Most of us are used to singers becoming actors—and vice versa—but it isn't often when a Communist belts out songs of love for charity. Today, a recording by former USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev sold for $164, 940 to a “British philanthropist” in the streets of London. The seven-song album, called Songs for Raisa, contains a series of romantic ballads that were favorites of his wife Raisa, who died in 1999.
It seems that Gorbachev is donating the proceeds to a good cause—the CD was sold at a charity auction in honor of the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation—and the money will go towards helping children with cancer. Perhaps even more interesting (and more absurd) was the moment when Mikhail Gorbachev wowed an audience of 350 (including JK Rowling), performing the song “Old Letters” live off the album.
