Viktor Klimenko
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Viktor Klimenko (born 1942) is a singer who made himself known as the "Singing Cossack". A few years after his birth in Karelia his family moved to Finland, where he became a noted musician and also appeared in a film or two, mostly playing himself. The Eurovision Song Contest 1965 was his first appearance outside of Finland. He didn't earn any points for his song.
In 1970, only five years later, a Europe-wide release, Stenka Rasin, containing Russian songs went gold on the Finnish market, the first record to do so in Finland. Later, it also went platinum. This success was followed by a decade of concerts and popular shows all over the world. Viktor had nine more gold records.
However, by 1980, he says, show-business and popularity had failed to bring him fulfillment; rather, they had driven him to the verge of breakdown. He claims he was torn between beckoning world fame and his personal life, his family. He also claims he even considered a suicide. One night, right before Easter, he was ready to end his misery. At the last moment, he remembered how parents taught him to pray; he decided he would not lose anything if he asked God for help.
Re-branding himself as a Gospel-singer, he was able to extend his career especially amongst the elderly. He made a brief attempt at a comeback under his old brand of "Singing Cossack", without notable success.
Since then Viktor has turned to the spread of the Gospel. He is said to have an amiable manner and to be very approachable at concerts.
External link
- Official website (http://www.viktorklimenko.com/english/index.html) (English version)