Sergey Letov: biography of the musician

A bright saxophonist-improviser Sergei Letov is known in narrow circles, the general public often recalls his brother. But he writes a lot, speaks, collaborates with the most interesting musicians, his work is notorious and nonconformist, but Sergey does not care about fame, he prefers to spend his life solely on creativity.

Childhood and family

Sergei Fedorovich Letov was born on September 24, 1956 in Semipalatinsk in the family of a serviceman. The boy proved to be very capable of mathematics, and so he had to study at the boarding school at the university in the Novosibirsk Academgorodok. When Sergei was 8 years old, he had a brother, Igor, who later became the famous creator of the punk band "Civil Defense" Yegor Letov. The younger brother was often sick, and Sergey fiddled with him a lot, sang to feed him, he first let him listen to Igor's rock opera. In 1965 the family is transferred to Omsk, where later, Letov Jr. will live almost all his life.

Happy student life

Sergei after school leaves for Moscow and receives the Moscow Institute of Fine Chemical Technology. M. In Lomonosov. During his studies, the future musician was interested in art, but mostly pictorial and literary. He systematically surveyed bookstores in search of interesting books, visited museums and exhibitions. At the end of the university, he enters postgraduate study, the subject of his research is heat-shielding coatings, in particular, for the Soviet satellite Buran. Some time after school, Sergei works as an engineer, but he is fond of saxophone, begins to learn how to play this instrument independently.

New vocation

Despite the obvious ability for science, Letov Sergei abandoned it and gave himself entirely to the new cause of his life - music. He enters the Tambov cultural enlightenment clinic at the variety art department, where he professionally learns the instrument.

At the same time, he was born a passion for collecting saxophones, today in his collection there are many rare specimens, some he made himself. A unique collection does not collect dust in the cabinets, Letov actively plays on all these instruments. He masteres all kinds of saxophone: soprano, baritone, tenor, as well as various flute and bass clarinet. In 1982, Sergei was first invited to a public musical performance as a saxophonist, he accompanied the ensemble of percussion instruments of Mark Pekarsky in Mikhail Zhukov's play . So Sergey Letov falls into the bohemian youth company of artists, musicians of the Soviet underground.

Rock & Jazz

In 1982, the beginning musician was noticed by Sergey Kuryokhin - a bright avant-garde composer and producer of performances. Their fruitful cooperation lasted 11 years, during which time Sergey Letov grew into a true professional not only as a performer, but also as a composer. Two Sergei acted as a duet, and Letov played in the famous "Pop Mechanics". Communication with Kuryokhin brought to life saxophonist many famous people, such as Boris Grebenshchikov, Vasily Shumov, Konstantin Kinchev, Peter Mamonov and many others. Sergei Letov in the 80's worked with almost all the cult rock bands of the time. As a saxophonist-virtuoso and improvisator, he perfectly fits the aesthetics of rock.

Sergei Letov, whose photos are increasingly flickering in the chronicles of rock festivals, is becoming famous.

The second sphere of application of Letov's talents is jazz. An outstanding improviser and multi-instrumentalist works a lot in this direction, writes jazz compositions, participates in group concerts, practices free jazz, which has many fans around the world.

Orchestra "Three O" and Conceptualism

Letov Sergei - a musician avant-garde, he was in the 70's infected with conceptualism, and this love has not weakened over the years. In the Central House of Artists, he approaches Andrei Monastyrsky and Nikita Alekseev, representatives of the unofficial association of conceptual artists "Collective Actions", participates in the work of apartment exhibitions and concerts, gets to know musicians, communicates with those who today became masters: Sophia Gubaidullina, Alfred Schnittke . Sergei Letov - an active participant in a huge number of art and music projects, in the famous exhibitions of the groups "20" and "21" he improvises on the sax, plays in groups that continually arise at this time. Today Sergey Fedorovich lectures on Moscow conceptualism, made a website about them, communicates with the same fans of this trend around the world.

In 1985, Letov, with a group of like-minded people, created the "Three O" ensemble, originally called "Three Holes of a Woman" in memory of Joyce's Ulysses. The band played "intuitive" music and won great popularity in underground circles, they were invited to play at exhibitions, at jazz festivals. The ensemble toured a lot on the country and abroad, for a while Sergey Kuryokhin collaborated with them, together they conquered many countries. Also, the group took part in theatrical productions, together with Alexander Filippenko, Anatoly Vasilyev, Mikhail Mokeev, did the program with D. Prigov.

Personal life

Sergey Letov is a creative person, but at the same time he is known for his tough moral principles and well-established views. On this basis, even broke up with his brother, who dreamed of fame, a large number of fans. Sergei was always interested only in creativity and family. He has been happily married for many years, raising three daughters. Letov has many hobbies, so his life is always diverse and rich: he writes essays, deals with a music site, lectures, and actively tours.