Leonid Utyosov, born Leonid Osipovich Vaysbein (March 21 [O.S. March 9] 1895 – March 9, 1982), was a Soviet jazz singer and comic actor, whose fame peaked in the 1930s and 1940s. Born into a Jewish family in Odessa, Utyosov was instrumental in the establishment and popularization of jazz culture in the Soviet Union, and he is widely considered one of the most iconic figures in Russian jazz and theatrical music.

Utyosov's career was marked by his charismatic stage presence and a melodic voice that could convey a gamut of emotions, from the lighthearted to the melancholic. He formed his own band, "Tea-Jazz," in the early 1920s, which quickly became one of the first successful jazz ensembles in the country. Throughout his lifetime, Utyosov worked extensively in theater and film, contributing to the soundtrack of the Soviet era with hits like "The Song about the Goodness" and "Heart." His recordings from the 1930s and 1940s, which have been remastered and reissued on several occasions, remain classic staples of Russian music. The series of remastered releases indicates a sustained interest in his oeuvre, cementing his legacy as an enduring figure in the history of Russian music and performance.

Genres

Classic Russian Pop

Russian Folk

Russian Jazz

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Nikolai Karachentsov

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Latest Release

Концерт Леонида Утесова (2022 Remastered)

Leonid Utyosov

Ep - 5 Tracks - Released August 27, 2022