Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jimmy. Perhaps the most charming of all Russian YouTube sensations, the Tajik loading worker in a small town near Moscow performs a heartbreaking version of the Bollywood classic "Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja" in a warehouse.

The clip filmed with a cellphone of one of his coworkers, ending with the boss rasping "Good one, Jimmy, now get back to work," quickly became popular: the shabby little man's joyous musical radiance and expression, the terrific tonal delivery of the male and female voices, guitar riffs, and synths while drumming on a cardboard box and the oddity of the whole thing made "Jimmy" an internet favorite in Russia. And yet, no one knew his name... until Bolshoi Gorod journalist Roman Gruzov found a way to simultaneously benefit from the story and make "Jimmy's" life a little better.

Gruzov, filled with altruism and curiosity, tracked down "Jimmy" at a department store in Kolomna. "Jimmy" turned out to be an Uzbek immigrant from Tajikistan, a happy man with a sad story - war, divorce, poverty, immigration, a killer singing voice and undying optimism. His real name is Baimurat Allaberiev, his first name means "rich man" and everyone knows him by "Jimmy" as his version of the song from the 1982 Bollywood film "Disco Dancer" is so often requested by the locals. Beating M.I.A. to it, he's been singing his hit cover at weddings, entertaining soldiers and charming neighbors for years.

Baimurat has always been a musical creature, from childhood to music school to middle age. Lately, his talent has been limited by circumstance, appreciated with half-mockery and paired with crummy treatment until Gruzov arranged for Baimurat to be an opening act on the Russian tour of Asian Dub Foundation. As Baimurat greeted the crowd - "Hello, friends! I'm from Tajikistan and I work in Russia on construction sites. I also love singing." - the stadium audience erupted. By now, Baimurat conquered Moscow, travelled to St Petersburg, signed hundreds of autographs and groupie t-shirts, posed for pictures with schoolgirls and numerously busted out into his favorite song in the middle of metropolitan streets on request. His most recent performance was a few weeks ago at a Moscow concert "We Want Your Oil."

And so, dear Jimmy, dearest Baimurat, you have made us both uncomfortable and gleeful. May you continue to enjoy your minor exploitation and major exposure. We wonder, what's next? A record contract? A reality show? A guest spot on Madonna's tour? We wish you merry adventures ahead. Just please, don't sign anything.

[Джимми-тенор]

Image: Tanya Zommer, Bolshoi Gorod