Biography

Early years and theatrical career

1. 1918 (October 19)

   Born in Ekaterinoslav (later Dnipropetrovsk, now Dnipro) into a Jewish family. His father, Aron Samuilovich Ginzburg, worked as an economist at a factory during the Soviet era; his mother, Feyga Berkovna Veksler, worked at the Moscow Philharmonic and later as an administrator at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.

2. 1918

   The family relocates to Sevastopol.

3. 1923

   The family moves to Moscow.

4. 1932

   Publishes his first poem in the Pionerskaya Pravda newspaper and participates in Eduard Bagritsky’s children's poetry circle.

5. 1935

   Enters the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute and, shortly after, joins the Stanislavsky Opera and Drama Studio.

6. 1939

   Joins Alexey Arbuzov’s Theater-Studio.

7. 1941

   Declared unfit for military service due to health. He joins a geological exploration party traveling to Grozny, then moves to Chirchiq near Tashkent, and actively participates in a frontline theater troupe.

8. 1941

   Marries actress Valentina Arkhangelskaya.

9. 1942

   The theater troupe returns to Moscow; Galich participates in productions as both an actor and a songwriter.

10. 1943

    His daughter, Aliona Arkhangelskaya, is born.

11. 1946

    Decides to focus completely on playwriting. His first plays begin to emerge.

12. 1946

    Creates the pen name "Galich," formed from the letters of his full birth name: Ginzburg Alexander Archievich (Arkadyevich).

13. 1947

    Achieves his first major theatrical success with the play Taimyr Calls You («Вас вызывает Таймыр»).

14. 1949

    His marriage to Arkhangelskaya dissolves; he marries Angelina Shekrot (Prokhorova).

15. 1950s

    His plays are staged across numerous theaters nationwide. Movies based on his screenplays hit Soviet theaters, including True Friends («Верные друзья»), On Seven Winds («На семи ветрах»), Give Me a Book of Complaints («Дайте жалобную книгу»), and Running on Waves («Бегущая по волнам»).

16. 1955

    Admitted to the USSR Union of Writers.

17. 1957

    Admitted to the USSR Union of Cinematographers.

18. 1964

    Awarded an official certificate of honor by the Soviet KGB for his screenplay of the film State Criminal («Государственный преступник»).

The bard, persecution, and emigration

1. 1961

   The birth of the true Galich. He writes his first iconic underground guitar song, Lenochka («Леночка»).

2. 1968

   Performs at the infamous festival in the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, singing In Memory of Pasternak («Памяти Пастернака»). He wins the Grand Prix of the festival.

3. 1968

   The beginning of his fall from official grace. Galich's songs are publicly denounced as slanderous. From this point on, he can only perform them live at private, underground apartment concerts («квартирники») for friends and trusted acquaintances.

4. 1969

   His works are published abroad without his consent by the anti-Soviet émigré publishing house Posev (NTS).

5. 1971

   An official state campaign of persecution is launched against him. On December 29, 1971, the secretariat of the Moscow branch of the Union of Writers votes unanimously to expel Galich from the Union.

6. 1972

   Expelled from the Union of Cinematographers and the Literary Fund. His health deteriorates, suffering several heart attacks, and he faces severe financial hardship.

7. 1974

   After numerous visa denials, Soviet authorities finally push him out of the country on an Israeli visa. Galich's name is systematically scrubbed from all Soviet movie credits, and his texts are strictly banned.

8. 1974

   Begins hosting his own regular radio program, “Galich at the Microphone…” on Radio Liberty, and joins the editorial board of the prominent émigré literary journal Continent.

9. 1975

   Moves to Munich to head the cultural section of Radio Liberty.

10. 1976

    Relocates to Paris.

11. 1977 (December 15)

    Dies tragically in his Paris apartment. The official verdict is accidental electrocution while connecting a stereo antenna. Widespread suspicions persist that it was an assassination orchestrated by the KGB. He is buried at the Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery near Paris.