Leonid and Friends | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Chicagovich |
| Origin | Russia |
| Genres | Pop rock, jazz rock |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels | IEC Leonid Vorobyev |
| Website | leonidandf |
Leonid and Friends is a Chicago tribute band based in Moscow. They began as a YouTube band, and now tour the United States extensively in the spring and fall. Leonid Vorobyev (b. 7 Nov 1954 in Moscow, Russia), is the founder and leader of the band. Vorobyev is a multi-instrumentalist, a recording studio sound engineer and choir conductor by training, at the East Siberian Institute of Culture. [1] Vorobyev made his first Chicago video recording of the song "Brand New Love Affair" in 2014.
With Ukrainian vocalist Serge Tiagniryadno, Leonid and Friends' YouTube videos have gone viral, with views in the millions. [2] Leonid & Friends have recorded three Chicago tribute albums, titled Chicagovich.
After touring in Russia, the band first toured the United States in 2019. [3] Starting in 2018, songs by Earth, Wind, & Fire, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tower of Power, The Ides of March, Lighthouse and Steely Dan were added to the playlist. In 2022, their cover of Rufus and Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody" with Ksenia Buzina was added to the setlist.
Leonid Vorobyev's son, Roman Vorobyev (b. 1991), is the band's manager. The band's instrumental setup features bass and lead guitars, drums, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet and trombone, with occasional flugelhorn, French horn, flute, metal clarinet, cello and violin and miscellaneous percussion. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Four self-released albums (vich is Russian for son of):
Leonid and Friends currently tours with about 11 musicians, from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. Prior to 2019, the band performed exclusively in Russia. In 2019, the band embarked on their first tour of the United States, the Fancy Colours Tour, and later followed with two more sold-out tours in 2019. On the occasion of their date in Arlington Heights in July 2019, the band was joined on stage by Chicago's original drummer Danny Seraphine. [15] The 2020 tour was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leonid and Friends toured the United States again in 2021, with the Feeling Stronger Every Day Tour, and once more in 2022. In late 2023, the group embarked on yet another tour of the United States.
In 2024, the band performed their first cruise gig, On The Blue Cruise: The World's Greatest Classic Rock Music Cruise from Miami to Puerto Plata and Nassau, as part of a bill with other bands. The cruise took place on the Norwegian Pearl from April 5-10. [16] [17] As of May 2025, the band is touring the USA with a few dates in Canada. They have just released their tentative Fall 2025 schedule.
Most members are from Moscow, though Tiagnyriadno, Kashirin, Zyl, Kurmaev and Kovachev hail from Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan respectively.