Vladimir Vysotsky

Russia, 1959–1980

Soviet singer-songwriter, poet and actor (1938–1980). A leading figure of the Russian bard movement, he performed his own guitar-accompanied songs, widely spread on unofficial tape recordings (magnitizdat). Also a stage and film actor, notably at Moscow's Taganka Theatre.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced Vladimir Vysotsky and 3 artists Vladimir Vysotsky influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Vladimir Vysotsky?

• Alexander Vertinsky — 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.
• Bulat Okudzhava — Okudzhava's intimate, guitar-accompanied author-song was the model for Vysotsky's early work; Vysotsky repeatedly named him a teacher and dedicated a song to him.

Which artists did Vladimir Vysotsky influence?

• Mikhail Krug — Vysotsky was Krug's idol from the age of six; hearing him was what convinced Krug that he could write his own songs, telling stories in plain, direct language.
• Alexander Rosenbaum — Rosenbaum belongs to the generation of author-songwriters formed by Vysotsky's example — the poet with a guitar singing in the voice of his characters.
• Kino — Kino's poetic, plain-spoken lyric tradition descends from the Russian bards, above all Vysotsky.