Sofia Rotaru

Lore & Background

Sofia Rotaru was born in Marshyntsi, Chernivtsi Oblast, to a family of the Romanian minority in Ukraine. Her father was a brigadier of wine-growers and a World War II veteran; her older sister Zina, who went blind, taught her songs. Rotaru began singing in school and church choirs, and won a regional amateur competition in 1962, leading to a first degree diploma in 1963 and a victory at the all-republic festival in Kyiv in 1964. Her picture appeared on the cover of Ukraine magazine in 1965. She studied at the Chernivtsi musical college and took lessons from Sidi Tal. In 1968, she performed at the IX World Festival of Youth and Students in Bulgaria, winning first prize, and married Anatoliy Yevdokymenko. The 1971 film Chervona Ruta, in which she starred, brought her great popularity. Her husband became artistic director of her backing ensemble, Chervona Ruta. In 1974, she graduated from the Chişinău Art Institute and won second prize at the Sopot International Song Festival. She moved from Chernivtsi to Yalta in 1976.

Reader's Guide

Sofia Rotaru's significance lies in her long career spanning more than 40 years, during which she recorded over 400 songs in many languages and released more than 40 albums. Her 1972 multilingual album Sofia Rotaru was re-released three times and covered by numerous singers, cementing her as a viable pop artist in the former Soviet Union. She received numerous state honors, including Merited Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, People's Artist of Ukraine, People's Artist of Moldavian SSR, Hero of Ukraine, and Hero of Moldova. In 2008 and 2010, she reported the highest income of all celebrities in Ukraine. Her legacy includes topping Moscow airplay in 2008 with 'Ya nazovu planetu imenem tvoim' and receiving awards from Presidents Leonid Kuchma and Vladimir Putin in 2002. She has been acknowledged by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Did You Know?

• Her passport birthdate was misreported as 9 August, so she reportedly celebrates her birthday twice.
• She won first prize at the Golden Orpheus in 1973 and second prize in the Polish song category at the Sopot International Song Festival in 1974.
• Her older sister Zina, who went blind, taught her songs and the Russian language.
• She reported the highest income of all celebrities in Ukraine in 2008 and 2010.