Aleksey Hekimyan

Aleksey Hekimyan, also Alexey Ekimyan and Alexey Gurgenovich Hekimyan (May 10, 1927 – April 24, 1982) was a famous Armenian-Russian composer, and author of popular songs. Hekimyan was also a General of Soviet militsia (police) and was the head of Criminal Investigation Department of Moscow region. Hekimyan was considered the only popular composer in the world who ruled a law-enforcement department at the same time. Hekimyan was awarded by the "Renowned Master of the Arts" Armenian SSR official title.

Born in Baku, Hekimyan's first song for the Moscow International Festival (1957) was approved by Vano Muradeli ("I don't know if you would become a general, but you would become a composer!"). Hekimyan's songs were performed and recorded by prominent Soviet singers that include Lyudmila Zykina ("I don't need another love"), Iosif Kobzon, Lusine Zakaryan, Muslim Magomayev ("Save the friends"), Sofia Rotaru, Vakhtang Kikabidze, Ruben Matevosian ("Gharabaghtsin").

Among his most famous songs are - "Listopad", "Vsya jizn' vperedi", "Sonjachnyj doshh", "Odinochestvo" (written by poets Robert Rozhdestvensky, Rasul Gamzatov, and others). Aram Khachaturian wrote: "The melodies of Ekimyan are amazingly beautiful, expressive, plastic and always natural". Some hits by Hekimyan were chosen for the "Song of the Year" at all-Soviet festivals during the 1970s-'80s. Hekimyan's "Do not be sad" hit was used as a songtrack for the "Nu Pogodi" Soviet animated film series.

Hekimyan suffered a heart attack and died on April 24, 1982 in Moscow. He is buried in Yerevan, Armenia.