Boris Davidyan

Biography

Boris Arkadyevich Davidyan (better known by his stage name Boka) is a Soviet, Azerbaijani, and Armenian singer-songwriter. He was born in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, USSR, to Armenian parents. His father, Arkady Vartanovich, was a veteran of World War II and worked as a factory foreman. His mother, Margarita Artemovna, was a biologist. Boka lost his mother early in life. He was interested in music from childhood and graduated from music school. He studied and received a diploma from the Tashkent Automobile and Road Institute. In 1972, he recorded his first album in Baku. During the Soviet era, he became a popular soloist among chanson lovers. Most of his albums were his own compositions, although he also sang compositions by Vladimir Vysotsky and Arkady Severny. He performed his songs with a distinctive oriental flair. Some sources call him a "classic of chanson." In 1988, he visited the United States on a tourist trip and recorded his new and popular album, "A Thieves' Share," there. The title track of this album became a hit. He was forced to leave Baku during the Armenian pogroms of December 1989. In early 1996, he lived in Yerevan. He released several albums. That same year, he participated in a live broadcast on Mayak Radio. In 1995, a criminal case was opened against Davidyan for weapons possession, which led to his emigration to the United States. He performed frequently in prisons and toured internationally. He resided permanently in Los Angeles. Davidyan is survived by a wife, a son, two daughters, and four grandchildren, one of whom is the popular singer Zhoka. He died in Los Angeles after a long lung illness at the age of 71.