Leonid K. Erdman - Strela

Leonid “Lyonya“ Erdman was a schoolmate of my mother’s at Moscow State Conservatory. He ended up becoming a mathematician and songwriter. I saw him only a handful of times in my life, and to a child, he presented a ferocious image: Lyonya had one eye, fiery beard and as I recall, drunk coffee by buckets. Naturally he was expected to bring his guitar and sing a few songs for the admiring audience of friends. I heard he passed away a f