Oleksij Kerekesha
Oleksij Kerekesha is a Ukrainian composer and lead singer of the popular group Fata Morgana. His first solo album was Ne Zavydui. In this album, he blends the haunting words of Taras Shevchenko with modern musical influences.
Biography
Oleksij Kerekesha holds a B.A. in music from the Kiev State Institute of Culture. Influenced by Western pop rock music, particularly groups like Pink Floyd, he began composing at an early age, combining Ukrainian lyricism with modern musical influences.
In 1987, Kerekesha created a new musical group in Kiev called Fata Morgana. The group was thrust into the limelight with Kerekesha's original compositions set to the lyrics of Taras Shevchenko. Greatly influenced by Shevchenko, Kerekesha's new music quickly became the trademark of the group. "Hamalia," one of the earliest compositions, was consistently on the "Top 40" charts in Ukraine and has become one of the most popular Ukrainian songs of the decade, both in Ukraine and in North America.
Fata Morgana arrived in the United States in 1991. Since then, Kerekesha's music and the popularity of Fata Morgana has continued to grow.