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Kirka | |
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 Kirka during his last public performance in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kirill Babitzin |
| Born | (1950-09-22)22 September 1950 Helsinki, Finland |
| Origin | Helsinki, Finland |
| Died | 31 January 2007(2007-01-31) (aged 56) Helsinki, Finland |
| Genres | Finnish rock Hard rock (1986–1987) Pop |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1962–2007 |
| Website | Kirka.com in English |
Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin (Russian Кирилл Бабицын, 22 September 1950 – 31 January 2007) was a Finnish vocalist and musician. One of the most commercially successful artists from Finland, his career spanned from the late 1960s until his death in 2007.
Previously associated withIlkka Lipsanen's The Islanders band, Kirka went on to record a wide array of rock and pop music. Some of his most famous songs include Hetki Lyö (Beat the Clock), Leijat (Kites) and Varrella virran (Down by the River). His 1988 album Surun Pyyhit Silmistäni (The Sadness in Your Eyes) went on to be one of the best sold records in Finnish history. He also represented Finland in the1984 Eurovision Song Contest.
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Kirill Babitzin was born inHelsinki in 1950 to a Russian family. His father, Leon Babitzin was fromSt. Petersburg and fled to Finland in the aftermath ofthe October Revolution. His mother, Elizaveta Babitzin (née Zarubina) was partially ofGerman-Russian descent and was born inLappeenranta. He first got into music at the age of five when his grandmother gave him anaccordion. He won an accordion competition at the age of ten.
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His first band wasThe Creatures, which he joined in 1964 assuming stage name Kirka.
Kirka began attaining fame when he joined the bandThe Islanders in 1967. Originally led byIlkka "Danny" Lipsanen, the band became hugely popular. Kirka also recorded withBlues Section. Kirka used his fame to launch into a solo career soon-after. Kirka cited his 1960's breakthroughHetki lyö (orig.Beat The Clock composed byGottehrer-Stroll, a 1968Elfstone B side) with The Islanders as his greatest achievement. Despite his initial success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kirka suffered from money-troubles through the late 1970s.
Kirka represented Finland inEurovision Song Contest 1984, finishing a strong ninth with the songHengaillaan. Four years later, he got his greatest chart success withSurun pyyhit silmistäin, a melancholicpop-schlager.
Babitzin was awarded theEmma award for best male singer twice, first in 1984 and then in 2000. He died suddenly on 31 January 2007 at his home due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. His widow Paula Nummela is a jewellery designer.
Several Babitzin siblings are established musicians in their own right. In 1978, Kirka released a duet album with sisterAnna; the next year, another sister Marija ("Muska") joined in.
Kirka's brother was popular rock musicianSammy Babitzin, who was killed in a car crash in 1973. Sammy's signature hitDaada daada tells a story of high-speed automotive cruising.
Kirka Babitzin released 78 singles and almost 60 albums, including 15 collections. Kirka's albumSurun pyyhit silmistäni (1988) became the biggest selling album in Finnish history; it has now been relegated to all-time third place.
| Preceded by | Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 | Succeeded by |
