Leonid Utyosov

Leonid Osipovich Utesov, also spelled Utyosov or Utiosov, born Lazar (Leyzer) Iosifovich Vaysbeyn or Weissbein (, Odessa – 10 March 1982, Moscow), was a famous Soviet estrada singer, and comic actor, who became the first pop singer to be awarded the prestigious title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1965.

Biography Leonid Utesov was brought up in Odessa, Russian Empire and attended the Faig School of Commerce, from which he dropped out and joined the Borodanov Circus troupe as an acrobat. He started his stage career in 1911 in Kremenchuk, then returned to Odessa, changed his artistic name to Leonid Utesov, and performed as a stand up comedian with the Rosanov troupe and with the Rishelyavsky Theatre. In 1917, he won a singing competition in Gomel, Belarus, then performed in Moscow.

In the 1920s, he moved to Leningrad and set up one of the first Soviet jazz bands. In Leningrad, he began collaboration with the popular composer, Isaak Dunayevsky, which turned out to be a breakthrough for both artists. At that time, Utesov built a band of the finest musicians available in Leningrad, and created a style all his own – a jazz show with stand up comedy, which blended several styles, ranging from Russian folk songs to a variety of international cosmopolitan genres. In 1928, Utesov toured Europe and attended performances of American jazz bands in Paris, which influenced his own style. During the 1930s, Utesov and his band, called "Thea-Jazz" (a portmanteau of Theatrical Jazz) had a regular gig at the Marble Hall of the Kirov Palace of Culture in Leningrad. Utesov's jazz band also performed at the Leningrad Maly Opera theatre, at the "Svoboda-teatr," and at the Leningrad Music Hall. In his performances, Utesov delivered a variety of musical styles, including such genres as American jazz, Argentine tango, French chanson, upbeat dance, and Russian folk music. On Victory Day (9 May 1945),

Family Leonid Utyosov was married twice:

• From 10 December 1914 — to Elena Iosifovna Goldina, (born Enta Eselevna Goldin, stage name Elena Osipovna Lenskaya; 1893, Nikopol — 1962, Moscow). She is buried at the Vostryakovskoe Jewish Cemetery.

• From 8 October 1981 — to Antonina Sergeevna Revels (1923–1997), who had been a dancer in his ensemble since 1943 . The marriage was registered in Leonid Utyosov’s apartment, where the head of the district civil registry office came specially; the witness was the conductor Oleg Lundstrem.

•• His daughter from the first marriage, Edita Leonidovna Utyosova (1915–1982), was a soloist in his orchestra (her husband was the director Albert Aleksandrovich Gendelshtein). Utyosov performed many songs as duets with her, including the widely known “” and “My Dear Muscovites”. She is buried at Vostryakovskoe Cemetery in Moscow next to her husband.

Filmography Source: From the Odessa jail Mishka the Odessan Havana Have a good night Road to Berlin My dear Muscovites Waves of the Danube Jewish Rhapsody Ten Daughters Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer When Johnny came home Leningrad bridges March of the Jolly Fellows Oh Heart A Pair of Chestnuts The Old Cabman’s Song Tout va très bien madame la marquise The Sea Lies Wide and Open Suliko The tachanka By the Black Sea The American Unemployed Man’s Song Ah, My Beloved Odessa Moscow Windows Be Stern with Me The Pass Song of the Company’s Lead Singer

Honours and awards A Russian stamp honoring Leonid Utesov, 1999, 2 rub. (Michel 756, Scott 6542) A minor planet, 5944 Utesov, discovered on 2 May 1984, is named after him.