Her father, named Boris Mikhailovich Pugachev, was a shoe factory manager in the city of Taldom, Russia. Her mother, named Zinaida Arkhipovna (nee Odegova), was a housewife. She has a junior brother, named Evgeni Borisovich Pugachev.Īt the early age of 5, young Alla Pugacheva made her first public performance at the prestigious Pillar Hall of Palace of Unions in Moscow. From 1956-1965 she studied piano and singing at the music school No31. In 1965, she made her radio debut with the popular song 'Robot' on the Moscow Radio. From 1965-1971 she studied singing and choir directing at Moscow College of Music named after Ippolitov-Ivanov. From 1976-1981 she studied acting and directing at Moscow Institute of Theatrical Art (GITIS) from which she graduated as director. In 1977 Pugacheva made her film debut in the title role in Zhenshchina, kotoraya poyot (1979). She also was a composer for that film under the nickname of 'Boris Gorbonos'. The film was a major box-office hit with attendance of more than 60 million in the Soviet Union. Pugacheva was named the best actress of the USSR for the year 1979. By that time she was already an internationally regarded pop-singer, having awards and recognition from such international music festivals as Sopot-78, MIDEM-1976, Zolotoi Orfei-75, and other.