Iosif Kobzon

Iosif (Joseph) Kobzon (born September 11, 1937) is a Soviet singer, known for his crooner style.

Kobzon has a reputation for his readiness to help others. He has earned enormous respect amongst Russians for committing substantial sums of his personal wealth to help thousands of Russia’s poor and unfortunate, including the funding of numerous orphanages around the country.

To honour his remarkable musical, political and humanitarian achievements, in 2003, there was a statue of Joseph Kobzon erected near his birthplace, in Donetsk, Ukraine. Such an honour to be bestowed during one’s lifetime is considered to be highly unique by any nation’s standards, and has cemented Kobzon’s popularity as a “living legend”.

In 2007 Joseph Kobzon’s name was entered into the Official Book of Russian Records as the most awarded artist in the country’s history.

Considering Kobzon’s career, personality, spirit and singing style, many say that he is Russia’s answer to the U.S. crooner Frank Sinatra. The parallels between the two legends of the entertainment world are so uncanny, that Kobzon has been branded the nickname of ‘Russia’s Frank Sinatra’.