Putin the jazz singer on Blueberry Hill-Russia

Sing-along-a-Vlad: now Putin is Blueberry Hill crooner of the Kremlin

By MAIL ON SUNDAY REPORTER
Last updated at 11:01 AM on 12th December 2010

Is there no end to Vladimir Putin’s talents? The Russian Prime Minister already has a reputation as an accomplished fighter-jet pilot and Siberian tiger-hunter, and is a black belt in judo. Now you can add jazz crooner to the list.

The 58-year-old former KGB chief stunned an audience at a charity event on Friday that included Sharon Stone and Kevin Costner with his rendition of Blueberry Hill.

‘Like an overwhelming majority of people, I can neither sing nor play but I very much like doing it,’ he said modestly after being urged by the event’s host to get up on stage and perform. After playing the opening notes to the Fats Domino hit on the piano, he stepped up to the microphone and sang.

Putin on a show: The former KGB officer showcases his talents on the piano

Putin, described as ‘alpha-dog’ in diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, is reported to have sung patriotic songs to a group of Russian agents after they were expelled from America in July. But before Friday’s show in St Petersburg, his musical prowess had not been noted.

His spokesman said he learned the lyrics to Blueberry Hill as part of his English language studies.

At the show, Putin also tried to play a Soviet-era song called From Where The Motherland Begins but hit a wrong key and stopped.

Entertainer: The event was a charity concert for children suffering from eye diseases and cancer

The former KGB officer has previously been photographed in a series of PR pictures on holiday.

Three years ago he was seen fishing bare-chested on a Siberian river as he entertained Prince Albert of Monaco on an outdoor pursuits holiday.

They weren't the first images of the former Russian president holidaying in bare-chested in Siberia.

Images of a shirtless Putin fishing in a Siberian river caused a stir when they were published two years ago. The pictures sealed his fate as a pin-up for men and women alike.

He was seen showing off his torso again last year during a camping holiday in Siberia as he displayed his love of physical activity by snapping twigs over his knee for firewood and taking a brisk dip in a Siberian lake.

Outdoor pursuits: Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin swims in a lake in southern Siberia's Tuva region in 2009

A dog's life: Vladimir Putin performs a strange pose with Buffy. The animal was given to him by the Bulgarian Prime Minister

The athletic politician demonstrated his trademark judo moves at a dojo school in St Petersburg, using a a sweeping hip throw on a succession of opponents.

He even released his own judo DVD two years ago, called 'Learn judo with Vladimir'.

The photographic display of Putin's masculinity has included images of him fishing shirtless, shooting a tiger with a tranquiliser dart, horseriding, racing a truck, driving a train, piloting a fighter jet and a commanding a submarine.

Meanwhile, the Russian Prime Minister re-named his dog Buffy after holding a nationwide naming contest.

Announcing the name - his favourite from thousands - Putin performed a bizarre dog-like pose.

The animal was given to him as a present by Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov after the two states agreed a deal over an energy pipeline.

Former President Boris Yeltsin famously performed a stiff and awkward dance at a rock concert in 1996 as he approached elections.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1337872/Sing-Vlad-Now-Putin-Blueberry-Hill-crooner-Kremlin.html#ixzz17v0ZgJuc