His mother, Klavdiya Petrovna Leshchenko (née Fedoseyeva; 1915–1943), died shortly after Lev was born, so he was raised by his stepmother Marina Mikhailovna.

During his childhood, he was introduced to classical music and theatre, and began performing songs by Leonid Utyosov.

Leschenko served in the mechanical vehicle division of the Soviet Army, positioned in the German Democratic Republic.

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.

In 1975, 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.

[6] In March 2014 he signed a letter in support of the position of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin on the Russian annexation of Crimea.