Herman Witke: what was the fate of the author of the hits “Ivanushki” and Agutin

Talented poet and songwriter Herman Witke died at the age of 54 from a heart attack. Thanks to his sincere, bright hits, many stars lit up on the Russian stage. Witke worked with Leonid Agutin, Anzhelika Varum, Bogdan Titomir, Ivanushki International. And the loud hits “Everything is in your hands”, “La-la-fa”, “Do as I do” sounded from every iron. In the material REN TV Let’s talk about the life and work of the famous songwriter.

Path to Glory

Hermann born in Moscow in 1968. The career of a talented poet began in 1991. Then Vitke met a novice musician Bogdan Titomir, who was in search of his own style. The poet showed him clips of the American rapper MC Hammer, and Bogdan got excited about the idea of ​​doing something similar. Vitke wrote the song “Do as I do” for Titomir, which brought fame to the singer and became his hallmark.

In 1992 Witke began working with Leonid Agutin. Together with the musician, German wrote songs for the debut album “Barefoot Boy”. At the same time, the poet met the composer Yuri Varum and wrote the song “La-la-fa” for his daughter Angelica. For her, Herman created such hits as “Everything is in your hands”, “Queen” and “Do not wait for me.” The director Tigran Keosayan made the last composition the main one in his film “Silver Lily of the Valley”.

Folk love

The career of the songwriter developed rapidly. He was invited as a music columnist to the newspapers “Evening Moscow” and “Moskovskaya Pravda”. Witke found real people’s love – in 1993 he was named the poet of the year. He was a frequent guest on television, appearing on the music shows “Morning Star” and “Star Rain”.

It was Witke who came up with the name for the group “Ivanushki International”, and then wrote several songs for the album of the musical group. Among them are the compositions “Two Bottomless Oceans” and “Millions of Lights”.

In conversation with REN TV soloist of the group “Ivanushki International”, singer Andrey Grigoriev-Apollonov told how exactly the poet helped with a memorable name.

“I saw him several times 25 years ago. The first six months, when our team was formed, we performed under different names, we could not come up with our main name, the name for the group. Herman came to one of our concerts. That evening, it seems, we were called “Union of Apollos”, and after that, in the dressing room, laughing, he said that we were natural Ivanushki! And away we go! For which he eternal memory and gratitude“- recalled Grigoriev-Appolonov.

Witke’s first collection of poems was published in 1995 in Paris. After a resounding success, the poet met with the honored artist Lev Leshchenko and began cooperation with Kristina Orbakaite, which later resulted in friendship. Witke also worked with the A-Studio group, took part in the creation of albums by Valery Leontiev, Laima Vaikule and Nikolai Baskov.

“The rebel who madly loved life”

Witke died of a heart attack on 12 August. About the tragedy told ex-wife of the poet, singer Irina Dyukova. She thanked the ex-wife for all the good things that happened between them.

“Friends, today at 07:05 the heart of Hera Witke, a great poet, a person very close to me, my ex-husband and a great friend in life, stopped beating. Gerka, thank you for a lifelong love, for a wonderful son, for always being nearby, for creativity, for everything”, – wrote the artist in social networks.

Vitka’s colleague, composer Ilya Zudin, also shared his grief.

“Hera! A rebel who madly loved life! An excellent songwriter who wrote such words as “La-la-fa”, “Everything is in your hands”, “Barefoot boy”, “Look what a summer” and countless other bright , stylish, always deeply meaningful poems that have become songs. A bright memory, “- he said.