Lydia Ivanovna Goulesko was a Russian born vocalist with Romanian Tzigani roots. After the collapse of the Russian Empire her family fled to Paris, where Lida made her debut as a café-singer/dancer at 17. She became known for her dramatic interpretations of various gypsy songs and toured parts of Europe and the USA. In 1969 Lida Goulesco performed with the Schnuckenack-Reinhardt-Quintett for the first time.