Youddiph

Youddiph
Birth name	Maria Lvovna Katz
Born	(1973-01-23) 23 January 1973 Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Union
Occupation(s)	Singer, back vocalist
Years active	1989 - present
Associated acts	Maryland, Лига Блюза
Website	http://mashakatz.ru/

Masha Katz (Russian: Маша Кац, also known as Youddiph, Russian: Юдифь, literally Judith, full name Maria Lvovna Katz, Russian: Мария Львовна Кац; 23 January 1973, Moscow) is a Russian singer. She is most known for representing Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 held in Dublin. It was the first Russian performance in this contest ever.

Biography

Maria or Masha was born on 23 January 1973 in Moscow. At the age of 13 she formed her first group performing heavy metal songs. In 1989 she met with the famous poet Karen Kavaleryan who helped her to launch a professional career. For the next 5 years Maria worked as a backing vocalist for numerous Russian artists and groups.

In 1994 she represented Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the song "Vyechniy stranik" (Вечный странник). Maria performed 23rd at the final night and ranked 9th with 70 points. Later that year she released her first album entitled "Magic Word".

Maria continued to work with various musicians and formed a duo with a Russian drummer under the name "Beauty and the Beast". In 1997 she created a new group, called "Maryland". The group made an album in 1998 entitled Ryzhiy blues (Russian: Рыжий Блюз - Ginger Blues). In 2000 she was presented with two important music awards while creating her own music company.

Maria also dubbed musicals and films for the Russian television and cinema, including Anastasia, for which she was presented with a special prize of 20th Century Fox for the best native language performance. Nowadays Maria continues to sing in clubs, doing backing vocals for famous singers and works as a vocal coach.

The Voice Blind Audition

Polina Gagarina was the first to press the button and turn her chair. Russia’s latest Eurovision star was shocked to see its first. Alexander Gradsky, who already holds already three victories as a coach, easily recognised Youddiph by her voice and because of that didn’t press the red button. That would’ve been a little awkward for him.

External links

• Official website
• Вечный странник
• www.esckaz.com/russia/1994e.htm
• www.eurovision.tv
• Youddiph at the Internet Movie Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by N/A	Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994	Succeeded by Philipp Kirkorov with "Kolibelnaya dlya vulkana"