"I was in the right place, and it musta been the right time . . . “
Volodia was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and is of Russian descent. He first picked up a musical instrument at the age of four and has kept music an integral part of his life ever since.
"As a young teen in his hometown of Chirchick, Uzbekistan, I was introduced to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson and Stevie Wonder by local musicians. and was immediately drawn to the harmony, rhythm and energy of their music and since that moment I dreamt of playing music with African Americans". For a young musician from one of the republics of the former Soviet Union during the nineteen-seventies, it was an unrealistic dream.
Fast forward twenty years, past European and Asian Tours with popular band and work as music composer and producer in different parts of the world, to a beautiful summer in 1992. Volodia had taken the opportunity to write music for an international production by The Seattle Peace Theater in United States (Seattle, Washington). During a conversation with one local musician, he learned about a popular jam session location in South Seattle. A few days later he showed up with a guitar and signed his name on the list of performers at the door. He entered the crowded, dark, smoky room where a nine piece band with four horns was performing George Benson's hit "On Broadway”. He had arrived! Volodia did not care that he was the ONLY white person at the club. He had found his people, his place in the universe!
"My heart was pounding from excitement and nervousness, at the thought of going on stage. Who was I to think I could cut it with these guys? I was just a skinny white guy who could barely speak English"
and the room was very, very dark...
At the end of the second set the MC announced his name. As Volodia climbed on stage, one of the musicians asked him what he wanted to play. "I couldn't even see through the fog of my dream, let alone think, so I asked the band to pick a tune for me." The leader of the band called out the tune - "Camellion" by Herbie Hancock and they began to play. " When it came time in the song for me to solo, I was ready. I put together everything I had learned over the years and lit my guitar on fire". Apparently, the crowd liked it. They went wild! "You go boy!", "Come on, white boy!!", "You play that thing!!!",
"He is not a white boy – he is a Black Russian!”
At the end of the tune many guest musicians rushed on stage to shake his hand and introduce themselves. Some of them invited Volodia to play gigs with them right on the spot! "Suddenly I heard a woman's voice asking me to walk off stage to speak with her. She took me to the table where an old gentleman was seated. He got up, shook my hand and said:"Great playing! You got it goin’ on!" The woman then introduced him to me: - This is Al Hendrix, the father of JIMI HENDRIX.!"
"That's what I call being at the right place, at the right time!!!"
Volodia was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and is of Russian descent. He first picked up a musical instrument at the age of four and has kept music an integral part of his life ever since.
"As a young teen in his hometown of Chirchick, Uzbekistan, I was introduced to the music of Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson and Stevie Wonder by local musicians. and was immediately drawn to the harmony, rhythm and energy of their music and since that moment I dreamt of playing music with African Americans". For a young musician from one of the republics of the former Soviet Union during the nineteen-seventies, it was an unrealistic dream.
Fast forward twenty years, past European and Asian Tours with popular band and work as music composer and producer in different parts of the world, to a beautiful summer in 1992. Volodia had taken the opportunity to write music for an international production by The Seattle Peace Theater in United States (Seattle, Washington). During a conversation with one local musician, he learned about a popular jam session location in South Seattle. A few days later he showed up with a guitar and signed his name on the list of performers at the door. He entered the crowded, dark, smoky room where a nine piece band with four horns was performing George Benson's hit "On Broadway”. He had arrived! Volodia did not care that he was the ONLY white person at the club. He had found his people, his place in the universe!
"My heart was pounding from excitement and nervousness, at the thought of going on stage. Who was I to think I could cut it with these guys? I was just a skinny white guy who could barely speak English"
and the room was very, very dark...
At the end of the second set the MC announced his name. As Volodia climbed on stage, one of the musicians asked him what he wanted to play. "I couldn't even see through the fog of my dream, let alone think, so I asked the band to pick a tune for me." The leader of the band called out the tune - "Camellion" by Herbie Hancock and they began to play. " When it came time in the song for me to solo, I was ready. I put together everything I had learned over the years and lit my guitar on fire". Apparently, the crowd liked it. They went wild! "You go boy!", "Come on, white boy!!", "You play that thing!!!",
"He is not a white boy – he is a Black Russian!”
At the end of the tune many guest musicians rushed on stage to shake his hand and introduce themselves. Some of them invited Volodia to play gigs with them right on the spot! "Suddenly I heard a woman's voice asking me to walk off stage to speak with her. She took me to the table where an old gentleman was seated. He got up, shook my hand and said:"Great playing! You got it goin’ on!" The woman then introduced him to me: - This is Al Hendrix, the father of JIMI HENDRIX.!"
"That's what I call being at the right place, at the right time!!!"
Volodia and "No Strings Attached" in 1992
Al Hendrix was sponsoring the talented, young musician Frank Steele, the man who was leading the jam session, and Gail Davis, the lady who called Volodia off stage, was the manager of the band with whom he had just performed. "They asked if I would like to join the band? I had dreamt all my life of this moment, but there was a "little" problem". Volodia was invited to Seattle only for a month, to write music for a production by The Seattle Peace Theatre. Gail told him: “We can help you to stay in Seattle and work with us. Mr. Hendrix will sponsor you to remain in the United States."
Volodia and Frank Steele in Singapore 1995
I'm grateful to Gail Davis and Al Hendrix not only for the opportunity to live in the United States and work with Frank Steele and his band, but in addition to that, during my FIRST gig as a member of Frank's band "No Strings Attached", another beautiful lady came on stage and thanked me for a great performance - she became my wife with whom we had two wonderful children Kyle and Ekaterina!
Volodia and his kids 2021
Now fast forward another 20 years, many performances all over America, many international performances and retirement from long public school teaching career (which was running along Volodias' music career through out his life). Volodia is living, performing (and still teaching!) in Southern Florida! "Of course none of this would be possible without the great teachers I had in my childhood. I am grateful to my Mom and Dad who insisted I begin music lessons at an early age and it is because of them that I practiced every day. I would not be where I am without perseverance and practice! One of my first guitar teachers was Aleksey Chernykh. What a great person and a wonderful guitar player! He taught me all the basics, such as chord voicing and improvisation. Aleksey was also a great guitar technician. From him I learned how to set my guitars properly".
Volodia and Aleksey Chernykh 1976
As a classical guitarist, Volodia received training from Victor Marinov, at music school #2 in Chirchick, Uzbekistan. "He is the most dedicated teacher anyone can find!" And though Volodia graduated from College as a music conductor and classical guitarist, he is crediting Victor Marinov for his achievements in this guitar style. “In 2002, ten years after I left my homeland for Black American music, I had a chance to go back.
One of the first people I visited was my favorite teacher – Victor.”
One of the first people I visited was my favorite teacher – Victor.”
Volodia and Victor Marinov 2012
"Now it is my turn to pass on knowledge to a younger generation. I opened the Learning and Activity Center for kids of all ages. Teaching music is a way to pay back my parents, my mentors and my sponsors for all they have done for me. Wherever I go, I carry them with me in my heart and my music."
V. Vladimirov