After school Tolkunova easily entered the conducting and choral department of the Moscow Institute of Culture. While still a student, was selected in the famous in the 60s "66 SIV" - vocal and instrumental orchestra. Its leader Yuri Saulsky searched high soprano vocalist for jazz improvisation and was shocked vocal Wali, and not only that: in the same year Tolkunova Saulsky and became husband and wife. Because of the busy schedule, Valentina had to transfer to the School of Music Gnesin she in 1971 graduated brilliantly.
Continue singing career developed rapidly: it sounded all the vocals in the first Soviet series "Day by Day". This has led to Valentine to come out of jazz. She began looking for new repertoire, the more that the personal life with Saulsky cracked, they divorced. The poet Leo Oshanin offered Tolkunova perform unsophisticated song "Oh, Natasha" in his recital. The singer was a resounding success and literally the next morning woke up famous.
It became known as the creative and Shul'zhenko Ruslanova. Showered with invitations from the venerable composers. Tolkunova formed a great repertoire. Became a party to all major concerts and festivals. Executable her song "Talk to me, Mom," "I can not help it," "A love something swan", "If there was no war" became significant.
In his personal life at this time there were changes - Valentine married international journalist and writer Yuri Paporova, they had a son Kolya. During this period, there was a repertoire touching song "Nozzles-winged samaras."
In the 80 years of the singer's creative life was very busy - she sang songs and romances, staged "Russian women" and sang it four parties, starred in the musical film "I believe in a rainbow" and televised one-man show "Waiting", which opened as talented dramatic actress, organized a Moscow theater musical drama and songs.
But in the difficult 90th society has forgotten former idols. Tolkunova repertoire did not change for the sake of time, not left the profession. She went on tour to foreign countries, sang for veterans and wounded soldiers in Chechnya, helping to restore the temples acted as a patron of the children's homes.
At the beginning of the XXI century singer once again become popular on the stage: she has recorded dozens of new songs, made musical and poetic programs taught at the Russian Academy of Music, at the vocal department platform.
But serious illness already took away power. Tolkunova continued to perform and do not take care of themselves. She said that she should go to the people with the song, because he can not disappoint those who wait. The last was a concert in Mogilev. After him, the singer was hospitalized, and March 22, 2010 she died.