the table) - sheer charm! The eldest, Dmitry, we call him “nerd” for his love of grass, dinosaurs and ants, with whom he can play for hours in the garden beds, is now 6.5. The youngest (he is dark and blue-eyed) is 2.5 years old. Dima chose his brother’s name himself, calling him Noa, which translated into Russian is Noah (remember, Noah’s Ark?). Now their mother is sitting with them. Brandy and Anton take turns studying (she dreams of becoming a lawyer). Like my wife, she manages to do everything: study, take care of the house, and raise children. I wanted to arrange a trip for them to Israel, where my father lives, and to Moscow. But the management did not allow Anton to leave. Employees are not recommended to move to areas of increased danger, especially such as Russia and Israel, where conflicts constantly arise. Too much money is being invested abroad in government security.
Lost 25 kilograms
Who cooks for you?
For the last six months I have been practicing separate meals, I have lost 25 kilograms, I try not to go to restaurants, despite my love for sushi. I can only warm up food myself, or cook scrambled eggs in extreme cases. And why cook if there are people in the house who know how to do it professionally and get paid for it? In Los Angeles, my wife cooks very tasty food for me (she is not working now, she takes care of the house and takes care of her boxer dog Gina). Rita knows my taste - I prefer low-fat, healthy food. Favorite dish- duck in raspberry sauce. I have a great attitude towards borscht, cabbage rolls and other dishes of Russian cuisine.
Do you have a personal couturier?
I have a good tailor who works in Hollywood and tailors clients like Dustin Hoffman. He sews whatever is asked to order and fits suits perfectly on the figure, although he is not a couturier. I prefer a conservative, semi-sports style of clothing. I don't have super fashionable models, but I'm happy. The wife buys clothes in the Maskino style, buys them for a specific event when she needs to look different. In California, they pay more attention to the car you drove up in than what pants or dress you're wearing.
And what kind of car are you used to driving?
We had a lot of cars. I drove the 500th Mercedes for 12 years. Now my wife has a Convertible (BMW), and in Los Angeles I have a large SUV, a Tahoe. I drive it myself. We also have a sports car with a very powerful engine that wakes up the whole neighborhood - the Mustang. I bought it for my eldest son, but David is always stuck in Russia...
Is it true that you not only have your own orchestra and ballet, but also a restaurant?
I have?! I had my own restaurant in Hollywood before I started going to Soviet Union(in 87-88). I was co-owner of the Russian restaurant Ataman on Sunset Boulevard. Now there's a billiards room...
In June 2015, the Internet was agitated by the news of the sudden death of the wife of chansonnier Mikhail Shufutinsky. The tragic event is accompanied by guesswork and speculation. What are the reasons for the death of Shufutinsky's wife?
The answer to this question was given by Mikhail Zakharovich himself in the “Mirror for a Hero” program. Every word he says about his departed wife is filled with tenderness and love.
Decembrist's wife
The future wife of Mikhail Shufutinsky, Margarita, was raised by her parents in strictness.
The acquaintance took place at Rita's friend's house. Mutual sympathy arose. Not everything worked out perfectly. As with any couple, sometimes misunderstandings arose.
As Mikhail Shufutinsky recalls, thanks to Margarita’s sincere feelings, their union took place.
In 1971, he and his friends went to work in Magadan. Having deceived her parents that she was going on a trip to Dagomys, Rita went after him. She was not afraid of her parents’ anger, she went against their will. Agree, this is a decisive act for a girl brought up in strictness.
In January 1971, in Magadan, their marriage was registered. The wedding was celebrated by a friendly company in a small two-room apartment. In 1972, Margarita flies to Moscow to give birth to her first child. In 1974, Mikhail Shufutinsky returned to Moscow.
Emigration
The family waited for permission to leave for two years. In 1981 they emigrate. By this time, the Shufutinskys had two small children. Margarita got a job sweeping hair in an elite beauty salon with a salary of three dollars. Subsequently, she was allowed to wash clients' hair. The salary was four dollars.
As soon as things started to improve for her husband, she left this job. She directed all her strength to help her husband in his business.
Mikhail Shufutinsky remembers this time like this: “She is my person, close, this is part of me and has always been so. Her whole life was subject to my turmoil, and she dealt with it perfectly. Over the years, we stopped being husband and wife, we became something more.”
In one of the interviews, Margarita expressed her attitude towards her husband with the words: “I know how to forgive and believe. I love him and I've trusted him from day one."
June 3, 2015
On this day, Mikhail Shufutinsky flew off on a tour to Israel. In the morning he called his wife in Los Angeles, but no one answered. Due to the time difference, my wife called back later. He was waiting for her call. I called on the way to the airport, but there was silence in response. I called my son Anton in Philadelphia. Anton said that he also couldn’t get through. I assumed that my mother had gone out somewhere. Later, Mikhail Zakharovich asked his son to contact the police. Anton called the police station and asked to go to his mother's house.
Mikhail Shufutinsky finished the concert and had to go to Tel Aviv to continue the tour. rang out phone call. It was a representative of the Los Angeles Police Department. He said police opened the house and found a woman without signs of life. She was lying on the sofa, in front of the working TV.
Mikhail Zakharovich canceled the tour and urgently flew to Los Angeles. At the same time as Shufutinsky’s plane, a plane from Philadelphia landed, on which his son Anton arrived. A few hours later, son David arrived from Moscow.
Her favorite men gathered around Margarita.
Causes of death of Shufutinsky's wife
According to the official conclusion of doctors, the death of Margarita Shufutinskaya was caused by heart failure. According to Mikhail Zakharovich, his wife never complained of heart pain. There were cases of slight increases in blood pressure, but this was attributed to age.
A close family friend, Svetlana Morgulyan, noted Margarita’s reluctance to see doctors. She said that in the first place she had the health of Mikhail Zakharovich. She didn't pay attention to herself. Morgulyan called the departure of her friend a holy death.
The tragedy happened suddenly. Maybe if someone had been nearby at that moment, everything would have turned out differently? Nobody can answer this question.
The body of Margarita Shufutinskaya was cremated in Los Angeles. Anton transported the urn with the ashes to Philadelphia. The soul of a bright, wise, noble woman rested on this earth.
The grandchildren visit their grandmother’s grave every week.
Happy memory to a woman, wife, mother, grandmother!
Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky. Born on April 13, 1948 in Moscow. Russian singer, pianist, composer, chanson performer, music producer. Honored Artist Russian Federation (2013).
Father - Zakhar Davidovich Shufutinsky - doctor, participant in the Great Patriotic War.
When Mikhail was five years old, his mother died, so he was raised by his grandmother Berta Davidovna and grandfather David Yakovlevich.
Graduated music school accordion class and Moscow School of Music named after M. M. Ippolitov-Ivanov, specializing in “conductor”, “choirmaster”, “teacher of music and singing”. At the same time, I studied at the school with Mikhail Shufutinsky in the same specialties.
“I’ve considered myself a musician since I was five years old. My dad once brought home a trophy accordion and wanted me to study music. He himself played the trumpet, the guitar, and sang beautifully. I immediately liked the instrument: bright mother-of-pearl keys, velvety sound with hoarse... They invited a teacher, and he advised me to send me to a music school: “The boy good hearing, we must continue to study." But the accordion was considered a bourgeois instrument; it was not taught in any music school. The closest to it is the button accordion. My father carved out 620 rubles from his modest budget and bought me, as I remember now, a Tula button accordion, which I hated from the first second. It was kept in a heavy wooden box covered with calico. And I, a boy, had to drag him from Shabolovka, where we lived, to Yakimanka, to the music school. And this is two kilometers... On Sundays I enjoyed performing in front of our huge Moscow courtyard. My grandfather and I sat on chairs in the front garden in front of the house, and I played whatever I wanted on my favorite accordion,” the artist recalled about the beginning of his musical career.
In adulthood, he began performing with various ensembles in Moscow and Magadan. Petro Leshchenko also performed songs in restaurants. Later he became the head of the VIA “Leisya, Song”, which mainly performed songs by Vyacheslav Dobrynin.
“In the Metropol I played in a large orchestra, about sixteen people. We were mainly used at banquets - for the Americans or the Chinese. They put notes of some kind of light on the music stands jazz music and Russian songs, we played them. Nobody ordered anything beyond the program. At the end of the evening they brought tips - a tray with currency, but this had nothing to do with us, he took them special person. But in such a hot place as the Warsaw restaurant, with a secret billiard room and gamblers coming from all over the Union, other rules applied. The musicians earned very decent money there. I could even afford to buy blocks of American Marlboro Lights, which were sold by the Metropol barmaids,” he said.
In 1981, he emigrated to the USA with his family.
“I was 32 years old when I decided to take the chance to get to America through Israel. In 1981, there was no other way to leave the USSR. I really wanted to go to New York! See musicals with my own eyes, hear real jazz,” the artist recalled .
In the USA, singer Nina Brodskaya, whom he knew from the Mosconcert, offered to go with her and her husband on a tour of the immigrant centers of America. “$100-150 for a concert! Of course, I immediately agreed. Because I understood: this is much better than working as a taxi driver. From my first earnings, I bought sheepskin coats for my sons, because winter was just around the corner, and for myself an electric piano,” said Mikhail .
In 1983, already as an arranger, keyboard player and producer, he released the album by Anatoly Mogilevsky “We don’t eat this in Odessa”, and in 1984 - the album “I Love You, Madam”. For about ten years he played as part of various ensembles in restaurants, created his own show group “Ataman Band”, as well as the restaurant “Ataman”.
Once he came to Los Angeles with a concert, he liked this city. It was during that period that the Russian restaurant boom in Los Angeles occurred. Mikhail, as already famous singer and musician, were invited to work at the Hollywood restaurant "Arbat". For the emigrant performer, such popularity came as a surprise - in the USA he could only count on his former compatriots.
In 1990, for the first time after emigrating, he came to the USSR and gave several concerts. Since then, Mikhail Shufutinsky has constantly come to Russia on tour.
In 1997 he wrote autobiographical book“And now I’m standing at the line...”
In 1997, he received the Silver Galosh award “for the most dubious achievements in the field of show business” in the category “For specific contribution to art.”
Mikhail Shufutinsky - Nakolochka
Mikhail Shufutinsky - Taganka
In 2003 he moved to Russia for permanent place residence.
Mikhail Shufutinsky’s repertoire includes songs by such authors as: Vyacheslav Dobrynin (“Two Candles”, “Cubes”), Igor Krutoy (“3rd September”, “Palma de Mallorca”, “Moscow Taxi”, “Moscow No Tears” believes"), Oleg Mityaev (“Night Guest”, “Moskvichka”), Alexander Rosenbaum (“Khreshchatyk”, “Come to see us”, “Gop-stop”), Nikita Dzhigurda, Alexander Novikov (“Take me, cabbie ", "Port Street"), Oleg Gazmanov, Igor Zubkov, Igor Kisil (“You are far from me”), Vaclav Lisovsky, Olesya Atlanova, Karen Kavaleryan, Mikhail Zvezdinsky, Kirill Krastoshevsky, Ivan Kononov (“I adore you, I adore” , “And there are golden domes above the Don”, “The Left Bank of the Don”, “Old Man Don”) and many others.
Mikhail Shufutinsky's height: 187 centimeters.
Personal life of Mikhail Shufutinsky:
Wife - Margarita Mikhailovna Shufutinskaya. They got married on January 2, 1971 in Magadan, where the singer worked as an employee.
Later she lived in the USA and in Russia, divided herself between both sons, five grandchildren and two granddaughters. The whole family often got together in Moscow and Los Angeles. She died on June 5, 2015 in Los Angeles.
Wedding of Mikhail Shufutinsky and Margarita (1971)
The couple have been married for 44 years. TV presenter Oksana Pushkina said: “In 1993, I lived in San Francisco and for Leningrad television filmed a series of programs about “our” celebrities abroad. This is how I met Misha and his charming Margarita. We became friends very quickly and communicated closely while I lived in America. The Shufutinskys' house always tasted delicious, cozy and warm. Rita for me was the standard of femininity. You could trust her with secrets, she sincerely empathized and helped in any way she could. She knew how to forgive... For Misha this is a huge loss.”
The eldest son is David Shufutinsky (born August 29, 1972), married to Angela Petrosyan. Lives with his family in Moscow and produces sound for films. Grandson - Andrey Shufutinsky (born 1997); granddaughter - Anna Shufutinskaya (born 2006); grandson - Mikhail Shufutinsky (born 2009).
Younger son- Anton Shufutinsky (born December 1974), was a field medic navy USA. He is married to an African-American woman, Brandi. Anton and his family (wife, three sons and daughter) live in Philadelphia, where Anton teaches at the university and is finishing his doctorate. Grandson - Dmitry Shufutinsky (born 1996), plays the saxophone in the school orchestra; grandson - Noah Shufutinsky (born 2002), enjoys singing; grandson - Zakhar Shufutinsky (born 2009); granddaughter - Hanna Rene Shufutinskaya (born September 13, 2012).
At the beginning of 2016, it became known that she was working in his show ballet “Ataman”.
Urazova’s friend Irina Savina told reporters that Mikhail was grieving the death of his wife, and Sveta consoled him after the loss of his wife. Allegedly Urazova had long been in love with famous performer chanson.
Svetlana Urazova
Discography of Mikhail Shufutinsky:
1982 - “Escape”
1983 - “Ataman”
1984 - “Gulliver”
1984 - “Ataman - 2” (not published in the USSR)
1985 - “Amnesty”
1986 - “Ataman-3”
1987 - “White Stork”
1988 - “No problem”
1989 - “You’re My Only One” (with Suzanne Tepper)
1990 - “Moscow Evenings”
1991 - “My Life”
1992 - “Quiet Don”
1993 - “Kisa - kitty”
1994 - “Walk, Soul”
1995 - “Oh, Women”
1996 - " Good evening, gentlemen"
1998 - “Once Upon a Time in America” (songs by Igor Krutoy)
1999 - “Well, for God’s sake”
2001 - “I was born in Moscow”
2002 - “Punch”
2003 - “Boom-Boom”
2004 - “In half” (together with Irina Allegrova)
2005 - “Solo”
2006 - “Duets” different years»
2007 - “Moscow-Vladivostok”
2009 - “Brato”
2010 - “Duets of different years 2”
2013 - “Love Story”
2016 - “I Just Love Slowly”
Collections of Mikhail Shufutinsky:
1991 - “Mikhail Shufutinsky in Moscow”
1994 - “Stars of the Russian emigration sing the songs of Ilya Reznik”
1994 - “Love is like a dream. Creative evening of Igor Krutoy"
1994 - “Thank you, Sasha Rosenbaum!”
1995 - “Russian Stars of New York”
1997 - “Let’s help each other relax...” (songs by Alexander Morozov)
2000 - “Chanson” (BRME)
2001 - "Best"
2002 - “Pour it, let’s talk”
2002 - “Candles” (series “Legends of the Genre”)
2003 - “Grand Collection” (2 CDs)
2003 - “Let's talk about life”
2004 - “Series “Chanson Mood””
2004 - “I’ll go south”
2008 - “The Best”
2008 - “Golden Album”
2008 - “Bridges” (songs by Alexander Morozov)
Filmography of Mikhail Shufutinsky:
1984 - Moscow on the Hudson - episode
Voiced by Mikhail Shufutinsky:
2012 - Brave ( cartoon) - King Fergus (original voice - Billy Connolly)
2014 - Little Nicolas's vacation - school principal (original voice - Francis Perrin)
Bibliography of Mikhail Shufutinsky:
1997 - And now I’m standing at the line...
2004 - Best songs. Lyrics and chords.
“Chanson of the Year” awards by Mikhail Shufutinsky:
2002 - for the songs “Nakolochka”, “Topolya” and “Alenka”
2003 - for the song “One day I will walk through Rus'”
2004 - for the song “ New Year's dreams"(Duet with Irina Allegrova)
2005 - for the songs “Solo” and “Taganka”
2006 - for the songs “Fly away the crows” and “Lost”
2007 - for the songs “Moscow - Vladivostok” and “Crossroads”
2008 - for the songs “Good evening, gentlemen!” and “You love me, love me”
2009 - for the songs “Soul Hurts” and “Kruchina”
2010 - for the songs “Solo” and “Island”
2011 - for the songs “For lovely ladies!” and "I'll go south"
2012 - for the songs “I’ll go out on deck” and “Uncle Pasha”
2013 - for the songs “Kruchina” and “Boys”
2014 - for the songs “Lost Summer” and “Tanya - Tanechka”
2015 - for the songs “Solo” and “Song of the Old Tailor” (Duet with Alexander Rosenbaum)
2016 - for the songs “French Chanson” and “I Just Love Slowly.”
Russian singer, musician, producer and composer Mikhail Shufutinsky, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Biography of Mikhail Shufutinsky
Mikhail Zakharovich Shufutinsky was born in Moscow, in Jewish family. His father Zakhar Davidovich- war veteran, doctor. At the age of five, Mikhail’s mother died, and his grandmother raised him Berta Davidovna and grandfather D Avid Yakovlevich. Mikhail graduated from music school with an accordion class and, without hesitation, decided to continue his path in this field of creativity. Mikhail entered the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College, where he studied as a conductor, choirmaster, and music and singing teacher.
At the same time and in the same specialty with Mikhail Shufutinsky, Alla Pugacheva studied at the music school.
Creative career of Mikhail Shufutinsky
After graduating from college, Shufutinsky performed with various ensembles in restaurants in Moscow and Magadan, where he performed songs Petra Leshchenko, Alexander Vertinsky, as well as other singers famous at that time.
In 1976, Mikhail Shufutinsky became the head of the famous VIA "Leisya, song", during which the ensemble reached its peak and became popularly loved. Almost all the hits were recorded under him, for which the ensemble is still remembered.
In 1981, Mikhail Shufutinsky emigrated to the USA with his family. At first, he had to forget about his fame as a musician and work as an ordinary laborer.
“I didn’t go there to be what I was here. I didn't go there at all. I was leaving here. Big difference... When I arrived, I took courses in English- emigrant, free. They told me: we will help with the work, we will offer three options. I say: “I’m a musician...” - “What are you talking about? Forget it. There are such musicians here, such a level!..” - “But I led a famous ensemble, I know how to write arrangements, I can work in the studio...” - “No, what do arrangements have to do with it? - they answer. - Then you need to go to the conservatory and study again. You'll get better at selling insurance. Or assemble watches and solder parts. This is a profession!”
But despite all the difficulties, Mikhail managed to return to his real profession: in 1983, already as an arranger, keyboard player and producer Shufutinsky released an album in the USA Anatoly Mogilevsky « We don’t eat this in Odessa" And " I love you, madam"(1984).
About ten years in the States Shufutinsky played as part of various ensembles in restaurants, created his own show group " Ataman band"(after the name of the restaurant "Ataman").
Mikhail Shufutinsky: “The restaurant is a school, and only real professionals used to play in the restaurant. And in America, getting a job in a Russian restaurant was generally great...”
One day Michael came to Los Angeles for a concert and immediately fell in love with this city. It was during that period that the Russian restaurant boom in Los Angeles occurred. Mikhail, as an already famous singer and musician, was invited to work at the Arbat restaurant in Hollywood. For the emigrant performer, such popularity came as a shock - in the USA he could only count on his former compatriots.
In 1990, for the first time after emigration Mikhail Shufutinsky came to the USSR and gave several concerts. Since then, he constantly came to Russia on tour, until he finally returned to his homeland in 2003.
In 1997, Mikhail Shufutinsky received the “Silver Galosh” in the category “For specific contribution to art.”
In 1998, Shufutinsky wrote an autobiographical book: “And now I’m standing at the line...”.
In 2012, Mikhail tried himself as a voice actor for the cartoon “Brave.”
In 2013, Mikhail Shufutinsky was awarded the title Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.
Personal life of Mikhail Shufutinsky
In 1971, Mikhail married Margarita Shufutinskaya. During the marriage, the couple had two children. In 2015, Mikhail was widowed.
On this moment the singer lives in a civil marriage with Svetlana Urazova.
Eldest son David Shufutinsky(1972) graduated from the Faculty of Special International Economics and Law from Northridge University and did sound for “Star Wars” by George Lucas, worked for Ted Turner in company CNN. In Russia David successfully did the voice acting for the Disney cartoon " Anastasia", and also worked on projects directed by Timur Bekmambetov. Married Angela Petrosyan. They have three children: Anna (2006), Andrey (1997), Mikhail (2009). The family lives in Moscow.
The singer's youngest son Anton Shufutinsky(1976) was a US Army Special Forces officer. Married to an African American Brandi. Anton and Brandi, like David, have three children: Dmitry Shufutinsky (1996), Noah (2002) and Zakhar Shufutinsky (2009), all of them live in America, in Philadelphia.
