Irina Loghin shone not only with her strong voice, but also with her captivating beauty, which attracted the attention of Elena Ceaușescu. Today, one of the most talented performers of popular music turns the venerable age of 85 years.
Irina Loghin was born on February 19, 1939 in the commune of Gura Vitioarei in Prahova county. His father was from Bessarabia, and his mother from Prague.
Irina Loghin PHOTO Archive
He had three sisters and two brothers. Together with her husband, the former Greco-Roman wrestling champion, Ion Cernea, she gave birth to two children: Irina and Ciprian.
A personal record is represented by a cassette printed in eight hundred thousand copies, which was sold out in just two days.
In addition to her impressive musical legacy, Irina Loghin has remained an iconic presence in the collective memory, both through her artistic talent and the beauty that marked her early career.
From the first years of her life, she was passionate about singing, and at the age of six she went to school in her hometown, then attended the Art High School in Văleni.
After graduation, she worked as a laboratory technician at the Scaieni Glass Factory, which had a branch in Vălenii de Munte.
For 3 years he won only the first prize
He started singing at balls, together with his sister, Florica, then enrolled at the Popular Art School in Ploieşti, where he would meet Octavian Cristescu, who sensed that his special talent could be honed and encouraged- he will go to Bucharest.
Between 1959-1962, he won first prize in all the local competitions he participated in, and in 1962 he received the “Order of Labor” in Boldeşti-Scăieni.
In the Capital, Irina Loghin participated – following an announcement read by her brother, Ionel, in the newspaper Informationa Bucurestiului – in a contest to occupy a vacant place in the Ciocârlia Ensemble, she and Maria Ciobanu being declared winners out of 210 competitors.
Between 1962 and 1970, the study of music theory, solfeges and music history followed, among the teachers being Geta Mazilu (canto) and Gheorghe Zamfir (theory and solfeges).
In 1963, he made his first recordings with the Radio Popular Music Orchestra, directed by George Vancu, with whom he would begin a close collaboration.
The country's No. 1 performer
In 1970, at the “Golden Deer” Festival, Irina Loghin's voice impressed Amalia Rodriguez, who definitely wanted to meet her, and in 1972, on the stage of the same festival, she was appreciated by Sarita Montiel, writes rador.ro.
In 1974, a survey by Magazin magazine declared her the country's number 1 performer of popular music, and in 1980 it was estimated that her artistic activity brought the country three times more annual income than Republica Factories.
Recorded songs at night
In 1981, he won first place at the National Popular Music Festival in Suceava, in the category of Professional Soloists, and in 1982 he printed an audio cassette in no less than eight hundred thousand copies, which would sell out in just a few days.
There followed, however, a chance meeting with Elena Ceauşescu, at the end of a concert, as a result of which, the dictator's wife's jealousy of his fame and beauty brought him a ban from going on stage, appearing on radio or TV.
However, in the following period, Irina Loghin worked, secretly, in 1985, at the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Ensemble from Suceava, after, in 1984, she recorded – also secretly, at night, 25 songs at Electrecord.
Even in those restrictive conditions, in 1988 he manages to reach America, where he supports a long tour, and in 1989, he supports a series of successful shows in Chisinau.
After the Revolution, Irina Loghin starts appearing on stage again, in shows in the country and on tours abroad.
