Joseph Kobzon died at the age of 80

Singer and State Duma deputy Joseph Kobzon died at the age of 80.

Details

• Komsomolskaya Pravda was the first to report Kobzon’s death. “Joseph Davydovich died today after a long illness,” the singer’s wife’s assistant told Interfax. The State Duma confirmed information about Kobzon’s death.
• In 2004, Kobzon was diagnosed with cancer. After that, he underwent several surgeries and chemotherapy courses. At the end of July he was hospitalized, the media wrote that he was in serious condition. On August 7, the artist was discharged from the hospital.

Biography

• Kobzon was born in 1937 in Ukraine in the city of Chasov Yar, Donetsk region. Graduated from the Dnepropetrovsk Mining College, State Musical and Pedagogical Institute named after. Gnessins and the University of Marxism-Leninism MGK CPSU.
• The artist was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR, Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, the USSR State Prize, the Lenin Komsomol Prize and the Russian Government Prize. Kobzon was also awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland of the third, second and first degrees.
• In 2002, Kobzon negotiated with terrorists who took hostages in the theater center on Dubrovka. Together with Irina Khakamada, he managed to free a woman with three children and a British citizen.
• Since 1995 he has been a State Duma deputy, and since 2011 he has served as first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Culture from the United Russia party.
• A photo gallery in memory of Kobzon can be viewed here and here .