Post date: Dec 11, 2010 3:30:35 PM
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sings at charity concert attended by Hollywood stars.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 10, 2010) RU-RTR - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin sang a Louis Armstrong number and played piano at a charity concert in St. Petersburg on Friday (December 10).
The event was to raise money for children with cancer and eye diseases. The star studded concert audience included Sharon Stone, Kevin Costner and Mickey Rourke.
Putin was sitting at the table when the host of the concert asked him if he can perform something for the
audience."I, as the vast majority of people, can not sing or play [musical instruments] but I love doing it. So you will have to put up with it," Putin said before going up to the stage to play the famous Russian song "From Where the Motherland Begins" on the piano. After the Russian song, he stood up to sing the Louis Armstrong classic "Blueberry Hill" accompanied by a jazz band.
Earlier on Friday (December 10) some of the Hollywood stars, including Mickey Rourke, visited St.Petersburg children hospitals. Rourke brought children presents together with Santa Claus. At a news conference the actor said he rarely participated in charity events.
"I think it is very popular in the [United] States that a lot of different celebrities get involved with a lot of different charities. But I don't think they really believe in the charity," he said.
At the finale of the charity concert celebrities and premier Putin stood on stage to sing "Grass Near My Home". The song - a famous Russian 80s pop hit - is about cosmonauts in space being homesick, usually played at Baikonur cosmodrome for Russian cosmonauts before takeoff.