User:Pellky/Avraam russo

Russian pop superstar Avraam Russo was born in 1969. He was given a second chance at life in 2006, after an assassination attempt in Moscow that remains unsolved to this day.

Avraam Russo’s story begins in Syria, where he was born to Jean, a WWII veteran of the French Foreign Legion, and his wife Marie, a nurse. Devoutly religious, the couple named their newborn son after the father of the faithful, Abraham, and it was Marie’s passionate wish that her youngest son would one day enter the ministry. Jean passed away when Avraam was just seven, forcing Marie to take on three jobs to support the family. She eventually moved to Lebanon with her two sons, then to Paris, and back to Lebanon, so that Avraam could enter a monastery.

Avraam held a deep faith and loved his studies at the monastery, and as he grew up he also discovered an extraordinary ability to sing. Though still a young teen, Avraam’s obvious talent and easy connection with his audience soon made him a favorite at regional music festivals. Upon completion of his schooling, Avraam followed his heart into the professional music world. His romantic good looks, affable personality and sterling vocals won the young performer legions of fans, and he quickly found himself in high demand throughout the Middle East, Europe and finally, North America.

While performing in The Temple, a prestigious nightclub in Cyprus, he was approached by an influential Russian businessman who offered him a lucrative contract to live and perform in Moscow. A recording contract with one of the biggest companies in Russia followed, as did meteoric radio and CD sales success.

The single I Know spent a record-breaking 15 weeks at #1. His follow-up hit, Love is Not Here Anymore (a duet with Russian pop star Kristina Orbakaite) soared to #1 in 2001, making Avraam Russo a household name throughout the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Avraam capped the year with yet another #1 smash, Amor. In 2002, a second duet with Orbakaite, Simply To Love You, delighted both fans and critics, and was followed by Wedding Song, Far Far Away and many others.

In 2006, Avraam was at the peak of his popularity. He was on par with the fame of Michael Jackson or Elvis in Russia; sales of album copies would ultimately top 10 million worldwide. He toured incessantly, performing more than 220 shows per year. Industry accolades followed ecstatic press reviews. He performed before heads of state and the Pope, and was named a national hero in 2008 by the President of South Ossetia for his selfless performances in the war zone. The Russian edition of Cosmopolitan even named him “Most Attractive Male Performer.” He was untouchable, or so he thought.

After performing at the opening of a new casino in Moscow, Avraam and his bodyguard started off on the short drive back to the home he shared with his wife, Morela, who was four months pregnant at the time. Less than 50 feet from the gates of his driveway, a man stepped out of the shadows with an automatic rifle. Avraam heard the pop of gunfire and felt the bullets burn into his leg, then a deep numbness. He remembers his bodyguard screaming “Floor it, floor it!” and somehow Avraam managed to slam the accelerator down and drive out of the danger. Avraam finally stopped the car and immediately lost consciousness.

The bodyguard pulled Avraam into the back seat, took the wheel and rushed Avraam to the hospital, where multiple operations to save him left him weak, and with a poor prognosis for recovery. He lost 3.5 liters of blood —most people would perish if they lost 2 liters—and his leg was badly mangled. His physician told him, “You will never walk again; you will probably lose your leg; you may lose your life.” Press coverage of the shooting was massive. Avraam was on the cover of every major magazine and newspaper in Russia. Fans held vigils, sent flowers and cards, and prayed.

By no less than a miracle, Avraam slowly recovered and learned to walk again. He left the hospital, and knowing the attacker was still at large, moved his family out of the country and to New York City. It was there that Morela gave birth to the couple’s first child, Emanuella, which means “God is with us.” There was no doubt in Avraam’s mind who had delivered him from his near-death encounter.

Avraam began thinking deeply about this experience, and about his gratitude for the gift of a second chance. He had always trusted God, but recognized that his career had not always honored Him, so he made a conscious decision to start down a new path. His re-found faith led him directly to inspirational music, and to Nashville, TN—a world hub for some of Christian music’s top writers, producers and musicians. His fourth CD, passionately performed and aptly named Resurrection, reflects the fine work of some of Nashville’s top-tier talent, who combined forces to deliver a work that features great spiritual depth. It is Avraam’s first English-language CD (he speaks seven languages in all, and sings in nine).

In the spirit of giving back, Avraam has also partnered with Invisible Children, an organization dedicated to raising global awareness of the tragedy of Africa’s child-soldiers, who are both weapons and victims in the war-ravaged region. A portion of the proceeds from Resurrection’s first single, Peace, will be donated to the organization.