Biography of Grigory Leps
Russian singer Grigory Leps (real name Lepsveridze) was born on July 16, 1962 in Sochi.
His father, Viktor Lepsveridze, worked at a meat processing plant, his mother, Natella Semyonovna, worked at the bread plant. 560″ height=”420″[/img]Grigory Leps with his parents Grigory Leps studied at secondary school No. 7 in Sochi and, by his own admission, was a terrible student; his teachers called him nothing more than “a damned loser.” But the future singer was interested in music and sports. He graduated from music school and mastered the skill of playing percussion instruments, and then joined the army. After demobilization, Grigory Leps began singing in restaurants in the Caucasus and playing in rock bands. In the 80s he even performed as a soloist in the Index-398 group. Video course “Spring”
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Little Grisha's childhood
Grigory Lepsveridze, this is the real name of the artist, comes from the southern latitudes of our country. Little Grisha spent his childhood and youth in Sochi. Parents worked all their lives, providing for two children:
- mother worked at a bakery, although she had a nursing degree;
- my father was a humble worker at a meat-packing plant.
Viktor Antonovich and Natella Semyonovna did not instill in their son and daughter Eteri a strong love of music, but they taught them lessons of hard work, decency, and perseverance. These qualities will then become the basis for the success of the future artist.
In high school, Grisha gave up football and began playing percussion instruments in the ensemble of the school where he studied. An uncle taught the teenager the basics of playing the drum set. A relative noted that his nephew had an impeccable sense of rhythm. He also noted an ear for music.
Moving to Moscow
In Sochi restaurants, Grigory Leps sang all night long. Fatigue was relieved only with alcohol; other remedies no longer worked. The artist realized that if he did not climb to the next step, he would fizzle out as an artist. Therefore, it was decided to go to Moscow. Moreover, the artist emphasizes, he did not go to the Russian capital for fame, as such.
Moscow did not immediately submit to Grigory Leps; Moscow did not greet him hospitably. The artist was of little interest to anyone. So he started drinking a lot and even abusing drugs. The appearance was appropriate - the artist’s weight reached 100 kilograms. People who promised to help with their careers disappeared.
However, the artist did not live in poverty in Moscow. He admits that there was enough for get-togethers in restaurants.
The stellar career of Grigory Leps
The creative growth of Grigory Leps began in 1995. A year before, he began recording his first album entitled “God Bless You.” The famous song “Natalie” was included there. A video was shot for the composition. True, Leps himself saw it when he was lying with a stomach ulcer in the Botkin hospital. It was for this same reason that he could not perform at “Song-95”. The disease took 35 kilograms from the artist. Since that time, Grigory Leps has not taken alcohol or drugs. Grigory Leps - Natalie (live performance) In 1997, Leps’s second album “Whole Life” was released. And then the artist sang at the interim concert “Song of the Year - 97” with the composition “My Thoughts”. A year later, Grigory performs with Alla Pugacheva at the “Christmas Meetings”. There he performed the song “I’ll See You Anyway.”
Grigory Leps at a concert
Music career
However, soon the leader I. Sandler dissolved Index-398 and left for England. Leps had to return to restaurants. According to the musician, working at night among a noisy audience took a lot of his energy, and in order to somehow relax, the guy began to drink alcohol. If it had not been for the change of residence, he could have become an alcoholic and died.
First album
After moving to Moscow, things went pretty well for Leps. He was already over 30 and had sufficient experience as an artist and his own vision of music. He called his first album “God Bless You.” It included the song “Natalie”, which listeners instantly fell in love with, as well as “Nostalgia”, “Afterword”, “Player”, “Don’t be sad, my girl”, “I listened to the rain” and others.
Leps did not see the video that was filmed for the song “Natalie”. Moreover, he had to miss participating in the recording of the “Song-95” program. Unfortunately, the singer began to have health problems (due to his turbulent youth and passion for alcohol). Doctors managed to heal the stomach ulcer and put the singer back on his feet. After this incident, he gave up alcohol for some time.
Videos were also shot for the songs “God Bless You” and “My Thoughts.” According to friends, the last song surprisingly coincides with the life situation that Leps was experiencing. The singer had been ill for a long time and was literally on the edge. After his recovery, his morale was depressed, and his friends had to make a lot of efforts to restore his joy in life.
Stages of creativity
Since then, the musician has released one album every two years, and almost each of them has been a stunning success. The complete discography includes 17 albums. Here are some of them :
- In 1997, A Whole Life was released. It includes the following well-known compositions “I’ll see you anyway”, “Romance”, “I can’t sleep”, “Queen”.
- In the millennium, the next album called “Thank you, people” was released. According to the singer himself, he put a piece of himself, his experiences and real events from his own life into each song. Therefore, they turned out to be very poignant and at the same time romantic. Videos were shot for the songs “Rat”, “Rustle” and “First Birthday”.
- Two years later - the collection “On the Strings of Rain”. It included the beloved “A Glass of Vodka on the Table”, as well as “On the Strings of Rain”.
Then albums began to be released annually. The singer has had a busy creative life all these years, full of tours and collaborations with famous Russian pop stars.
Duets with other artists
In 2007, Leps, together with Irina Allegrova, recorded a song called “I Don’t Believe You,” and a little later the artist sang a duet with Stas Piekha. Composer Viktor Drobysh also participated in the creation of the musical composition “She’s Not Yours.” Four years later, the song “Requiem for Love” appeared together with Timothy , and a year later - “London”, also co-written with this musician.
Inspired by the success, Grigory Leps recorded a whole collection of songs sung together with other performers. In addition to those already listed, he has such compositions as “Captive” with Artyom Loik, “Brother Nicotine” with Timothy and “Mirrors” with Ani Lorak.
Prizes and awards
Grigory Leps was awarded various titles more than once. He is an Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Karachay-Cherkessia and Ingushetia. Grigory Viktorovich is Georgian by nationality, and therefore it is not surprising that in the Caucasus they consider him one of their own. Leps Awards :
- 2002 brought the musician victory in a competition organized by Radio Chanson. The award was called “Chanson of the Year”. Gregory received it twice - in 2002 and 2004.
- Thanks to the song “I Don’t Believe You,” sung together with Irina Allegrova, Leps won the Golden Gramophone award. A year later, for this composition he was given another award from Muz-TV.
- The musician was awarded two prizes at once in 2008. At the beginning of the year from “Record 2008”, as the best-selling performer, and at the end - from the “Golden Gramophone” for the composition “She is not yours”.
- In 2009, two prizes were received, including another prize from the Golden Gramophone and the Utesov Prize.
- A year later there was a victory in the Golden Gramophone again. The singer was also awarded a diploma for his duet with Meladze in the “Best Song of 2010” category.
- In 2011 there were three awards at once: from “Best Song of 2011”, “Golden Gramophone” and Russian Prize RU. TV.
Thus, every year the musician collects many prizes and awards. Among the latter are “Artist of the Year” in 2020 and “Best Performer” according to Muz-TV. The last one was received in 2018.
Without a voice. A new round in the career of Grigory Leps
Two years later, Grigory Leps released the album “Thank you, people.” At the same time, he shot videos for the songs “So What”, “Rat”, “First Birthday” and “Rustle”. And soon he lost his voice and underwent surgery. After restoration, in 2002, the artist presented the album “On the Strings of Rain”, shot videos for the song “I Believe, I’ll Wait” and “A Glass of Vodka on the Table”. Grigory Leps - A Glass of VodkaIn 2004, Grigory Leps recorded the album “Sail”, which consisted of songs by Vladimir Vysotsky arranged by Evgeny Kobylyansky. A video was shot for the title track “Sail”. In March, the singer took to the stage in the Kremlin with a two-hour program “Sail. Live." At the concert, compositions from the “Sail” disc and the best tracks from previous albums were performed.
Grigory Leps knows how to deal with difficulties. A year later, Leps presented his first collection entitled “Favorites... 10 Years”, and a year later he recorded the album “Labyrinth” and shot three videos for the songs “She”, “Blizzard”, “Labyrinth”. By the way, Alla Pugacheva advised me to take the song “Labyrinth” into my repertoire.
There are often no empty seats at Leps’ concerts. The next album, “In the Center of the Earth,” appeared in 2006. In the fall of the same year, the artist gave a concert at the Olimpiysky sports complex “In the Center of the Earth. Live". The audience listened to both new compositions and already known ones.
Personal life
Leps first married Svetlana Dubinskaya while still studying at a music school. The couple divorced quite soon, and Grigory married his current wife, dancer Anna Shaplykova, who worked in the show ballet of Laima Vaikule.
Grigory Leps with his wife Anna
The artist has four children. Inga Leps, born in 1984 in her first marriage, studied in the UK and New York, where she received a diploma as an actress. She mainly stars in music videos, independent projects, arthouse films, and writes scripts. The second daughter Eva was born in 2002, and 5 years later Anna gave birth to Gregory another girl - Nicole. In 2010, the long-awaited son Ivan (Vano) appeared in the family.
Leps repeatedly spoke about his personal life in Andrei Malakhov’s talk show, Channel One made a documentary about the artist. This is how fans learned that the singer had a rich library and a collection of icons at home. The latter is estimated at tens of millions of dollars. In 2018, Gregory presented a collection of valuables for public viewing at the Kremlin Historical Museum, with the exception of the icon donated by Vladimir Putin.
Grigory Leps with a collection of icons
In 2020, Leps’ daughter tried to follow in her father’s footsteps and start a music career. Inga participated in the 5th season of “The Voice”, but did not impress the judges. Grigory told the press that, naturally, he recognized the voice of his own daughter, but even before the performance he told Inga that he would not turn to her in the qualifying round. Moreover, the strict father also criticized the girl’s performance, noting that “in some places it’s really bad.”
Inga later admitted that her parent was skeptical about her plans to build a singing career and believed that she should choose one direction and achieve perfection there, rather than being scattered about trifles.
Inga Lepsveridze on the show “The Voice”
Nevertheless, Leps does not resist Eva’s desire to sing on stage. For his youngest daughter, Gregory created the pop group COSMOS girls, which, in addition to Eva, included her friend Alexandra Giner and participant in the children's “Voice” Eden Golan. Videos of the group periodically appear on the Internet. Her father’s support in the musical field has already shaken Eva’s intentions to study as a journalist at MGIMO.
Basta reported that Leps, succumbing to the trends of the times, finally opened a page on Instagram. In addition to social networks, Gregory has an official website where the tour schedule, photos, interviews and news about the artist are posted.
"I'm alive!" Albums and videos of Grigory Leps
In 2007, Leps released collections of the best video clips “I am alive!” and the best songs “My whole life is a road...”. And a few months later it gathers listeners at the State Kremlin Palace for a concert-presentation of a new album of compositions from Vysotsky’s repertoire “The Second”. Irina Allegrova and Grigory Leps. I don’t believe you Also in 2007, Grigory Viktorovich recorded the famous duets “I don’t believe you” with Irina Allegrova and “She’s not yours” with Stas Piekha. Videos were later shot for the hits. By the way, the music for the compositions was written by composer Viktor Drobysh.
Grigory Leps on the verge of life and death
On November 9, 2008, Grigory Leps was urgently hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the Dmitrov city hospital. Presumable diagnosis: bleeding and open gastric ulcer. A day later, a specialized team of ambulance doctors took the artist to a Moscow clinic; after 14 days, Grigory was discharged and on December 1 he gave a solo concert in St. Petersburg.
Grigory Leps devotes himself entirely to the song. Grigory Leps devoted three days of February 2009 to the presentation of the new program “Waterfall”. He sang for listeners in the Kremlin Palace. Three concerts were attended by more than 15 thousand people. A month after the concerts, Grigory Leps was hospitalized again, this time with “acute bronchitis.” But already in May the artist is back on his feet - on tour in Germany.
In October 2009, he released the album “Waterfall” with 16 new songs. And at the end of November he gives a concert at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex. 18 thousand people came to the complex to listen to Leps. Grigory Leps - The Best Day A year later, Grigory Viktorovich re-released his album “Waterfall” and released a collection of the best songs called “Shores. Favorites."
In February 2011, the singer again presented the album. At Crocus City Hall he presented Pince-nez. He made videos for the songs “Betrayal” and “Turn Around” from the album.
Collaboration with Rosenbaum
In the summer of 2011, Grigory Leps began working on a joint album with colleague Alexander Rosenbaum. With the participation of Rosenbaum and Kobzon, a video clip was shot for the song “Evening Drinking”. And it is not clear for what reason Grigory Leps returned to chanson, but many say that the work of Alexander Rosenbaum is a level higher than other performers of this genre. Grigory Leps - Gop-stop (Live) In July, at a concert in honor of his birthday, Leps performed the song for the first time "I will become a waterfall."
A few days later, Grigory sang the song “Captain Arctic” with the group “Velvet” at the opening of the “New Wave” and presented the composition “Fate-Winter”. And on other days of the competition he performed “Love Chooses Us” and “My Spring Tango.”
On October 18, 2011, by presidential decree, Dmitry Medvedev Grigory Leps was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.” Leps and Timati-London In December, the singer, together with Timati, presented the song “Requiem for Love,” and also presented a joint creation with Rosenbaum, “Shores of Pure Brotherhood” on the stage of the State Kremlin Palace. The artists performed some personal songs in duets (“The Best Day,” (“Duck Hunt,” “A Glass of Vodka on the Table”)) Two teams of musicians worked on stage.
Fans of Grigory Leps admire the timbre of his voice. Leps is known for his special, so to speak, “roaring” timbre of his voice. He himself calls his style “pop song with rock elements.” As the artist admits, he has chanson songs, but now he is not interested in them.
Grigory Leps: “Because of my son’s decision, my wife and I had a scandal”
Grigory Leps
Many artists complain that due to the coronavirus pandemic they have been left almost without a livelihood. Show business is indeed going through difficult times - the stars have not had concerts, tours, or corporate events for a month now. Grigory Leps and Emin, who held a press conference today, said that, like everyone else, they are suffering losses, however, they are definitely not going to cry over money.
“We are all in a difficult situation now,” Leps admits to StarHit. - But so far I don’t see any difficulties, I don’t feel it in my pocket. Yes, I would like more money, more earnings, man is such an animal - it’s never enough for him. But you were working - you had to postpone it. We're not used to whining, at least not me. There has been so much in my life, and with Emin, not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance. We live on previously saved money and make music.”
The musicians admitted that they are now living on savings
The artists spend their free time with their families and children. Due to the impossibility of flights, Emin, however, found himself separated from his two sons and daughter from his first marriage, who are in Baku. But he communicates with the youngest, one-year-old Athena, every day - he rejoices at her first successes and achievements. Grigory Leps notes that thanks to the current schedule, he began to talk more with the heirs.
“Son Ivan did karate, plays chess, swims in the pool and, oddly enough, began to be interested in music,” Gregory shared with StarHit. “I was so against it that I almost had a scandal with my wife.” My wife found a teacher remotely - there were already three lessons. By the way, my daughters also study online, their classes start at 9 am, Nicole’s gymnastics is three hours long.”
Leps and his wife Anna have three children - daughters Eva and Nicole and son Ivan
Not all stars of domestic show business can cope with such immersion in everyday life; some couples have already quarreled and are on the verge of divorce. “Quarantine is a great testing mechanism,” says Emin. “And if people are closed in a single space for a long time, then without any options they will understand whether they can live together. Suddenly this is an opportunity that will make you understand whether you are with the right person.”
Grigory Leps underwent surgery in Paris
In addition to recording new musical material, Leps continues to develop his own business - last year he established, which produces farm products, and now also wines. “Our team purchased several vineyards in Spain, the winery is among the best,” said the singer. — Our customers will soon be able to taste wonderful wines that will cost 10-12 euros. Usually the prices for drinks of this quality are much higher.”
Emin is now separated from his heirs who live in Baku
During the crisis caused by the pandemic, the number of scammers who are trying to shake off financial aid from the stars has increased. “There are individuals who constantly call and ask to transfer money to them,” Leps is indignant. — There are funds that we know, there are doctors and hospitals. We are ready to help those in whom we are confident.”
To help in the fight against coronavirus, Emin is also providing the site of his Crocus Expo shopping complex for a hospital - 1,500 beds will be deployed on its territory in the near future. “It’s still easier for artists now than for entrepreneurs, who are burdened with employees who need to pay salaries,” says the businessman. — We alone have 15 thousand employees. Without functioning, we will simply drown soon. The money in the accounts is almost gone, but the sites still need to be maintained and heated. Either we must be discovered, or we must be saved.”
But he spends time with the younger Athena every day
The artists also have great hopes for their festival “Heat”, which is scheduled to take place in July-August this year. There is no talk of canceling it yet, but a postponement of a couple of weeks is possible. “Everyone continues to actively prepare,” Leps concluded. — We really miss direct contact with people and concerts. But the main thing is that we are healthy. The rest you just have to endure.”
Photo: press service archive, Instagram.com
Personal life of Grigory Leps
The first wife of Grigory Leps, Svetlana Dubinskaya, studied with the artist at a music school. The marriage ended in divorce. Now the singer is married for the second time, to Anna Shaplykova, a ballerina from Laima Vaikule’s ballet.
Grigory Leps with his wife and daughters. The artist has four children. From his first marriage, Leps has a daughter, Inga (born in 1984), she lives in the UK. The second daughter, Eva, was born in 2002, the third, Nicole, in 2007. The only son Vano (Ivan) was born on May 6, 2010.
Personal life and activities outside the stage
Grigory Leps was married twice. The first marriage with a fellow student at the Sochi Music College, Svetlana Dubinskaya, was short-lived. The daughter from her first marriage, Inga Lepsveridze, was born on December 23, 1984 and now lives in Moscow. Leps saw his second wife, Anna Shaplykova, a ballerina from the Laima Vaikule ballet, in 2000 at a club. Even then, at first sight, he decided that she would become his wife. Upon meeting, he immediately proposed marriage, but was rejected in a joking manner. But in the end he achieved his goal. Anna already had a boyfriend, but Grigory was able not only to win over the obstinate girl, but also to conquer and make her fall in love with him. They got married only after the birth of their first daughter, Eva (2002).
Gregory with his wife Anna, three daughters and son
In addition to the wonderful atmosphere in the family and success on the stage, Leps also succeeded in business. A production center, a share in the ownership of the karaoke restaurant “Leps” and a line of glasses and pince-nez of his author’s design “Leps optics” - these assets significantly add to Gregory’s income. According to Forbes, over the past 5 years he has earned more than $60 million. For some reason, US intelligence agencies believe that he is connected to the mafia. At the same time, they claim that he lives in Thailand and is a carrier of mafia money. That is why he was denied the opportunity to visit the United States, and in 2020, the UK also refused to visit without explanation.
Grigory Leps now
Leps is in excellent creative shape. He gathers full houses, records new songs and tries himself in a new role. In January 2020, Grigory Leps held the “Christmas on Rosa Khutor” music festival in his native Sochi, the guests of which were Russian pop stars: Joseph Kobzon, Kristina Orbakaite, Stas Mikhailov, Irina Allegrova, Valery Meladze, Stas Piekha and many others. The gala concert of the festival from Krasnaya Polyana was watched by a million-strong audience on Channel One. At the beginning of 2020, Grigory Viktorovich acted as an entertainer for the first time, becoming paired with Garik Martirosyan as hosts in the show “Main Stage” on the Russia-1 TV channel.
Grigory Leps at the blind auditions. Project “Voice” At the end of 2020, Leps, together with Polina Gagarina, Alexander Gradsky and Basta, took the position of mentor in the popular project “Voice” on Channel One. A member of Grigory Leps’ team, Hieromonk Photius became the winner of the competition.
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