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Leonid Utesov | |
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 Utesov inJolly Fellows (1934) | |
| Born | Leyzer (Lazar) Vaysbeyn (1895-03-21)21 March 1895 |
| Died | 10 March 1982(1982-03-10) (aged 86) Moscow, Russian SFSR,Soviet Union |
| Resting place | Novodevichy Cemetery, Moscow |
| Occupations | Singer, actor, conductor |
| Title | People's Artist of the USSR(1965) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
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Musical artist | |
Leonid Osipovich Utesov, also spelledUtyosov orUtiosov[a], bornLazar (Leyzer)Iosifovich Vaysbeyn orWeissbein[b] (21 March [O.S. 10 March] 1895,Odessa – 10 March 1982, Moscow),[1] was a famous Sovietestrada singer, and comic actor, who became the first pop singer to be awarded the prestigious title ofPeople's Artist of the USSR in 1965.[2]
Leonid Utesov was brought up inOdessa,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 inKremenchuk, 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 inGomel,Belarus, then performed in Moscow.
In the 1920s, he moved toLeningrad and set up one of the first Sovietjazz 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 internationalcosmopolitan 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 theLeningrad 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.[2]
His popularity was on the rise in the 1930s when he co-starred withLyubov Orlova in the comedyJolly Fellows. In it, Utesov performed such hits as "Serdtse" (Heart). DuringWorld War II, Utesov performed on the front lines, helping lift the spirits of the Soviet soldiers fighting against the Nazis. He donated twoLa-5 planes to 5th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment; one of planes was named "Jolly Fellows". After a meeting withVitaly Popkov, flight commander of the "singing" squadron and Head of the amateur frontline orchestra, Leonid Osipovich presented the squadron with forty-two of his vinyl records.[3][4] OnVictory Day (9 May 1945),[2] Utesov performed onSverdlov Square in Moscow.
Utesov lived in Moscow for the rest of his life, albeit in many of his songs he alluded to his native town ofOdessa, where a monument to him was dedicated in 2000.
Richard Stites writes:
In the years of the "red jazz age" (1932–1936) European and Soviet bands were heard in dozens of cities. The kings wereAlexander Tsfasman and Leonid Utesov. ... Utesov – musically far less gifted – was actually more popular than Tsfasman, partly because of the spectacular success of his comedy filmHappy-Go-Lucky Guys, but mostly because his Odessa background and his circus and carnival road experience on the southern borscht belt gave him a clowning manner. He resembled his idol, the personable Ted ("Is everybody happy?")Lewis more than he did any of the great jazz figures of the time. In fact, Utesov was the typicalestrada entertainer – quick witted, versatile, and funny. He was not only one of the stars of the 1930s but also a personal favorite of Stalin.[5]
Leonid Utyosov was married twice:
• From 10 December 1914[6] — to Elena Iosifovna Goldina,[7][8][9] (born Enta Eselevna Goldin,[10] stage name Elena Osipovna Lenskaya;[11] 1893, Nikopol — 1962, Moscow). She is buried at the Vostryakovskoe Jewish Cemetery.[12]
• From 8 October 1981 — to Antonina Sergeevna Revels (1923–1997), who had been a dancer in his ensemble since 1943[13][14]. 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.[15][16]
•• His daughter from the first marriage,[17] Edita Leonidovna Utyosova (1915–1982),[18] 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 “Tout va très bien madame la marquise [fr]” and “My Dear Muscovites”.[19] She is buried at Vostryakovskoe Cemetery in Moscow next to her husband.
Source:[2]
Aminor planet,5944 Utesov, discovered on 2 May 1984, is named after him.[2] On March 21, 2020,Google celebrated his 125th birthday with aGoogle Doodle.[22]
