Leonid Utesov

Russia, 1928–1982

Soviet singer and bandleader (1895–1982, born Lazar Vaysbeyn in Odessa). Founded one of the first Soviet jazz bands ('Tea-Jazz', 1929), blending jazz with Russian song and stage comedy, and helped introduce jazz-influenced popular music (estrada) to the USSR. Starred in the 1934 film Jolly Fellows.

MusicRoots documents 1 artist who influenced Leonid Utesov and 1 artist Leonid Utesov influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Leonid Utesov?

• Louis Armstrong — Utesov built his 'Tea-Jazz' on the American hot jazz he heard touring Europe in the late 1920s — the Armstrong-era sound he adapted to Russian song and stage.

Which artists did Leonid Utesov influence?

• Alla Pugacheva — Pugacheva emerged from the Soviet estrada tradition that Leonid Utesov founded — the theatrical, jazz-tinged variety-stage song that underpins her repertoire.