Boka (singer)

Boris Arkadevich Davidyan (Armenian: Բորիս Դավիդյան; Russian: Борис Аркадьевич Давидян; April 28, 1949 – July 20, 2020), better known as Boka, was an Armenian singer and songwriter,[1][2][3] a well-known performer of "prison-style songs".[4] He was born in Soviet Azerbaijan to an Armenian family.

Boka
Birth nameBoris Arkadevich Davidyan
Born(1949-04-28)April 28, 1949
Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union
DiedJuly 20, 2020(2020-07-20) (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresRussian chanson
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals

Biography

Boris Davidyan was born on April 28, 1949, to an Armenian family in Baku. His father Arkady Vartanovich was a war veteran who 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 rabiz, 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 United States and recorded there his new and popular album, "The Thieves' Share" (Russian: Доля воровская). 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 due to ethnic violence against Armenians there in December 1989. At the beginning of 1996 he lived in Yerevan. He then moved to Los Angeles.[7]

He died on July 20, 2020, in Los Angeles after a long illness of the lungs. He had 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]

Discography
  • First Concert (Russian: Первый концерт) (1972)
  • Second Concert (Russian: Второй концерт) (1973)
  • Third Concert (Russian: Третий концерт) (1974)
  • Fourth Concert in Baku (Russian: Четвёртый концерт в Баку) (1979)
  • Fifth Concert "Back in Tbilisi" (Russian: Пятый концерт «Опять в Тбилиси») (1981)
  • Sixth Concert (Russian: Шестой концерт) (1982)
  • The Thieves' Share (Russian: Доля воровская) (1988)
  • Nostalgia (Armenian: Կարոտ) (1993)
  • Memory (Russian: Воспоминание) (1995)
  • Hello from America (Russian: Привет из Америки) (1996)
  • For All Friends (Russian: Для всех друзей) (1997)
  • Mom, I'm your son... (Russian: Мам, я твой сын…) (2002)
  • My Father (Russian: Мой отец) (2003)
  • My Share (Russian: Моя доля) (2007)
  • My City (Russian: Мой город) (2008)
  • The Price of Life (Russian: Цена жизни) (2011)
  • To Live and Love (Russian: Жить и любить) (2016)

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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