Alexander Vertinsky

Russia, 1915–1957

Russian singer, poet and cabaret artist (1889-1957), a formative figure in Russian author-song. Performing in the guise of a melancholic 'Russian Pierrot', he combined urban and Gypsy romance with French chanson in self-composed songs he called ariettes ('Tango Magnolia', 'In the Banana-Lemon Singapore'). His work is regarded as a precursor of the Soviet bard tradition.

MusicRoots documents 0 artists who influenced Alexander Vertinsky and 3 artists Alexander Vertinsky influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Which artists did Alexander Vertinsky influence?

• Bulat Okudzhava — Vertinsky's intimate, self-composed urban romances — a poet setting his own verse to music and performing it solo — were the pre-revolutionary prototype for the Soviet author-song that Okudzhava founded.
• Arkady Severny — Severny worked directly in Vertinsky's line of intimate urban song and recorded a whole programme dedicated to his memory alongside his Odessa-themed concerts.
• Vladimir Vysotsky — Vertinsky pioneered the figure of the poet-singer performing self-written songs to guitar — the tradition of confessional Russian author-song that Vysotsky carried to its raw, dramatic peak.