Shura (singer) Biography: Age, Girlfriend, Net Worth, Songs, Albums, Height, Career Struggles

Shura, whose full name is Alexander Vladimirovich Medvedev, is a Russian dance-pop singer and songwriter known for his flamboyant stage persona and hits like “Do Not Believe in Tears” and “Do Good.”

Rising to fame in the late 1990s, his unconventional appearance and bold performances made him a polarizing yet iconic figure in Russian music, despite personal struggles with health and addiction.

Profile

• Full Name: Alexander Vladimirovich Medvedev
• Stage Name: Shura
• Born: May 20, 1975
• Age: 50 years old
• Birthplace: Novosibirsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
• Nationality: Russian
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m)
• Parents: Svetlana Medvedeva, Vladimir Medvedev
• Siblings: Mikhail Medvedev
• Spouse: Liza Ermolkina
• Children: None
• Relationship: Dating
• Net Worth: $500,000 to $2 million USD

Early Life and Education

Shura, a distinguished singer, was born on May 20, 1975, in Novosibirsk, Soviet Union, to Svetlana Medvedeva and Vladimir Medvedev. His parents met when his mother was 17 and his father was 20, but separated shortly after his birth.

Svetlana remarried Nikolay Dudchenko, and Shura’s biological father was absent from his life. Shura’s younger brother, Mikhail, knocked out his front teeth during a childhood altercation, contributing to his distinctive appearance.

Shura was expelled from high school after seventh grade, receiving a certificate of incomplete secondary education. He later studied design and floristry in Riga, Latvia, earning a master’s diploma in ikebana, but lacked formal musical training.

Career

Shura’s career began at 13, performing at the “Rus” restaurant in Novosibirsk, where his outrageous outfits—black fringed sweaters, platform shoes, and long coats—earned him the nickname “Yellow Suitcase.” After moving to Moscow in the mid-1990s, he posed as a foreign pop star to gain attention. His debut album, Shura (1997), produced with composer Pavel Yesenin, included hits like “Cold Moon” and “Summer Rains Ended,” which topped Russian charts.

His 1998 follow-up, Shura-2, featured “Do Not Believe in Tears,” earning a Golden Gramophone Award. His eurodance style, marked by feminine outfits and an androgynous persona, defined the late 1990s. At his peak, he toured extensively across Russia. In the early 2000s, Shura’s career stalled due to testicular cancer, requiring surgery and 18 rounds of chemotherapy, costing $1 million in Russian and Swiss clinics. He was wheelchair-bound during a four-year recovery and struggled with drug addiction, losing his Moscow apartment to scammers in 2019.

He returned in 2000, appearing on shows like You Are a Superstar! (2007, NTV) and One to One! (2015, Russia-1), where his performance of “Let’s Pray for Parents” with Soso Pavliashvili moved audiences. In 2015, he celebrated 20 years on stage. By 2025, he has focused on smaller performances and TV appearances, maintaining a loyal fanbase despite past controversies over his perceived homosexuality, later clarified as a PR stunt.

Awards and Nominations

• 1998: Golden Gramophone Award for “Do Not Believe in Tears”
• 2001: Golden Gramophone Award for “Do Good”
• Song of the Year Performances: “Do Not Believe in Tears,” “Summer Rains Ended”
• Other Awards: “Artist,” “Winter Winter,” and “Heaven for Us” received unspecified music awards

His peak in the late 1990s marked him as a leading figure in Russian eurodance, though no recent awards are documented.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @shuramedvedev

Personal Life

Shura, a 50-year-old Taurus, has been in a relationship with Liza Ermolkina since 2010, introduced publicly in May 2010, dispelling earlier rumors about his sexual orientation, which he admitted was a PR stunt. He has no children and is not married.

His drug addiction in the 2000s led to financial losses, including a 45-million-ruble Moscow apartment gifted to scammers in 2019, with his 2019 court claim rejected. Shura does not communicate with his mother, Svetlana, but supports her financially through relatives. His grandmother, Vera Mikhailovna, was a key influence, and he honors her memory, calling her a “holy woman.”

Discography

• Shura (1997) – Includes “Cold Moon,” “Summer Rains Ended”
• Shura-2 (1998) – Includes “Do Not Believe in Tears”
• Fairy Tale (2001) – Includes “Do Good”
• Thank You (2002)
• News (2012)
• Notable Singles: “Artist,” “Winter Winter,” “Heaven for Us,” “Let’s Pray for Parents” (with Soso Pavliashvili)

Net Worth

Shura’s estimated net worth is $500,000 to $2 million USD. His income stems from album sales, concert tours in the 1990s, and TV appearances. His financial losses from cancer treatment ($1 million) and losing his Moscow apartment to scammers in 2019 impacted his wealth.