Oleh Anatoliyovych Slobodenko (born 20 December 1949) is a Ukrainian singer, musician, composer, People's Artist of Ukraine (2011). Honorary Doctor of Sciences of Khmelnytsky National University.
Biography.
Oleh Slobodenko was born on 20 December 1949.
At a young age, he began his career as a guitarist in the legendary band "Second Breath", founded in June 1966 together with his peers Serhiy Charyshnikov (drums), Mykhailo Nikolaiev (bass) and Volodymyr Tkalych (guitar).
They performed not only covers of Beatles and Hollyoaks songs and arrangements of folk songs, but also composed their own songs. The band won first place at the Kyiv Big Beat Festival (October 1967). In 1968, the group joined Ukrconcert under the name "Veseli Shpaky", but did not last long.
In the spring of 1969, Oleg Slobodenko and Serhiy Charyshnykov, together with Yuriy Vinogradov (vocals, keyboards), Hryhoriy Makhno (bass guitar) and Oleksandr Kuznetsov (guitar), formed a professional group (VIA) "Graimo". Oleg Slobodenko became the artistic director of the group. The group performed together with Yulia Pashkovska and accompanied her in the programmes of the then popular comedy duo Shtepsel and Tarapunka. The group starred in their films and performed in the popular Blue Light programme.
After the band "Hraimo" ceased to exist in 1986, Oleh Slobodenko worked as a commentator for the State TV and Radio Company, and later became a famous pop composer whose songs were sung by Sofia Rotaru, Vasyl Zinkevich, Alla Kudlay, Lilia Sandulesa, Volodymyr Udovychenko, the band "Krayany", Lev Leshchenko, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Katya Semenova, and Ion Surucanu.
He also performed as a singer with his solo programmes.
He has written a book about the creative work of spoken word artists Yukhym Berezin and Yuriy Tymoshenko.
Songs.
White Candle (lyrics by S. Halabarda) - A. Kudlay
Casino at Vasyl's (lyrics by M. Voynarenko) - "Svityaz"
Magnolia (lyrics by Halyna Dyshynevych) - O. Slobodenko
Language's magic voice (lyrics by S. Halabarda) - O. Slobodenko
Young years (lyrics by V. Herasymov) - the group "Krayany"; VIA "Berkut"
At the crossroads - Through the summer (lyrics by V. Gerasymov) - V. Zinkevych; VIA "Berkut"
I will not return the boat (lyrics by S. Halabarda) - A. Kudlay
Sweet delusion (lyrics by Halyna Dyshynevych) - V. Zinkevych
Broken branch (words by Galina Dyshynevych) - O. Slobodenko
Dear (words by Galina Dyshynevych) - O. Slobodenko
Flowers from papier-mâché (words by Galina Dyshynevych) - K. Semenova, S. Rotaru
Wild Rose (words by Galina Dishynevych) - O. Slobodenko
