Edita Stanislavovna Piekha, born on July 31, 1937, in Noyelles-sous-Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France, is a Soviet and Russian singer and actress of Polish descent. She moved to Leningrad in 1955 to study psychology and formed the ensemble Druzhba with composer Aleksandr Bronevitsky. They gave their first TV performance in 1955 with the song "Autobus czerwony". Her breakthrough came at the 6th World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow in 1957, where she won a Gold Medal and First Prize with Druzhba. She released her debut studio album Эдита Пьеха in 1964. Her international fame grew with performances of songs like "Moscow Nights" and "Ogromnoe nebo", which she sang in multiple languages. She toured extensively, performing in over 20 countries, including notable appearances at Carnegie Hall and the Paris Olympia. She was awarded the title People's Artist of the USSR in 1988.
