Leonid Utesov

Background

Leonid Utesov was brought up in Odessa, Russian Empire, and attended the Faig School of Commerce, from which he dropped out to join the Borodanov Circus troupe as an acrobat. He began 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 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, collaborating with composer Isaak Dunayevsky.

Utesov built a band of the finest musicians in Leningrad and created a style blending Russian folk songs with international genres. In 1928, he toured Europe and attended performances of American jazz bands in Paris, which influenced his own style. During the 1930s, his band "Thea-Jazz" had a regular gig at the Marble Hall of the Kirov Palace of Culture in Leningrad and performed at other venues.

His popularity rose when he co-starred with Lyubov Orlova in the comedy Jolly Fellows, performing hits like "Serdtse" (Heart). During World War II, Utesov performed on the front lines, donated two La-5 planes to the 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, and presented a squadron with some of his vinyl records (the exact number is not established in canonical sources). On Victory Day (9 May 1945), he performed on Sverdlov Square in Moscow. Utesov lived in Moscow for the rest of his life, alluding to Odessa in many songs; a monument to him was dedicated there in 2000.