Boka (singer)

Boris Arkadevich Davidyan (Armenian: Բորիս Դավիդյան) (April 28, 1949 – July 20, 2020), better known as Boka, was a Soviet singer and songwriter,[1][2][3] a well-known performer of "prison-style songs".[4]

Boka
Birth nameԲորիս Արկադևիչ Դավիդյան
Born(1949-04-28)April 28, 1949
Baku, Azerbaijani SSR, USSR
DiedJuly 20, 2020(2020-07-20) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, United States
GenresRussian chanson
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals

Biography

He was born on April 28, 1949 in an Armenian family. His father Arkady Vartanovich, a war veteran, worked as a foreman at a factory. Boka lost his mother very early.[5]

Since childhood he was interested in music. He graduated from a music school, then studied and received a diploma from the Tashkent Automobile and Road Institute.

In 1972 he recorded his first music album in Yerevan. During the Soviet years, he became a very popular soloist with Armenian, Caucasian and Russian chanson lovers. In his albums, most of the songs are his own creation, although he also sang compositions by Vladimir Vysotsky and Arkady Severny. He performed his songs with a special oriental flavor. Some sources call him a "classic of chanson".[6]

In 1988, he visited USA and recorded there his new and popular album, "The Thieves' Share". The main composition of this album became a hit and was subsequently performed by many of his fellow soloists.

He was forced to leave Baku during the events on ethnic grounds in December 1989. At the beginning of 1996 he lived in Yerevan.

Then he resided in Los Angeles.[7] Boris Davidyan has a son, two daughters and five grandchildren.[8]

Achievements and awards
  • "Chanson of the Year 2006" for the song "Youth".
  • "Chanson of the Year 2007" for the song "My Soul".[9]

References
  1. "Бока (Давидян Борис) . Радио Шансон – Официальный сайт". radioshanson.ru. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  2. "Музей шансона :: Бока :: Биография". www.shansonprofi.ru. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  3. "Бока - эксклюзивное интервью "Шансон - порталу"" (in Russian). Шансон - Портал. 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  4. Self-censorship in Azerbaijan – remaining silent about everything Armenian, Jam News
  5. Maxim Kravchinsky. History of Russian chanson . - Litres, 2020-03-11. - 1139 p. - ISBN 978-5-457-27567-6 .
  6. Maxim Kravchinsky. History of Russian chanson . - Litres, 2020-03-11. - 1139 p. - ISBN 978-5-457-27567-6 .
  7. Greeted With Smiles: Bukharian Jewish Music and Musicians in New York
  8. "Бока (Борис Давидян) Биография портал русский шансон". russianshanson.info. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  9. "Бока Давидян - биография проекта, альбомы, видео, новости, контактные данные — Blatata.Com". blatata.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
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