Bulat Okudzhava

Bulat Shalvovich Okudzhava (May 9, 1924 – June 12, 1997) was a Soviet poet, writer, and singer-songwriter. He was one of the founders of the Russian genre called "author's song" (авторская песня, avtorskaya pesnya). He was of Armenian-Georgian origin, born in Moscow and died in Paris. He was the author of about 200 songs, set to his own poetry.

In 1969, his lyrics appeared in the classic Soviet film White Sun of the Desert. Its main theme song, "Your Honor Lady Luck" (Ваше благородие, госпожа Удача, music: Isaak Schwarz, lyrics: Bulat Okudzhava, performed by Pavel Luspekaev) became a huge hit. The film is ritually watched by cosmonauts before many space launches.



References:
Wikipedia.