This day in Russian history and the History of the world.

March 24

March 24, 1906: Klavdiya Shulzhenko, a popular female singer of the Soviet Union was born. During World War II, Shulzhenko performed about a thousand concerts for Soviet soldiers in besieged Leningrad and elsewhere.

The lyrics of one of her prewar songs, "The Blue Headscarf", were adapted so as to suit wartime realities.

Another iconic song of the Great Patriotic War, "Let's Smoke", was later used by Vladimir Menshov in his Oscar-winning movie Moscow Does Not Believe In Tears. On April 10, 1976 Shulzhenko performed to enraptured audience in the Column Hall of the House of Unions in what would become her most famous concert.

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