Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin was one of the most commercially successfulFinnish musicians. His career spanned from the late 1960s right up to his death in 2007. Previously associated with Ilkka Lipsanen's The Islanders band, Kirka went on to record a wide array of rock and pop music. Some of his most famous songs include Hetki Lyö, Leijat and Varrella virran. His 1988 album Surun Pyyhit Silmistäni went on to be one of the best sold records in Finnish history. He also represented Finland in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest.
Early life
Kirill Babitzin was born in Helsinki in 1950 to a Russian family. His father, Leon Babitzin was from St. Petersburg and fled to Finland in the aftermath of the October Revolution. His mother, Elizaveta Babitzin was partially of German-Russian descent and was born in Lappeenranta. He first got into music at the age of five when his grandmother gave him an accordion. He won an accordion competition at the age of ten.
Musical career
His first band was The Creatures, which he joined in 1964 assuming stage name Kirka. Kirka began attaining fame when he joined the bandThe Islanders in 1967. Originally led by Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen, the band became hugely popular. Kirka also recorded with Blues Section. Kirka used his fame to launch into a solo career soon-after. Kirka cited his 1960's breakthrough Hetki lyö with The Islanders as his greatest achievement. Despite his initial success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kirka suffered from money-troubles through the late 1970s. Kirka represented Finland in Eurovision Song Contest 1984, finishing a strong ninth with the song Hengaillaan. Four years later, he got his greatest chart success with Surun pyyhit silmistäin, a melancholic pop-schlager. True to his rock'n'roll roots, however, he never fully appreciated this success, repeatedly Babitzin was awarded the Emma award for best male singer twice, first in 1984 and then in 2000. He died suddenly on 31 January 2007 at his home of undisclosed acute illness. His widow Paula Nummela is a jewellery designer.
Family
Several Babitzin siblings are established musicians in their own right. In 1978, Kirka released a duet album with sister Anna; the next year, another sister Marija joined in. Kirka's brother was popular rock musicianSammy Babitzin, who was killed in a car crash in 1973. Sammy's signature hitDaada daada tells a story of high-speed automotive cruising.
Discography
Kirka Babitzin released 78 singles and almost 60 albums, including 15 collections. Kirka's album Surun pyyhit silmistäni became the biggest selling album in Finnish history; it has now been relegated to all-time third place.
