Raimonds Pauls is the most acclaimed of Latvian composers, best known in the former Soviet Union, in Europe and Japan for his popular hits "Million roses" and "Maestro" as well as for his film scores and choral music.
He was born Raymonds Voldemar Pauls on January 12, 1936 in Riga into a family of a glassblower. From 1972 - 1988 conducted professional vocal instrumental music groups - MODO, REMIX. He was editor-in-chief of Latvian Radio music program editorial board, the main director of various Radio music groups, and conducted the Jazz Orchestra of Latvian Radio. From 1988 - 1993 Latvian State minister of culture. From 1993 - counselor to the President of Latvia.
Pauls was interested in music since his childhood. He attended the music school of Emils Darzins. In 1958, Pauls graduated from the Latvian State Conservatoire, Professor H. Braun's piano class. At that time he was already seen as an excellent piano player, he played in restaurants, learning jazz classics and contemporary songs. From 1962 to 1965 Pauls studied composition with Professor Janis Ivanovs. From 1964 to 1971 he conducted the Latvian State Philharmonic's light music orchestra, in which he was also a pianist.
In 1972, he proceeded to create an ensemble of Latvian radio, from which several music groups eventually emerged. Most notably, the group "Modo", in which one of the members was Zigmars Liepins, achieved significant success in Latvia and other parts of the USSR. In the 1970s Raimonds Pauls started his cooperation with Russian singers. He wrote such popular hits as "Maestro" and "Million Roses" for singer Alla Pugacheva, "Listya Zheltye" (aka.. Yellow leaves), "Kabare" and "Polyubite pianista" (aka.. Love the pianist) for Valeriy Leontev among others. Pauls was the composer for popular musical How to Become a Star (1987).
In the 1980's Pauls organized the Yurmala Festival of popular music. He promoted more music groups on the Latvian radio, which later cooperated with newer artists to provide professional help. Raimonds Pauls also had political experience. He has been a member of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR, from 1988 to 1993 he was the Latvian Minister of Culture. In 1993 he became an advisor to the President of Latvia. Since 1998, he had been the Member of Saeima, the Latvian parliament, initially being elected as a leader of the New Party. However, before the 2002 elections, he joined the People's Party and was elected on its party's list in 2002 and 2006. In 1999, Pauls was also one of the candidates for the President of Latvia, but lost the election.
After Latvia gained independence, Pauls continued his musical work, most notably, tight cooperation with children's ensemble Dzeguzite, which is the most popular children's group in Latvia. In 1996, he went on a tour with singer Laima Vaikule, which included concert locations in Moscow, St. Petersburg and New York City.
As of 2004, Pauls has composed music for several musical films and musical theaters, three ballets and over 50 scores for TV, movies and theater productions. CDs with Pauls's music have been released in several countries outside Latvia, including Russia, Finland and Japan
