Volodymyr Ivasiuk

Full biography Volodymyr Ivasiuk

Volodymyr Ivasiuk was a prominent Ukrainian composer, singer and songwriter who had a major impact on the development of modern Ukrainian music. Born on March 4, 1949, in the town of Kitsman in the Chernivtsi Oblast of western Ukraine, Ivasiuk showed an early passion for music and began to study the piano at the age of six.

After studying music at the Lviv Conservatory, Ivasiuk began his career as a composer in the 1970s. His music quickly became popular, particularly among young people, and he became known for his lyrical and romantic songs.

Ivasiuk’s most famous song is arguably “Chervona Ruta” (Red Rue), which became a hit in 1971 and has since become an iconic song in Ukraine. The song, which was originally released in Ukrainian, has been translated into multiple languages and has been performed by many artists in Ukraine and beyond.

Ivasiuk continued to write and perform music throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, but his career was tragically cut short in 1979 when he was found dead in his apartment in Lviv at the age of 30. His death was ruled a suicide, though there have been persistent rumors of foul play.

Despite his short career, Ivasiuk’s impact on Ukrainian music cannot be overstated. His romantic and lyrical songs have become part of the national consciousness of Ukraine, and his legacy continues to inspire new generations of Ukrainian musicians. His life and work continue to be celebrated in Ukraine, and his music remains an important part of the country’s cultural heritage.