The Moscow Autograph Ensemble was set up in the autumn of 1979.
In 1980 Autograph gained a professional status with the Mosconcert association. The group numbers five members: its leader (Alexander Sitkovetsky, guitar, vocals) educated at Moscow University and the Gnessin music college in the guitar class; (Leonid Gutkin, bass-guitar and bassoon); (Leonid Makarevich, keyboard instruments) — both Moscow Conservatoire alumni; (Arthur Berkut, vocals and tenor saxophone] — the Gnessin music college; (Victor Mikhalin, drums and percussion) — the Moscow Conservatoire music school. Autograph play in the style that may best be described as "progressive rock".
Besides the studio work, the group nas a busy concert schedule: they have toured over a hundred Soviet cities.
In June 1981 the Ensemble had their first foreign tour in Bulgaria where they guest-performed at the gala concerts of the "Golden Orpheus" festival and had a good press for their "Truth" composition which was pronounced the best anti-war song. That was followed by concerts and TV appearances in the GDR, then bach in Bulgaria, then Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
In 1983 Autograph was made laureate of the 7th USSR variety Artists' Competition.
(Sergei Krinitsyn) was a drummer during 1990-1991.