Batyrkhan Shukenov
Batyrkhan Kamaluly Shukenov was a Soviet Kazakhstan and Russian singer, musician, composer, and poet. Shukenov was co-founder and lead singer of the Kazakh-Russian pop music group A-Studio from 1987 until 2000. After leaving the group in 2000, he began his solo career.
In 1985, he joined the Soviet Army to serve as part of the 12th HQ Military Band of the Central Asian Military District. In 2010, he received the title of "Honored Worker of Arts of Kazakhstan". He was the first UNICEF Goodwill ambassador in Kazakhstan, from 2009–2015.
Batyrkhan Shukenov died at age 52 in his apartment in Moscow from a heart attack. He was buried in his native Kazakhstan. On 29 April 2015 in Moscow, the ceremony of farewell to Shukenov was attended by hundreds of people. In Almaty, thousands of fans gathered in the square in front of the Palace singing his songs.
