Nina Arkadyevna Shatskaya was born in Rybinsk to the jazz musician, singer and conductor Arkady Shatsky.[4] It was in his band Raduga (Радуга, Rainbow)[5] that she has made her singing debut. A strict disciplinarian (who for many years was unwilling to support her ambition to become a professional singer), he proved in retrospect to be a perfect mentor and a major inspiration.[6] "I was kind of a homely girl; I liked to knit and sew. Besides, I was overweight.