View source for Joseph Kobzon

{{Short description|Russian singer (1937–2018)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Family name hatnote|Davydovich|Kobzon|lang=Eastern Slavic}}
{{Promotional|article, especially the #Public life section,|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Joseph Kobzon
| image              = Kobzon daughter and wife (cropped).jpg
| image_upright      = 
| caption            = Kobzon in 1993 
| native_name        = {{nobold|{{lang|ru|Иосиф Кобзон}}}}<br/>{{nobold|{{lang|uk|Йосип Кобзон}}}}
| birthname          = Iosif Davidovich Kobzon
| birth_date         = {{birth date |df=y|1937|9|11}}
| birth_place        = [[Chasiv Yar|Chasov Yar]], [[Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic|Ukrainian SSR]], Soviet Union
| death_date         = {{death date and age|df=y|2018|8|30|1937|9|11}}
| death_place        = Moscow, Russia<!--See MOS:GEOLINK-->
| occupation         = Singer, deputy of the Russian [[State Duma]]
| party              = [[United Russia]] (until 2018)
| signature          = Автограф Иосифа Кобзона.png
| title              = {{plainlist |*
[[Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation]] {{small|(2016)}}  
*[[People's Artist of the USSR]] {{small|(1987)}}  
*[[People's Artist of Ukraine]] {{small|(1991)}} 
}}
| awards             = {{plainlist |
* [[Order "For Merit to the Fatherland"]] {{small|(Russia,1st, 2nd, 3rd class)}}
* [[Order of Courage (Russia)|Order of Courage]] {{small|(Russia)}}
* [[Order of Friendship of Peoples]] {{small|(USSR)}}
* [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Order of Merit]] {{small|(Ukraine, 1st, 2nd, 3rd class)}}
* [[Dostlug Order]] {{small|(Azerbaijan)}}
* [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]]
* [[Shohrat Order]] {{small|(Azerbaijan)}}
* [[Mesrop Mashtots Medal]] {{small|(Armenia)}}
* [[Order of Friendship (Kazakhstan)|Order of Friendship]] {{small|(Kazakhstan, 2nd class)}}
* [[USSR State Prize]] {{small|(1984)}}
}}
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed = yes
| years_active = 1956–2018
| genre = [[Music of the Soviet Union|Soviet music]], [[opera]], [[operatic pop]], [[Pop music|pop]], [[jazz]]
}}
}}

'''Joseph Davydovich Kobzon'''{{efn|{{langx|ru|Иосиф Давыдович Кобзон|Iosif Davydovich Kobzon}}, also '''Yosyp Davydovych Kobzon''' ({{langx|uk|Йосип Давидович Кобзон}})}} (11 September 1937 – 30 August 2018) was a Russian singer,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Joseph+Kobzon%22&pg=PT121|title=Moscow newspaper lists top Melodia pop artists|date=26 December 1981|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|page=76|access-date=16 February 2012}}</ref> known for his [[crooner]] style.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-30 |title=Iossif Kobzon, idole de la chanson soviétique et député haut en couleur |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/people/iossif-kobzon-idole-de-la-chanson-sovietique-et-depute-haut-en-couleur-30-08-2018-2247024_2116.php |access-date=2025-08-15 |website=Le Point |language=fr}}</ref>

==Early life==
Kobzon was born to [[History of the Jews in the Soviet Union|Jewish]] [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] parents in the mining town of [[Chasiv Yar]], in the [[Donbas]] region of [[Ukraine]].<ref name=RSKobzon>[https://books.google.com/books?id=pnUd_SdGrrsC&dq=Chasiv+Yar&pg=PA110 Red Stars:Personality and the Soviet Popular Song, 1955–1991] by David MacFadyen, [[McGill-Queen's University Press]], 2001, {{ISBN|0773521062}}</ref>

As a boy he demonstrated a talent for singing, winning numerous regional singing contests. He reached the national finals on two separate occasions, appearing in concerts dedicated to [[Joseph Stalin]] – a significant honour at the time.

Despite his talent for singing, Kobzon went on to [[Dnipro Polytechnic|technical school to study geology and mining]] in [[Dnipro]]petrovsk,<ref name=RSKobzon/> as this was considered a lucrative vocation in the [[Soviet Union]] following the [[World War II|Second World War]]. However, in 1959, following his 1956–1959 contact with professional music instructors in the [[Soviet Army]] where he was a member of the armies song and dance ensemble, he decided that music would be his preferred vocation.<ref name=RSKobzon/>

During his studies, he became interested in boxing, won the Dnipropetrovsk championship among young men, then the Ukrainian championship, but quit the sport after being knocked out for the first time. 

==Stage career==
[[File:Joseph Kobzon (1972). (36527397401).jpg|thumb|left|Kobzon performs in 1972]]

In 1958, Kobzon officially started his singing career in Moscow, and enrolled to study at the [[Gnessin State Musical College|Gnessin Institute]].<ref name=RSKobzon/> In the next few years he made valuable contacts in Moscow's entertainment world, and was eventually given a chance by composer [[Arkady Ostrovsky]] to perform some of his music. Initially, he performed in a duet with the tenor [[Viktor Kokhno]], but was eventually offered a solo repertoire by many of the outstanding composers of the time such as [[Mark Fradkin]], {{ill|Alexander Dolukhanian|ru|Долуханян, Александр Павлович}} and [[Yan Frenkel]].

Since 1959, he worked at the [[Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard]] as a vocalist in Mark Mestechkin’s program, performing the song “We are circus artists…”, which not only allowed him to initially solve his material problems, but also, according to the artist, gave him “the opportunity to see real creative work – work to exhaustion, to bloody calluses.”

In 1962, he recorded his first LP which included songs written by [[Aleksandra Pakhmutova]].

In 1964, he triumphed at the International Song Contest in [[Sopot]], [[Poland]], and in the following year he took part in the "Friendship" contest held across six nations, winning first prize in [[Warsaw]], Berlin and [[Budapest]].

His popularity rose quickly, and demand for his singing saw him frequently performing two to three concerts a day. His most popular hit song at the time was titled "And in our yard".

During [[Leonid Brezhnev]]'s time in office (1964–1982), there was hardly an official concert where Kobzon did not take part, and in 1980 he was awarded the honour of [[People's Artist of the USSR]].

His best-known song is "Instants" from the legendary Soviet TV series ''[[Seventeen Moments of Spring]]'' (1973).<ref name=MT30082018>{{cite news |title=Legendary Soviet Crooner and Lawmaker Iosif Kobzon Dies |url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/legendary-soviet-crooner-lawmaker-iosif-kobzon-dies-62719 |access-date=30 August 2018 |work=The Moscow Times |date=30 August 2018 }}</ref> Kobzon sang many songs for the ''Seventeen  Moments of Spring'', but, because of his Jewish nationality, he was not listed on the credits.<ref>{{cite web |last=Razzakov |first=Fedor |url=http://www.levdurov.ru/show_arhive.php?id=1002 |title=КОМПОЗИТОР |trans-title=Composer |language=ru |work=levdurov.ru |date= |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922202339/http://www.levdurov.ru/show_arhive.php?id=1002 |quote=This is from the book in Russian "Наше любимое кино. Интриги за кадром." ("Our Favorite Movie: Intrigues behind the scenes") by Ф. Раззаков (Fedor Razzakov) and published by Алгоритм (Algorithm) in 2004.}}</ref>

In 1983, Kobzon was expelled from the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] and reprimanded for "political short sightedness," after he performed Jewish songs during an international friendship concert, which resulted in the Arab delegations leaving in protest.<ref name=izv>{{cite interview |last=Kobzon |first=Joseph |interviewer=Maria Podolskaya |title=Not Enough of Her For All |url=http://izvestia.ru/news/255908 |language=ru |newspaper=Izvestia |location=Moscow |date=16 December 2001 |access-date=25 October 2012}}</ref> However, the following year (1984), his reputation was restored, as he was honored with the [[USSR State Prize]].

Joseph Kobzon has performed in solo concerts in most cities of the former USSR. He was also bestowed the rare honour of performing international concerts tours as a representative of USSR in United States, [[Panama]], [[Peru]], [[Ecuador]], [[Bolivia]], [[Uruguay]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Argentina]], Israel, [[Republic of the Congo]], [[Zaire]], [[Angola]], [[Nigeria]], [[Portugal]], Spain, Sweden, (Germany), [[Greece]], and [[Finland]]. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage with many Western superstars, including the likes of [[Liza Minnelli]] and [[Julio Iglesias]].

Since May 1995, Kobzon and his entire family was banned from entering the United States due to his allegedly close associations with [[Illegal drug trade|drug trafficking]], [[Arms trafficking|illicit arms trading]], and [[Russian mafia]] in Moscow especially Viktor Nikiforov (Kalina) ({{langx|ru|Виктор Никифоров}}), [[Otari Kvantrishvili]] (Otarik, Krivonos), Alexander Zakharov (Zakhar), [[Alimzhan Tokhtakhunov]] (Taiwanchik) and [[Vyacheslav Ivankov]] (Yaponchik).<ref name=InterfaxRussianMafia>{{cite news |url=https://www.interfax.ru/russia/268557 |title=США объявили Лепса мафией: Минфин США внес Григория Лепса в черные списки, заподозрив его в связях с мафией. Певцу отказано в деловых контактах с американцами, его активы будут заблокированы |trans-title=Kobzon is not allowed in the United States: The U.S. continues to deny Kobzon a visa. According to representatives of the embassy, the Russian singer and deputy does not meet the requirements for obtaining a visa |language=ru |work=[[Interfax]] |date=1 October 2012 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=26 November 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141126184914/http://www.interfax.ru/russia/268557}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pavlovsky |first=Gleb |url=http://www.ovg.ru/llinks/kobzon.html |title=ЮРИЙ ЛУЖКОВ ПОДОЗРЕВАЕТСЯ В СВЯЗЯХ С ОРГАНИЗОВАННЫМИ ПРЕСТУПНЫМИ ГРУППИРОВКАМИ: Феномен Кобзона-Квантришвили |trans-title=YURI LUZHKOV IS SUSPECTED OF HAVING LINKS WITH ORGANIZED CRIMINAL GROUPS: Kobzon-Kvantrishvili phenomenon |language=ru |work=ovg.ru |date= |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=5 June 2000 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000605080017/http://www.ovg.ru/llinks/kobzon.html}} Alternate archive as [http://www.compromat.ru/page_25837.htm  (Kobzon-Kvantrishvili phenomenon)] in Russian in Autumn 1999 at compromat.ru</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Мчедлишвили |first=Миша (Mchedlishvili, Misha) |url=http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/1.html |title=Иосиф Давидович Кобзон (Страница 1) |trans-title=Iosif Davidovich Kobzon (page 1) |language=ru |work=«Чиновникам—НЕТ!» (chinovnikam.net) |date=2013 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=10 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810005200/http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/1.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Мчедлишвили |first=Миша (Mchedlishvili, Misha) |url=http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/2.html |title=Иосиф Давидович Кобзон (Страница 2) |trans-title=Iosif Davidovich Kobzon (page 2) |language=ru |work=«Чиновникам—НЕТ!» (chinovnikam.net) |date=2013 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=14 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914173820/http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/2.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Мчедлишвили |first=Миша (Mchedlishvili, Misha) |url=http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/3.html |title=Иосиф Давидович Кобзон (Страница 3) |trans-title=Iosif Davidovich Kobzon (page 3) |language=ru |work=«Чиновникам—НЕТ!» (chinovnikam.net) |date=2013 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=13 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213123816/http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/3.html}}</ref>

Although he officially ended his international touring career in 1997, he continued to appear in regular concerts before audiences around the world and was frequently seen on Russian television.

==Public life==
[[File:Vladimir Putin and Iosif Kobzon 2018-06-27.jpg|thumb|right|Kobzon is awarded by President of Russia [[Vladimir Putin]] in 2018]]

Kobzon has been active in Russian politics since 1989. He was an experienced Russian [[Member of Parliament|MP]] and got to be reelected several times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://everything2.com/title/Iosef+Kobzon|title=Iosef Kobzon|publisher=Everything2.com|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref>

He was Chairman of the Public Council of Moscow's Police Department, and leader of his political party "The Russian Party for Peace".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/world/17dec2001/kobzon.html|title=Новости NEWSru.com :: Кобзон возглавил партию мира|date=17 December 2001|publisher=Newsru.com|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref>

Kobzon's innumerable contributions to culture, music, humanitarian and political life across the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] saw a monument depicting Kobzon erected near his birthplace, in [[Donetsk]], Ukraine in 2003.

Between 2005 and 2007, he was the head of the [[State Duma]]'s culture committee.<ref name="svoboda">{{cite web|author=Владимир Бабурин|title=Народный артист СССР, председатель Комитета по культуре Государственной Думы Иосиф Кобзон|url=https://www.svoboda.org/a/138054.html|date=2006-04-09|work=[[Radio Svoboda|Радио «Свобода»]]|access-date=2018-09-12|archive-date=2018-09-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903051002/https://www.svoboda.org/a/138054.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2009, Kobzon became the 24th individual to be named Honorary Citizen of Moscow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://duma.mos.ru/en/201/page/pochetnyie-grajdane-goroda-moskvyi|title=Moscow City Duma|publisher=Duma.mos/ru|access-date=3 September 2015|archive-date=5 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905130909/http://duma.mos.ru/en/201/page/pochetnyie-grajdane-goroda-moskvyi|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He had suffered from prostate cancer since 2005.<ref>[https://mir24.tv/news/15659827/ne-tak-strashen-rak-kak-ego-malyuyut-zvezdy-protiv-onkologii Не так страшен рак, как его малюют: звезды против онкологии]</ref> He died on 30 August 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2018/08/30/legendary-soviet-crooner-lawmaker-iosif-kobzon-dies-a62719|title = Legendary Soviet Crooner and Lawmaker Iosif Kobzon Dies|date = 30 August 2018}}</ref>

==Russia's Frank Sinatra==
{{Listen
|filename=Gdeto daleko.ogg
|title="Gde-to daleko" (Где-то далеко, {{Translation|Somewhere far away}})
|description= Sample "Gde-to daleko" from television series [[Seventeen Moments of Spring]] by Iosif Kobzon (1973)
|format=[[Ogg]]
}}

Considering Kobzon's career, personality, spirit and singing style, many say that he was Russia's answer to the U.S. crooner [[Frank Sinatra]].<ref>[http://rollingstone.ru/articles/music/article/3479.html]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211220229/http://rollingstone.ru/articles/music/article/3479.html|date=11 December 2013}}</ref><ref name=KobzonSinatra>{{cite web|url=http://rollingstone.ru/articles/music/article/3479.html, |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623071232/http://rollingstone.ru/articles/music/article/3479.html, |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2019 |title=ROLLING STONE RUSSIA – мужской журнал о современной культуре и обществе |publisher=Rollingstone.ru |access-date=3 September 2015 }}</ref> Besides their singing careers, both Sinatra and Kobzon used their popularity towards an active involvement in politics.<ref name=KobzonSinatra /> The parallels between the two became the focus of media articles, books and novels claiming to have detailed knowledge of Russia's gangster world based on inside information obtained from the CIA.<ref>[http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/3.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213123816/http://chinovnikam.net/content/18/224/3.html|date=13 December 2013}}</ref> As a result, Kobzon was barred entry to the United States from 1995 when his visa was revoked on allegations of mafia ties.<ref name=MT30082018/> In response, Kobzon successfully sued numerous publications for propagating unsubstantiated rumours,<ref name="newsru.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/russia/04oct2002/kobzon.html|title=Новости NEWSru.com :: Кобзон готов предстать перед российским судом|date=4 October 2002|publisher=Newsru.com|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> asserting his impeccable reputation and great honour among millions of Russian-speakers worldwide.

==Stance on Ukraine==
[[File:Joseph Kobzon (2016-12-09).jpg|thumb|left|Kobzon performs for Russian soldiers at Heroes of the Motherland Day, 2016. A [[Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic]] medal is seen on his jacket]]

In March 2014, Kobzon was among 500 Russian artists who signed an open letter in support of [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/11/20/musicians-seen-as-pro-russian-are-not-welcome-in-the-uk-and-latvia/|title=Musicians Seen As "Pro-Russian" Are Not Welcome in the UK and Latvia · Global Voices|work=Global Voices|date=20 November 2014|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> As a result, in July 2014, Kobzon was included in a selected group of Russian artists banned from entering [[Latvia]].<ref name=MT140721>{{cite news |url= http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/russian-pop-stars-banned-from-entering-latvia-over-ukraine-crisis/503849.html |title= Russian Pop Stars Banned From Entering Latvia Over Ukraine Crisis |work= [[The Moscow Times]] |date= 21 July 2014 }}</ref>

Following the [[Revolution of Dignity]], [[2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine|pro-Russian unrest]] broke out in Ukraine.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline], ''[[BBC News]]''</ref> In late October 2014, Kobzon visited Donbas on a humanitarian mission, providing medications to hospitals in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsru.com/world/27oct2014/kobzon_2.html|title=Новости NEWSru.com :: Кобзон дал концерт на Донбассе, спев хором с лидером сепаратистов|date=27 October 2014|publisher=Newsru.com|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> and giving a free concert in support of the people of the self-proclaimed [[Donetsk People's Republic]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29799614 |title= Ukraine crisis: Russia to recognise rebel vote in Donetsk and Luhansk |work= BBC News |date= 28 October 2014 }}</ref> As a result of the visit, [[Alexander Zakharchenko]] (then Prime Minister of the [[Donetsk People's Republic]]) bestowed on Kobzon the title of Russia's "honorary consul" to DPR.<ref name=BBC150216/> However, the title had questionable meaning<ref>{{cite web|url=http://consularchamber.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/what-is-honorary-consul.html|title=Consular Chamber of Commerce: What is an Honorary Consul?|author=Jonathan Warren|date=16 May 2009|publisher=Consularchamber.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> as there are no reports of Russia formally sending Kobzon as an honorary consul to DPR nor ratifying this appointment.

On 3 September 2014 deputies of the [[Dnipropetrovsk City Council]] deprived Kobzon of the title of "Honorary citizen of Dnipropetrovsk", on 25 November 2014 [[Poltava]] City Council removed his title of "Honorary citizen of Poltava", and on 28 January 2015 [[Kramatorsk]] City Council removed his title of "Honorary citizen of Kramatorsk." In autumn 2014, [[Security Service of Ukraine|Ukraine's national security service]] banned him from entering the country.<ref name=RFERL141125>{{cite news |url= http://www.rferl.org/content/ukrainian-city-strips-russian-singer-of-honorary-citizenship/26709789.html |title= Ukrainian City Strips Russian Singer Of Honorary Citizenship |publisher= [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date= 25 November 2014 }}</ref> Kobzon responded by saying that "he shouldn't need a visa to visit his own homeland and birthplace."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dialog.ua/news/24995_1414404665|title=Новости дня: Иосиф Кобзон приехал на родину в Донбасс, несмотря на запрет СБУ – 27.10.2014 сегодня|work=Dialog.ua|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> He stated that he welcomed any decision by Ukraine's authorities to strip him of honours, as he didn't want to be "an honorary citizen of a country that is run by a fascist regime."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ria.ru/culture/20141125/1035076120.html|title=Кобзон заявил, что сам не хочет быть почетным гражданином Полтавы|work=РИА Новости|date=25 November 2014|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> He requested that Ukraine also strip him of his [[People's Artist of Ukraine]] award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utro.ru/articles/2014/11/26/1223507.shtml|title=Кобзон попросил лишить его звания народного артиста Украины|date=26 November 2014 |publisher=Utro.ru|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> In February 2015, Kobzon was awarded Honorary Citizenship of [[Yenakiieve]] in Donetsk Oblast (controlled by the Donetsk People's Republic), and was later awarded the honour of 'People's Artist' by self-proclaimed [[Luhansk People's Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.ru/news/281011-kobzon-poluchil-zvanie-narodnyi-artist-lnr|title=Кобзон получил звание Народного артиста ЛНР|work=Forbes.ru|date=22 February 2015|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref>

In February 2015, the [[European Union]] added Kobzon to its [[List of people and organizations sanctioned during the Russo-Ukrainian War#Personal sanctions|list of individuals sanctioned]] with asset freezes and travel bans because he had "visited the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and during his visit made statements supporting separatists";<ref name="MT150216">{{cite news|date=16 February 2015|title=EU Adds Famous Russian Singer and Deputy Ministers to Ukraine Sanctions List|work=[[The Moscow Times]]|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/eu-adds-famous-russian-singer-and-deputy-minister-to-ukraine-sanctions-list/515978.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216225629/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/eu-adds-famous-russian-singer-and-deputy-minister-to-ukraine-sanctions-list/515978.html|archive-date=2015-02-16}}</ref> Kobzon responded that he was "very pleased and grateful."<ref name=BBC150216>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31497039 |title= Profile: Iosif Kobzon, Russian crooner and MP |first= Alexander |last= Kan |work= BBC News |date= 16 February 2015 }}</ref> Canada also applied economic sanctions and a travel ban.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2015-02-17|title=Expanded sanctions list|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/news/archive/2015/02/expanded-sanctions-list.html|access-date=2021-08-27|website=Government of Canada}}</ref> He was "proud to be included in a list of people who are not indifferent to the fate of internally displaced Russian-speakers in Donbas and the fate of Russia".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.online812.ru/2015/02/16/002/|title=- 812|publisher=Online812.ru|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> Russian MPs spoke out in response to the EU sanctions, while Kobzon's fans launched a Twitter campaign in his support.<ref name="news.yahoo.com">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/fans-protest-russian-sinatra-hit-eu-sanctions-235355054.html|title=Fans protest as 'Russian Sinatra' hit by EU sanctions|date=17 February 2015|work=Yahoo News|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> Russia's Foreign Ministry said that the new sanctions defy common sense, referring to the fact that Kobzon was on a humanitarian mission to help innocent people caught in a war zone and that the sanctions were imposed just one day after the [[Minsk II]] agreement came into force.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} The agreement was reached between EU representatives (Germany and France), [[Ukraine]] and Russia, and was aimed at resolving the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]]. Communist Party leader [[Gennady Zyuganov]] condemned Kobzon's inclusion on the sanctions list as "vile" and "cynical", questioning the purpose of sanctioning "a highly respected national artist" whose mission in Donbas was "fundamentally humanitarian."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://ria.ru/society/20150217/1048094410.html|title=Зюганов счел циничным и подлым включение Кобзона в санкционный список|work=РИА Новости|date=17 February 2015|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> A ruling party MP, [[Vyacheslav Nikonov]], spoke in parliament to support Kobzon, stating "We are with you. If they're all Charlie, then we are all Kobzon", playing on the "Je Suis Charlie" slogan used in the wake of the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting]].<ref name="news.yahoo.com"/> In response to calls for retaliatory sanctions, Russia's culture minister [[Vladimir Medinsky]] said that Moscow could not impose equal sanctions on the EU, because "Europe simply lacks a star of the same standing as Kobzon."<ref name="news.yahoo.com"/> Kobzon returned to Donbas one week following the EU's decision. This was his second humanitarian mission to the region delivering medications to hospitals in [[Luhansk]], and giving another free concert "to support local residents".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://riafan.ru/216134-kobzon-priehal-v-lugansk-s-blagotvoritelnyimi-kontsertami/|title=Кобзон приехал в Луганск с концертами и гумпомощью|work=ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ АГЕНТСТВО НОВОСТЕЙ|date=22 February 2015|access-date=3 September 2015|archive-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707140657/http://riafan.ru/216134-kobzon-priehal-v-lugansk-s-blagotvoritelnyimi-kontsertami/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://soklan.ru/library/reading.php?id=1397&start=80& |title=Как перед Богом|access-date=2018-09-02 |archive-date=2018-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012015649/http://soklan.ru/library/reading.php?id=1397&start=80& |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Going to a Kobzon concert==
The "Kobzon Concert" meme arose after the assassination of [[Alexander Zakharchenko]], the former leader of the self-proclaimed [[Donetsk People's Republic|DPR]], which took place on August 31, 2018. At that time, jokes were spread in Ukrainian social networks that Zakharchenko went to the "Kobzon concert", who died the day before - on August 30.<ref>{{Cite web |title="Їду на концерт Кобзона": реакція соцмереж на вбивство ватажка "ДНР" Захарченка |url=https://www.unian.ua/society/10244997-jidu-na-koncert-kobzona-reakciya-socmerezh-na-vbivstvo-vatazhka-dnr-zaharchenka.html |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=www.unian.ua |language=uk}}</ref>

After the 24 February 2022 [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the phrase in Ukrainian ''sent to a [[:uk:Концерт Кобзона (мем)|Kobzon concert]]'' ({{langx|uk|«відправили на концерт Кобзона»}}) grew in popularity to denote that a pro Russia combatant who was "going to a Kobzon concert" had met a quick death.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://k-p.net.ua/news_kamenec/podii_mista/6553-v-kamianci-zatrymaly-nyvu.html |title=В Кам'янці затримали ниву  |trans-title=A field was detained in Kamianets |language=uk |work=Кам`янець-Подільський «ПЕРШИЙ ПОРТАЛ» |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301165026/https://k-p.net.ua/news_kamenec/podii_mista/6553-v-kamianci-zatrymaly-nyvu.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.unian.ua/war/koncert-kobzona-volontery-potrollili-boevikov-na-donbasse-foto-novini-vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-11118314.html |title=Бойовикам на Донбасі передали "запрошення на концерт Кобзона" (фото) |trans-title=Militants in Donbas were given an "invitation to a concert of Kobzon" (photo) |language=uk |work=www.unian.ua |date=19 August 2022 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=23 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323212904/https://www.unian.ua/war/koncert-kobzona-volontery-potrollili-boevikov-na-donbasse-foto-novini-vtorgnennya-rosiji-v-ukrajinu-11118314.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/news-boyovi-drony-front/32022632.html |title="Армія дронів": ЗСУ отримали перші 20 ударних безпілотників – Мінцифри |trans-title="Army of Drones": The Armed Forces of Ukraine received the first 20 strike drones - Ministry of Digital Transformation |language=uk |work=[[Радіо Свобода]] (Radio Svoboda) |date=7 September 2022 |access-date=22 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ua-football.com/ua/ukrainian/news/1646153794-kvitok-na-koncert-kobzona-v-ukrayini-likvidovana-specgrupa-kadirivciv.html |title=Квиток на концерт кобзона. В Україні ліквідована спецгрупа "кадирівців" |trans-title=Ticket to the concert of the kobzon. The special group of "Kadyrivtsi" met a quick death in Ukraine |language=uk |work=UA-Football |date=1 March 2022 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301190945/https://www.ua-football.com/ua/ukrainian/news/1646153794-kvitok-na-koncert-kobzona-v-ukrayini-likvidovana-specgrupa-kadirivciv.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://uzhgorod.net.ua/news/165646 |title=Закарпатців запрошують стати розвідниками тероборони. Як це зробити? |trans-title=Transcarpathians are invited to become intelligence officers of the territorial defense |language=uk |work=uzhgorod.net.ua |date=1 March 2022 |access-date=22 September 2022 |archive-date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301165024/https://uzhgorod.net.ua/news/165646}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kobzon was married three times. In 1965, he married the singer, {{ill|Veronika Kruglova|ru|Круглова, Вероника Петровна}}; then in 1969 Kobzon married [[Lyudmila Gurchenko]], one of the best known comic actresses of the Soviet cinema. In 1971, he married Ninel Drizina with whom he had two children.

==Honours and awards==
[[File:Iosif Kobzon_2022_stamp_of_Russia.jpg|thumb|Kobzon on a 2022 stamp of Russia]]
[[File:2015-05-28. Последний звонок в 47 школе Донецка 113.jpg|thumb|Kobzon in Donetsk in May 2015]]
;Orders
* [[Order For Merit to the Fatherland]] 1st class (26 June 2012) – for outstanding contribution to culture and music;
* [[Order For Merit to the Fatherland]] 2nd class (21 September 2002) – for outstanding contribution to culture and music;
* [[Order For Merit to the Fatherland|Order for Merit for the Fatherland 3rd class]] (11 September 1997) – for his great personal contribution to the development of musical art;
* [[Order of Courage (Russia)|Order of Courage]] (30 December 2002) – for courage and dedication shown during the rescue of people in a situation involving a risk to life during an act of terrorism at the [[Moscow theater hostage crisis]] in October 2002;
* [[Order of Friendship of Peoples]];
* [[Shohrat Order|Order of Glory (Azerbaijan)]] (2007) – for services to strengthen cultural ties between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan;
* Officer of the [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]] (2007);
* [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Ukrainian Order of Merit 1st class]] (3 July 2012) – for personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of the area, professionalism, and to mark the 80th anniversary of Donetsk region (revoked by the President of Ukraine 14 May 2018);
* [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Ukrainian Order of Merit 2nd class]] (3 July 2002) – for personal contribution to the socio-economic and cultural development of the area, professionalism, and to mark the 70th anniversary of Donetsk region (revoked by the President of Ukraine 14 May 2018);
* [[Order of Merit (Ukraine)|Ukrainian Order of Merit 3rd class]] (18 February 2000) – a significant personal contribution to the development of art song, many years of fruitful creative and social activities (revoked by the President of Ukraine 14 May 2018);
* Dostyk order, 2nd class (Kazakhstan, 2008)
* [[Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow]], 2nd class ([[Russian Orthodox Church]], 1998)
* Order of St. Sergius, 2nd class (Russian Orthodox Church, 2002)
* Order "For Merit" ([[Ingushetia]], 2008)

;Titles
* [[Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation]] (21 April 2016) 
* [[People's Artist of the USSR]] (1987)
* [[People's Artist of the RSFSR]] (1980)
* [[People's Artist of Ukraine]] (1991, revoked by the President of Ukraine 14 May 2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zakon1.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/18/91|title=Про присвоєння Кобзону Й.Д. почесного звання &quot;Нар... – від 27.12.1991 № 18|publisher=Zakon1.rada.gov.ua|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref>
* [[Honoured Artist of the RSFSR]] (1973)
* People's Artist of [[Dagestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic|Dagestan ASSR]] (1974)
* Honoured Artist of the [[Checheno-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]] (1964)
* Honoured Artist of [[Adygea]] (1992)
* Honoured Artist of the [[Karachay-Cherkessia]] (2008)
* People's Artist of [[North Ossetia–Alania]] (2008)
* Honorary Member of the [[Russian Academy of Arts]]
* Honoured Worker of the Federal Bailiff Service

;Medals
{{Anchor|National Orders}}{{Anchor|Foreign Orders}}<!--Old section names-->
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! colspan=2 | [[Order (honour)|Order]]
! Country / Org
! style="width:2.1em;" | Year
|-
| style="width:80px;" | [[File:SU Medal In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin ribbon.svg|center|80px]]
| [[Jubilee Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary since the Birth of Vladimir Il'ich Lenin"]]
| {{flag|USSR}}
| 
|-
| [[File:SU Medal In Commemoration of the 1500th Anniversary of Kiev ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Medal "In Commemoration of the 1500th Anniversary of Kyiv"]]
| {{flag|USSR}}
| 
|-
| [[File:SU Medal Veteran of Labour ribbon.svg|center|80px]]
| [[Medal "Veteran of Labour"]]
| {{flag|USSR}}
| 
|-
| [[File:SU Medal For Labour Valour ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Medal "For Labour Valour"]]
| {{flag|USSR}}
| 1970
|-
| [[File:RUS Medal 300 Years of the Russian Navy ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Jubilee Medal "300 Years of the Russian Navy"]]
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:Ribbon Medal 850 Mosow.png|80px]]
| [[Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"]]
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:RUS Medal 60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 ribbon.svg|80px]]
| [[Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945"]]
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:Medal Sholokhov.png|80px]]
| Jubilee Medal "Great Russian writer Nobel Mikhail Sholokhov 1905–2005"
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:RUS For Strengthening Military Cooperation Medal ribbon 2017.svg|80px]]
| Medal "For Strengthening Military Cooperation"
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:200MVD rib.png|80px]]
| Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Internal Affairs"
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 2008
|-
| [[File:RUS 200 years of the Ministry of Defence Medal ribbon 2002.svg|80px]]
| Medal "200 Years of the Ministry of Defence" 
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:ZaZaslperStavKr rib.png|80px]]
| Medal "For Services to the Stavropol Territory"
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 2008
|-
| 
| Medal "Glory of Adygea"
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 2008
|-
| 
| Medal of Merit for the Chechen Republic
| {{flag|Russia}}
| 
|-
| [[File:MedalAstana.png|80px]]
| Medal "Astana"
| {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
| 
|-
| [[File:Medal50Celina.png|80px]]
| Medal "50 Years to [[Tselina]]"
| {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
| 
|-
|
|[[Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic|Medal "Hero of the Donetsk People's Republic"]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Захарченко сделал Кобзона 20-м "Героем ДНР" (+видео) |url=http://antikor.com.ua/articles/60787-zaharchenko_sdelal_kobzona_20-m_geroem_dnr_video |access-date=8 October 2017}}</ref>
|{{flag|Donetsk People's Republic}}
|
|}

;Awards
* [[USSR State Prize]] (1984) – for concert programs 1980–1983
* [[Lenin Komsomol Prize]] (1976) – for concert programs 1974–1975, active propaganda Soviet Komsomol songs
* Russian Federal Security Service Award "for creative contribution to the patriotic education of Russian citizens" (2009)

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
|-
! colspan="3" style="background: red;" | [[Ovation (award)|Ovation]]
|-
{{succession box
| title = Living Legend Award
| years = 1995<br> Joseph Kobzon
| before= 1994<br>[[Alla Pugacheva]]
| after = 1996<br>[[Edita Piekha]]
}}
|-
{{s-end}}

Kobzon was awarded honorary citizenship of 28 cities: [[Anapa]], [[Saratov]] (1998), [[Donetsk]] (2007), [[Bishkek]], [[Dnipro|Dnipropetrovsk]] (deprived of the honor on 3 September 2014),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zn.ua/UKRAINE/kobzon-lishen-zvaniya-pochetnogo-grazhdanina-dnepropetrovska-152171_.html|title=Кобзон лишен звания почетного гражданина Днепропетровска|date=3 September 2014|work=Зеркало недели – Дзеркало тижня – Mirror Weekly|access-date=3 September 2015}}</ref> [[Kramatorsk]], [[Noginsk]], [[Poltava]] (deprived of the honor on 25 November 2014),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conflict.rbc.ua/rus/kobzona-lishili-statusa-pochetnogo-grazhdanina-poltavy---25112014112200 |title=Кобзона лишили статуса почетного гражданина Полтавы, – нардеп – Полтава &#124; РБК Украина |publisher=Conflict.rbc.ua |date=25 November 2014 |access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref> [[Slavonia|Slavic]] (1999), [[Chasiv Yar]], [[Cherkessk]], [[Artemivsk, Donetsk Oblast|Artemovsk]], [[Horlivka]] and others. He was also an honorary citizen of the [[Saratov Oblast]], [[Ust-Orda Buryat Autonomous Okrug]] (abolished 2008) and the [[Transbaikal Oblast]] (2010).

On 31 March 2009, Kobzon was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Moscow – "for his services and contribution to the organization and development of national culture, long-term activities designed to meet the challenges of the patriotic and cultural education of the Russian people, as well as charitable activity in the city of Moscow and other Russian regions".

;Other honours
* Monument in [[Donetsk]] by Alexander Rukavishnikov (30 August 2003)
* Diploma of the Government of the [[Kabardino-Balkar Republic]] (2008)

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.iosifkobzon.ru/ Official site of Iosif Kobzon]
* {{YouTube|xZux_90AucE|Kobzon sings My Yiddishe Mama}} {{in lang|yi|ru}}
* [https://music.apple.com/ie/artist/iosif-kobzon/407823387 Joseph Kobzon] at iTunes
* {{Discogs artist|Иосиф Кобзон|Joseph Kobzon}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kobzon, Joseph}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Chasiv Yar]]
[[Category:Jewish Ukrainian musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish singers]]
[[Category:Soviet male singers]]
[[Category:Russian pop singers]]
[[Category:Russian baritones]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in Russia]]
[[Category:Moscow theater hostage crisis]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 1st class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 3rd class]]
[[Category:Chevaliers of the Order of Merit (Ukraine)]]
[[Category:People's Artists of the USSR]]
[[Category:Honorary members of the Russian Academy of Arts]]
[[Category:Officer's Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Friendship of Peoples]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Holy Prince Daniel of Moscow]]
[[Category:People's Artists of the RSFSR]]
[[Category:Recipients of the title of People's Artists of Ukraine]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Mikhail Lermontov Literary Prize]]
[[Category:Honored Artists of the RSFSR]]
[[Category:Recipients of the USSR State Prize]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Lenin Komsomol Prize]]
[[Category:Heroes of Labour of the Russian Federation]]
[[Category:Gnessin State Musical College alumni]]
[[Category:Russian people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:20th-century Russian male singers]]
[[Category:Russian National Music Award winners]]
[[Category:Second convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]]
[[Category:Third convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]]
[[Category:Fourth convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]]
[[Category:Fifth convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]]
[[Category:Sixth convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]]
[[Category:Seventh convocation members of the State Duma (Russian Federation)]]
[[Category:Winners of the Golden Gramophone Award]]
[[Category:Russian individuals subject to European Union sanctions]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Courage (Russia)]]
[[Category:Burials at Vostryakovskoye Cemetery]]
[[Category:Musicians from Donetsk Oblast]]