Full name: Laima Stanislavovna Vaikule
Date of birth: March 31, 1954
Place of birth: Cēsis, Latvian SSR
Early years and formation
From an early age, Laima showed an interest in music and dance. When she was three, her family moved to Riga. She took part in school and club competitions and sang in ensembles. Her parents hoped she would pursue a medical career, and she studied at a medical college for some time, but music eventually prevailed.
In her youth, Laima performed at resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs, gaining stage experience. At the same time, she studied dance and choreography and later enrolled at the Institute of Theatre Arts, where she studied acting and stage directing.
Collaboration and hits
A key figure in her career was composer Raimonds Pauls, with whom, together with poet Ilya Reznik, she created some of her most famous songs. Hits such as “Vernisazh,” “It’s Not Yet Evening,” and “Fiddler on the Roof” brought her nationwide fame.
Peak of popularity
By the late 1980s, Laima Vaikule had become a star of Soviet pop music. She participated in festivals and competitions, including the prestigious Bratislava Lyre, and received numerous awards. Her performances combined vocals, choreography, and theatrical elements, making her shows unique.
Selected discography
- The first major album featuring the hit “Vernisazh”
- Albums from the 1990s with songs in Russian and Latvian, including “I Went Out on Piccadilly,” “Latin Quarter,” and “Mirror”
- Greatest hits compilations and retrospective albums
- Duets, collaborations, and updated versions of her classics
Interesting facts
- Laima is not only a singer but also an actress, choreographer, and stage director. She places great emphasis on the visual aspects of her shows, costumes, and staging.
- She is one of the founders of the Jurmala festival and organizes her own creative evenings and events.
- Her songs were often performed in multiple languages, and her distinctive voice and style made her popular not only in the Baltics but also in the former USSR and Europe.
- Laima continues to perform actively, celebrating anniversaries, touring, and remaining a bright cultural symbol of her era and contemporary pop music.
