Life and career

Leonid Margolin was born on September 5, 1957, in Zhitkovichi ,Byelorussian SSR, he is the youngest among the five children of Yuriy Margolin, and his wife, a secretary typist.[1]

Margolin start getting interested where he studied the Bayan. In 1972, after finishing eight grades of secondary school, he studied in a music college in the Mozyr, graduating and became a music director. His work was greatly influenced by the groups such as Pesniary and Deep Purple.[2]

From 1978 to 1980, Margolin served in the Soviet Armed Forces. He was mistakenly assigned to a Construction troops after losing a copy of his music school diploma. At his place of service, in Romantsevo [ru], he founded the vocal and instrumental ensemble “Impulse” at the Romantsevo House of Culture, which he continued to lead even after his discharge from the reserve. Under his direction, “Impulse” won a prize at the All-Union Competition of Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles and was awarded the title of People’s Ensemble.[3]

Since 1998, Margolin has participated in the recording of all of Oleg Mityaev‘s albums as an arranger, accompanist, and backing vocalist. He wrote the music for the album based on Joseph Brodsky‘s poems such as “Neither Country nor Churchyard…”, and for Oleg Mityaev’s songs “Chelyabinsk” and “Grace”.[4][5][6]

Personal life

He was married to Olga Margolina, who died in 2008 by a car accident. They had two daughters together, Natalia and Zhanna.

Margolina died on July 25, 2026 at the age of 68.[7][8]