16 Facts About Lev Leshchenko

Lev Leshchenko was born on 1 February 1942 in Moscow, Soviet Union.

Lev Leshchenko's father, Valerian Andreyevich Leshchenko, was a Red Army officer who was at war outside of Moscow.

Lev Leshchenko's grandfather was from the village of Nizy in the Kharkov province, which at that time was part of the Russian Empire.

Grandfather Leshchenko was a musical person: he sang in the church choir, played many instruments.

Lev Leshchenko was awarded medals for his participation in the Second World War.

Lev Leshchenko's mother, Klavdiya Petrovna Leshchenko, died shortly after Lev was born, so he was raised by his stepmother Marina Mikhailovna.

Between 1959 and 1960, Lev Leshchenko worked as a stagehand at the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre, and before being conscripted into the army in 1961, he worked as an adjuster at a precision measuring instrument factory.

On 27 January 1962, Lev Leshchenko became a soloist within the Soviet Red Army Ensemble, and received an offer to remain in the army.

Lev Leshchenko accepted every role offered to him by the ensemble, from singing in a quarter, conducting concerts and even reading verses, where it is said his entertainment career began.

Lev Leshchenko began touring with concert bands, visiting some of the more isolated parts of the country.

In 1969, Lev Leshchenko was admitted as a member of the Moscow Operetta Theatre.

Lev Leshchenko took up many minor musical roles, but was aware of his musical gift and was constantly looking for soloist acts.

On 13 February 1970, having won a contest held by the state radio station, Lev Leshchenko became a solo vocalist for the Soviet state radio station.

In 1975, Lev Leshchenko performed "Den Pobedy", an immensely popular Soviet song dedicated to Victory Day, which was initially disliked by the authorities due to its unconventional music style.

Lev Leshchenko's rendition has become by far the most well known.

In 1999 Lev Leshchenko was given a star on the Star Square in Moscow.