Kirka

Kirill "Kirka" Babitzin (Russian Кирилл Бабицын, 22 September 1950 – 31 January 2007) was a Finnish vocalist and musician.

Previously associated with Ilkka Lipsanen's The Islanders band, Kirka went on to record a wide array of rock and pop music.

Some of his most famous songs include Hetki Lyö (Beat the Clock), Leijat (Kites) and Varrella virran (Down by the River).

His 1988 album Surun Pyyhit Silmistäni (The Sadness in Your Eyes) went on to be one of the best sold records in Finnish history.

His mother, Elizaveta Babitzin (née Zarubina) was partially of German-Russian descent and was born in Lappeenranta.

Kirka's brother was popular rock musician Sammy Babitzin, who was killed in a car crash in 1973.

Kirka performing in the 1960s
Kirka performing at Child in Time 2000 rock musical in Rajamäki , Nurmijärvi , Finland in 1971
Kirka in 1989
Kirka and Frank Robson preparing a recording (Nykyaikaa) in 1972