In 1973, film director Andrei Konchalovsky asked Alexander Gradsky to compose and perform music for the film Romance for Lovers (Романс о влюблённых — Romance o vlyublënnyh), which was released in 1974, the same year in which Gradsky graduated with a Master's degree in vocal performance. Gradsky performed all the male vocal parts in the film soundtrack, which brought him fame as a solo artist. His many records released during his long career encompass a variety of genres. His first rock opera, Stadium (Стадион — Stadion), was released as a double LP in 1985. He also composed a rock ballet The Man (Человек — Chelovek), released in 1988.
Gradksy is a tenor who is reported to have a three-and-a-half octave vocal range, and also plays 12 instruments. He performed the demanding role of the Astrologer in Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Golden Cockerel (Золотой Петушок — Zolotoy Petushok) in Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre in 1988.
His collaboration with John Denver, with whom he performed the 1986 song Let us Begin..., brought him to wider international attention. In 1999, he performed a recital at New York City's Carnegie Hall.
Since the late '80s, Gradsky has been teaching vocals at the Gnesin Music Academy as well as performing.
