Penza, 9 March 2015. PenzaNews. Iosif Kobzon, legendary Russian singer, will perform at the “Penza” cinema and concert hall on April 24.

His concert is a part of the celebrations planned to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the WWII Victory.

The name of Iosif Kobzon needs no introduction, says the “Penzaconcert” website.

He is a People’s Artist of the USSR, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Culture Committee, laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Award, the USSR State Award, and the Russian Government Award in culture, holder of the order “For Merits to The Fatherland” of 1st, 2nd and 3rd degrees, the Order of Valor, the Order of Peoples’ Friendship, full holder of the Ukrainian order “For Merits.”

He started performing on stage in 1958, visited over 100 countries all over the world, made numerous tours throughout the whole ex-USSR territory, and recorded nearly 3,000 songs.

He was inscribed in the Russian Book of Records as the country’s most awarded artist, and bears the title of the citizen of honor in 29 cities of Russia and CIS. A living statue was erected in his honor in Donetsk, and a street and a museum are bearing his name in Chasiv Yar (Ukraine).

Iosif Kobzon is well-known for his hardworking attitude: in a personal record, the concert on his 60th anniversary lasted over 10 hours.