The union of Dobronravov and Pakhmutova was blessed by heaven: they went to the registry office in the downpour

The legendary couple lived in a creative and family union for 67 years

The outstanding poet of our time, Nikolai Nikolaevich Dobronravov, has passed away. The songs written in collaboration with his great wife Alexandra Nikolaevna Pakhmutova were sung by the entire Soviet Union, and many of the songs were known by the whole world. “Our Youth Team”, “A Coward Doesn’t Play Hockey”, “Tenderness” (co-authored with Sergei Grebennikov), “Goodbye, Moscow, Goodbye”, “Belovezhskaya Pushcha”, “Bird of Happiness”, “We Can’t Live Friend” without a friend”, “Do you know what kind of guy he was?”, “You are my melody” and much, much more became the golden fund of Russian culture. Literally all the stars of the USSR and Russia performed songs, starting from Muslim Magomayev and Joseph Kobzon.

Nikolai Nikolaevich and Alexandra Nikolaevna had a long, faithful, happy family life. Nikolai Nikolaevich once told me about their acquaintance and decision to marry:

“We met at the radio while working, and that’s how we met. The editor introduced us to each other and said: well, you’re a poet, she’s a composer, try working together.”

The first joint song of the young authors was the composition “Motor Boat”.

The marriage of young people can even be called hasty.

“Everything happened somehow very quickly,” Nikolai Nikolaevich said, “they decided to sign and signed.” It wasn’t like it’s accepted now: let’s just live together first, see if we’re right for each other. Besides, we had nowhere to live: neither Alya nor me. We signed and immediately left for a month and a half at sea.

Alexandra Nikolaevna also recalled her honeymoon with tenderness. “We left for Abkhazia,” she said dreamily.

“Perhaps it was the most wonderful time,” admitted Nikolai Dobronravov, “Sun, sea, our friends were with us…

He also remembered an amazing sign from above:

— When we were going to the registry office, suddenly it started to rain so much! Such torrential rain! They say this is a good omen that promises a long and happy life together,” Dobronravov said.

And indeed, the couple lived together for 67 years in love, harmony and creative unity. The great husband always called his great wife “Alenka.”

We express our deepest sympathy to the legend of the Russian and world music world, Alexandra Nikolaevna Pakhmutova.