| Boka | |
| Birth Name: | Boris Arkadevich Davidyan |
| Birth Date: | 1949 4, mf=yes |
| Birth Place: | Baku, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union |
| Death Place: | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genre: | Russian chanson |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument: | Vocals |
Boris Arkadevich Davidyan (Armenian: Բորիս Դավիդյան; Russian: Борис Аркадьевич Давидян; April 28, 1949 – July 20, 2020), better known as Boka, was an Armenian singer and songwriter,[1] [2] [3] a well-known performer of "prison-style songs".[4] He was born in Soviet Azerbaijan to an Armenian family.
Boris Davidyan was born on April 28, 1949, to an Armenian family in Baku. His father Arkady Vartanovich was a war veteran who worked as a foreman at a factory. Boka lost his mother very early.[5]
Since childhood he was interested in music. He graduated from a music school, then studied and received a diploma from the Tashkent Automobile and Road Institute.
In 1972, he recorded his first music album in Yerevan. During the Soviet years, he became a very popular soloist with Armenian rabiz, Caucasian, and Russian chanson lovers. In his albums, most of the songs are his own creation, although he also sang compositions by Vladimir Vysotsky and Arkady Severny. He performed his songs with a special oriental flavor. Some sources call him a "classic of chanson".[6]
In 1988, he visited United States and recorded there his new and popular album, "The Thieves' Share" (Russian: link=Yea|Доля воровская). The main composition of this album became a hit and was subsequently performed by many of his fellow soloists.
Born and raised in Baku, he often spoke fondly of his formative years and career beginnings in a city known for its rich tapestry of cultures. Despite the deep-rooted tensions that have historically divided Armenian and Azerbaijani communities, his personal narrative is one of unexpected warmth and inclusivity.
He stated "Regardless of our differences, we all treated each other like family, brothers & sister, mothers & fathers. Regardless of everything we were all united together." Reflecting on his experiences, he painted a picture of a Baku that transcended these divides, offering a space where art and music served as bridges between communities. His journey, emblematic of the Soviet Union's idealistic push for unity among its diverse peoples, showcases how cultural expression can foster a sense of belonging and peace even in the most complex environments.
Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union (USSR), He left from Baku to his home land of Yerevan in December of 1989. At the beginning of 1996 he moved to Los Angeles.[7]
He died on July 20, 2020, in Los Angeles after a long illness of the lungs. He had a son, two daughters and five grandchildren.[8]