Walter Afanasieff and Katie Cazorla – “Nail Files” Reality TV Series Season 2 Premiere Party – Arrivals – Station Hollywood at W Hollywood – Hollywood, CA, USA – Photo Credit: Billy Bennight / PR Photos
Birth Name: Vladimir Nikitich Afanasieff
Place of Birth: São Paulo, Brazil
Date of Birth: February 10, 1958
Ethnicity: Russian
Walter Afanasieff is an American multiple Grammy Award-winning musician, songwriter, record producer and composer. He is best known for his long association with Mariah Carey, for whom he was co-producer and co-writer for several years, beginning in 1990, and for many other recording artists.
Afanasieff is the son of Nikita Afanasieff and Tatiana Rikova. Both of his parents are children of the Russian immigrants.
Walter’s paternal grandfather was Georgi Afanasieff (the son of Leonid Afanasieff and Nadeshda Grigorieva). Georgi was born in Russia and imigrated to Brazil.
Walter’s paternal grandmother was Zinaida/Sinaida Bolsunowski (the daughter of Joan Bolsunowski and Tatiana Iolshina). Zinaida was Russian immigrant to São Paulo, Brazil.
Walter’s maternal grandfather was Vladimir Rikoff/Rikov (the son of Vladimir N. Rikoff/Rikov and Vera I.). Walter’s grandfather Vladimir was born in Mtsenks, Russia.
Walter’s maternal grandmother was Antonina Menshikoff/Minshikoff (the daughter of Nikolai I. Menshikoff and Maria V.). Antonina was born in Harbin, China to Russian parents.
Source: Immigration record of Walter’s paternal grandfather, Georgi Afanasieff –https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSN-QY42
Immigration record of Walter’s paternal grandmother, Zinaida/Sinaida Bolsunowski –https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSN-Q4ZD
Immigration record of Walter’s maternal grandfather, Vladimir Rikoff/Rikov – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27FH-69V
Immigration record of Walter’s maternal grandmother, Antonina Menshikoff/Minshikoff – https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27FH-NX4
Photo by Billy Bennight