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Edita Piekha (Pyekha) is a well-known singer and actress in Russia and the former Soviet Union.
Born Edith-Marie Piecha on July 31, 1937, in Nual-su-Lance, France, her father Stanislaw Piecha was a miner, and her mother Felicia Korolewska was a school teacher. In 1946, young Edita moved to Poland with her mother and stepfather. She studied at the Walbrzych State College of Pedagogy, graduating with honors in 1955 with a major in Russian language. That year, she received a scholarship to continue her studies at Leningrad State University, where she studied psychology and languages while performing in student concerts. Russian composer Aleksandr Bronevitskiy invited her to join his band Druzhba on the popular TV show "New Year's Eve" on December 31, 1955. She gained immediate fame in the Soviet Union with the Polish song "Autobus Czerwony" by renowned composer Wladyslaw Szpilman. Later, she transferred to the Leningrad Conservatory to study singing and acting.
Edita Piekha rose to international prominence at the 1957 Moscow International Festival of Youth and Students, performing in multiple languages including French, Polish, German, and Russian before audiences from 130 countries. She made history with her multilingual rendition of the hit "Moscow Nights" at the festival's closing show. Following the event, Piekha and the ensemble Druzhba released several records. From the 1950s through the 1970s, Piekha and Druzhba were among the Soviet Union’s most celebrated acts.
In 1972, Piekha and Druzhba participated in cultural programs at the XX Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. In 1976, she formed her own band and continued a successful touring and recording career across the Soviet Union. At that time, she was one of the few Soviet artists authorized for international engagements. Since the 1960s, she has toured over 40 countries worldwide and completed more than 30 concert tours in East Germany alone during the 1960s to 1980s.
Piekha was the first Soviet singer to combine singing with dancing on stage, introducing dances like the twist, shake, and rock'n'roll to Soviet audiences. Several of her international tours were managed by the famed impresario Bruno Coquatrix, who invited her to perform at Olympia Hall in Paris. She also undertook high-risk tours in Afghanistan and neighboring Soviet republics during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s.
Honored as a People's Artist of the USSR, Piekha received awards for her cultural contributions. After the Soviet Union's collapse, she remained popular in Russia and other former Soviet states. She continues to perform annual concerts during the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, celebrating her 70th birthday there in July 2007 to sold-out crowds.
Edita Piekha resides in a suburban villa in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her daughter Ilona Bronevitskaya and grandson Stas Pyekha are also well-known singers in Russia.
