Yerkesh Shakeyev is a Kazakh composer, lyricist and songwriter whose work ranged from bard songs and pop hits to neoclassicism. He was born on May 5, 1962, in the village of Ruzaevka, Kokchetav Oblast, into the family of Kokena Shakeev, the People's Akyn of Kazakhstan and the First President of the Akyns Union of Kazakhstan.
Shakeyev has collected international recognition in the music industry. He placed on the 3rd place at the South Pacific International Song Contest in Australia in 1999, holds special awards of the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, won Platinum "Tarlan Prize" and the All-Union television festival "Song of the Year".
Shakeyev started his professional career in 1987 after winning the Republican contest of young talents called "Zhastar Dausy". After this, he was invited to work as a singer-songwriter to the ensemble of Aray directed by Taskyn Okapova.