M. Magomayev, Soviet-era pop, opera singer

MOSCOW - Soviet-era opera and pop singer Muslim Magomayev died yesterday in Moscow, the Russian government said.

He was 66.

The government gave no details on the death of the Azerbaijan-born baritone, but the ITAR-Tass news agency cited his widow, Tamara Sinyavskaya, as saying he died at his Moscow apartment after a long illness.

President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia expressed his condolences in the Kremlin statement.

Azerbaijan's APA news agency reported in July that Mr. Magomayev had heart disease.

Mr. Magomayev - often pictured with a cigarette in hand - was born in 1942 in the capital of Baku when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union. He once said he considered Azerbaijan to be his father and Russia his mother.

He started his career as an opera singer, but sold millions of albums and concert tickets after switching to popular music.

His fame was at its peak in the 1960s and '70s, and Mr. Magomayev received state awards for his work.

In 1975, Mr. Magomayev became the artistic director of Azerbaijan's State Bandstand-Symphonic Orchestra, which performed concerts internationally, including in Canada, France, and Iran.

His grandfather, also named Muslim, was a composer of opera and folk music.

A funeral was planned for Wednesday in Moscow.