In a candid recollection, actor Mikhail Boyarsky described his long collaboration with composer Vyacheslav Dobrynin, noting that the partnership began with a hesitant start and a rough, raspy edge in Dobrynin’s voice that once made Boyarsky reluctant to sing. Over time, the musician would push beyond that initial barrier, and the duo grew in confidence, delivering performances and touring together as their work gained momentum and popularity. The singer reflected that their alliance was born from a simple invitation to record a song, a moment that opened a path to a string of collaborations and a shared creative journey.
Boyarsky recalled meeting Dobrynin when he asked him to participate in a recording project. From that encounter came a collection of compositions spanning from Red Horse to Ursa Major, with each piece carrying the imprint of their evolving chemistry. The singer explained that Dobrynin’s admiration for The Beatles played a role in shaping one particular track; he noted that the song I’m Flying Into Your Eyes was crafted under the influence of the Fab Four, a connection that hinted at the playful cross currents of Western rock and Russian melody that characterized much of their work together.
Dobrynin passed away on October 1 after suffering three strokes. He was 78 years old. Boyarsky described him as an easygoing person with a sharp sense of humor, a temperament that endeared him to colleagues and fans alike. The loss marked the end of an era for a creative pairing that helped define a generation of performers and composers in their circle, and many who knew them mourned the absence of a musician who could fuse humor with craft so naturally.
On that same day, singer Mikhail Shufutinsky described how Dobrynin’s song inspired the choir in Igor Nikolaev’s composition Three Septembers, a moment that underscored the broader influence of Dobrynin’s work beyond his own recordings. Shufutinsky also mentioned the line from the well-known song Don’t Rub Salt in My Wounds, a phrase that echoed in conversations about the emotional directness and storytelling embedded in many of the collaborations Dobrynin fostered over the years.
Earlier in his career, Dobrynin was recognized as a producer who helped shape a wave of Russian pop through collaborations with fellow artists, a role that cemented his reputation as a versatile creator who could bridge different styles. His steadiness and willingness to take bold musical chances left a lasting imprint on the music community, and his collaborations with Boyarsky remain a vivid reminder of what can happen when two strong creative personalities come together to explore new sounds and ideas.