The wife of Raymond Pauls died: a friend remembered the story of their acquaintance in Odessa

The legendary composer Raymond Pauls lost his wife Lana (nee Svetlana Epifanova). She died at the age of 85 after a serious illness. Last year, Lana underwent surgery on her leg, after which she was never able to recover.

The Pauls family in show business has always been called exemplary. The relationship between Raymond and Lana was admired by everyone, including Alla Pugacheva. About how the couple met, MK was told by a close friend of Pauls, a well-known photo artist Igor Grankovsky.

“Raymond has lost his support, the wall,” says Igor Nikolaevich. Everyone knew that Lana was sick. But it was hoped that she would be able to overcome these problems. She was very strong and strong-willed.

Grankovsky has been friends with Pauls for 65 years. It was he who introduced the novice composer to a pretty Odessa woman.

– In my youth, I lived in Odessa and was friends with Lana, – shares Igor Nikolayevich. – She was a prominent, thoroughbred girl, from a good family. Once a week – on Wednesdays – we gathered in some place, played jazz and rock and roll …

Once Raymond came to us in Odessa as part of the Riga variety orchestra.

“Everyone was delighted with him: he played simply virtuoso,” recalls Grankovsky. One day we invited him to a jam session. Raymond played the piano that evening in a hooligan way with all parts of his body – a real balancing act. But he did it so elegantly!

I remember that time we gathered in a luxurious apartment right in the center of Odessa: we played, we drank. And as a snack, we had canned fruit in jars that our parents made.

The next day we invited Raymond to visit our friend, with whom Lana was also friends. There Raymond met his future wife.

He immediately liked Lana. Although that day they really could not communicate. After our meeting, he immediately left for Riga. But Lana inspired him so much that they began to keep in touch. Since then, Pauls often came to Odessa. And then he proposed to her.

According to Grankovsky, Lana was sent to Raymond from above. Because she was able to rid him of addictions. Igor Nikolaevich assures: during this time they did not have a single quarrel.

– Lana is very economic, she adored the house, it was always very comfortable with them, – says Igor Nikolayevich. – Although at first they had to wander.

I remember how they got their first two-storey apartment in Riga. They all set it up together. Lana’s mother arrived, I was. And we all did repairs in this apartment.

From the first days of their life together, Lana became for Pauls a reliable support and a strong rear. She was not jealous of the famous singers with whom he collaborated.

“Everyone fell in love with Raymond from the first time they saw him,” continues Grankovsky. – Pauls generally acted magically on Alla Pugacheva: she immediately became different with him. When Raymond came to Moscow, it was a holiday for Pugacheva. They had exemplary communication with Alla. And how many brilliant works they did together!

By the way, Pauls was very fond of Alla Pugacheva’s mother, Zinaida Arkhipovna. I remember she was in a sanatorium in Peredelkino. And Alla and I went to visit her in my car. Alla’s mother said directly: “Igor, if something happens to me and I leave, I ask you to do everything so that Raymond does not leave Alla’s house.”

Pauls has the ability to bring warmth and positive in everything. And in this, of course, there is the merit of Lana. She provided him with a strong rear and allowed him to think exclusively about creativity! How he will be now without her – it’s even hard to imagine.