Lyudmila Zykina

Beginning in 1960 she performed solo. She befriended Ekaterina Furtseva, the powerful Minister of Culture of the Soviet Union, and was reputed to be a favourite singer of Leonid Brezhnev. It is known she was a particular favourite of both Kim Il-sung and his son Kim Jong-il, performing in Pyongyang six times at the invitation of the Kims. It was also reported that Kim Jong-il was so fond of Zykina that he invited her to Pyongyang in 2008 in hopes that her performance would help him recover from illness. Olga Voronets was considered Zykina's main rival. Among Zykina's many honors were the Lenin Prize (1970) and Order of Lenin (1979) as well as the titles of People's Artist of the USSR (1973) and Hero of Socialist Labour (1987). According to Dmitri Shostakovich, Zykina was "more than a brilliant interpreter, she was a coauthor, co-creator of composers". Her signature songs include Techot Volga and Orenburgskii platok. The asteroid 4879 Zykina is named after her.

Lyudmila Zykina studied at Ippolitov-Ivanov State Musical Pedagogical Institute and Gnessin Russian Academy of Music. The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is singing and music education. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are estrada, traditional folk music, romance and Russian folk song. Distinctions recorded are Order of Lenin, Hero of Socialist Labour, Order of the Badge of Honour and People's Artist of the USSR.

• Name — Lyudmila Zykina • Birth Name — Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina • Born — 10 June 1929 • Birthplace — Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union • Died — 1 July 2009 • Place of death — Moscow, Russia • Resting Place — Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow • Occupation — Singer • Known for — Performance of Russian folk songs and Soviet estrada • Years Active — 1947–2009 • Title — * Hero of Socialist Labour (1987) • People's Artist of the USSR (1973) • Awards — * Order of St. Andrew (Russia) • Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (Russia; 1st, 2nd, 3rd class) • Order of Lenin (USSR ×2) • Order of the Badge of Honour (USSR) • Lenin Prize (1970) • Illustration — President Vladimir Putin awards the Order of St. Andrew to Zykina, 15 June 2004

The singer suffered from severe diabetes for many years. In 2007, she underwent major hip replacement surgery. As a result of complications from diabetes, Zykina developed acute cardiorenal failure. On June 25, 2009, she was admitted to intensive care in serious condition; a few days before her death she suffered a heart attack, and on July 1, 2009, she died at the age of 80. The farewell ceremony for Lyudmila Zykina was held on July 3 at the P. I. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow. The funeral service took place on July 4 at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. With military honors, the singer was buried that same day at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.

The authorities additionally record the heading Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina. Her recorded language was Russian. Her recorded confession was Eastern Orthodoxy.

Lyudmila Zykina is recorded as actress, singer and music educator.