Laima Vaikule

Laima Vaikule is a popular Latvian actress, singer, director, and choreographer, best known in Europe and in the former USSR for such popular hits as Vernisage and Charlie, among other songs.

She was born on March 31, 1954, in Csis, Latvia. Her parents moved to Riga when she was three. Young Laima was fond of music and dancing. In 1966, at the age of 12, she took part in a competition of young singers and was noticed. Between 1970 and 1973, she studied nursing at the Vilnius Medical College, while also continuing to sing with a band. Eventually she became a lead singer with a local band in Riga, Latvia and worked night gigs at local clubs and restaurants for several years. In the 1980s she studied acting and directing at Moscow State Institute for Theatrical Arts , graduating as actress and director.

Source: Wikipedia