Grigory Leps
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Grigory Viktorovich Lepsveridze (russian: link=no, Григо́рий Ви́кторович Лепсверидзе, ka, გრიგორი ვიქტორის ძე ლეფსვერიძე), known as Grigory Leps (born 16 July 1962 in Sochi), is a Russian singer-songwriter of
Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...
origin. His musical style gradually changed from
Russian chanson Russian chanson ( rus, русский шансон, r=russkiy shanson}; from French "chanson") is a neologism for a musical genre covering a range of Russian songs, including city romance songs, author song performed by singer-songwriters, an ...
in his early years to soft rock recently. He's known for his low, strong baritone voice.
People's Artist of Russia People's Artist of the Russian Federation (russian: Народный артист Российской Федерации, ''Narodnyy artist Rossiyskoy Federatsii''), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the Russian Federation, is an h ...
(2022). Grigory Leps reported the highest income of all singers in Russia in 2013 with $15 million, 2014 with $12 million and 2015 with $12.2 million.


Biography

Grigory Leps was born Grigory Lepsveridze in the city of Sochi,
Russian SFSR The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Russian SFSR or RSFSR ( rus, Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая Республика, Rossíyskaya Sovétskaya Federatívnaya Soci ...
,
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
in an ethnically Georgian family. He finished music school in the class of Percussion instrument. After the army he started to play and sing in a few rock bands, and worked as a singer in restaurants. He suffered from alcoholism and
drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use oft ...
, and to get far from that life he went to Moscow. There he started singing in restaurants, until he received a record deal, and in 1995 he released the album ''May God Keep You'' (Khrani vas Bog). The song "Natali" became a hit, but he didn't know that because he was hospitalized for drugs and alcoholism. The doctors told him that one more drop of any of the drugs could kill him. In 1997, he released his second album, ''A Whole Life'' (Tselaya zhizn), which had a few hits including "Chizhik", "Gololed", "A whole life". In 2000, he released the album ''Thank You People'', with the hits "Shelest" and "Nu i chto". At that album was seen the change in Leps's style, with him completely leaving the
Shanson Russian chanson ( rus, русский шансон, r=russkiy shanson}; from French "chanson") is a neologism for a musical genre covering a range of Russian songs, including city romance songs, author song performed by singer-songwriters, and ...
and moving to rock music. In 2002, he released the album ''On Strings of Rain'' (Na strunakh dozhdya), with a hit "Rumka vodki na stole". In 2004, he released a cover album of songs written by
Vladimir Vysotsky Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky ( rus, links=no, Владимир Семёнович Высоцкий, p=vlɐˈdʲimʲɪr sʲɪˈmʲɵnəvʲɪtɕ vɨˈsotskʲɪj; 25 January 1938 – 25 July 1980), was a Soviet singer-songwriter, poet, and actor ...
in rock versions, ''Parus''. The song "Parus" had a video clip and the album took top places at the selling charts. The second part of the album, ''Vtoroy'' was released in 2007 with its presentation concert being held in the Kremlin hall. In 2005, he released a compilation album called ''Izbranoye... 10 let''. In 2006, he released two albums, both reaching high success. ''Labirint'', with the hits ''Labirint'' and ''Vyuga'', and the album ''V tsentre zemli'', with the hit ''Zamerzayet Solntse''. The premier concert for the ''V tsentre zemli'' album took place in the
Luzhniki Stadium Luzhniki Stadium ( rus, стадион «Лужники», p=stədʲɪˈon lʊʐnʲɪˈkʲi, ''Stadion Luzhniki'') is the national stadium of Russia, located in its capital city, Moscow. The full name of the stadium is Grand Sports Arena of the ...
. In 2007, he released two compilations. ''I'm Alive'' (Ya zhivoy, videoclips), and ''All My Life – a Road'' (Vsya moya zhizn – doroga, best songs). In 2009, about the presentation of the album, "Waterfall ". On 18 March 2022, Leps sang at
Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...
's Moscow rally celebrating the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation from Ukraine and justifying the
2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. ...
. The
Presidential Administration of Russia The Presidential Executive Office of Russia or the Presidential Administration of Russia ( rus, Администрация Президента Российской Федерации, Administratsiya Prezidenta Rossiyskoy Federatsii) is the ex ...
put her on the list of singers who were recommended to be invited to state-sponsored events.


Musical style

Leps is known for his wide vocal range. He has a low growling voice. His style mixed rock music, pop music, and used to also have
shanson Russian chanson ( rus, русский шансон, r=russkiy shanson}; from French "chanson") is a neologism for a musical genre covering a range of Russian songs, including city romance songs, author song performed by singer-songwriters, and ...
in it.


Trivia

* Leps, a Georgian orthodox, always chose an apartment so a church would be seen through the window, or at least a road, because it "always leads to a church". * He collects old books. * He collects
Icon An icon () is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, in the cultures of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Catholic churches. They are not simply artworks; "an icon is a sacred image used in religious devotion". The most ...
s, and for one of them he once gave his car. Among his collection he has an icon that belonged to the
Romanovs The House of Romanov (also transcribed Romanoff; rus, Романовы, Románovy, rɐˈmanəvɨ) was the reigning imperial house of Russia from 1613 to 1917. They achieved prominence after the Tsarina, Anastasia Romanova, was married to t ...
, as well as another icon from the 15th century.


Connections with International Criminal Groups

In October 2013, the US Department of the Treasury blacklisted Grigory Leps, over links with an international criminal group. He was accused of being a money courier for the
Brothers' Circle The Brothers' Circle or Bratski Krug ( rus, Братский круг) is a term used to refer to Russian organized crime, commonly the Russian mafia. It is a loose translation of the Russian term "Bratva" (Russian: Братва), which can also be ...
, which the Treasury describes as a Eurasian criminal organization chiefly based in countries of the former Soviet Union.


Awards

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World Music Awards The World Music Awards is an international award show founded in 1989 under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco and co-founder/executive producer John Martinotti. The event is based in Monte Carlo. Awards are presented to the world' ...
, - , -


Videos

# 1995 — «Натали» # 1995 — «Храни Вас Бог» # 1997 — «Раздумья мои» # 1999 — «Первый день рожденья» # 2000 — «Крыса-Ревность» # 2001 — «Шелест» # 2002 — «Рюмка водки на столе» # 2002 — «Я верю, я дождусь» # 2004 — «Кровь, пот, слезы, любовь» # 2005 — «Ну и что» # 2005 — «Вьюга» # 2006 — «Она» # 2006 — «Лабиринт» # 2006 — «Замерзает солнце» # 2007 — «Я тебе не верю» duet with
Irina Allegrova Irina Aleksandrovna Allegrova (russian: link=no, Ирина Александровна Аллегрова; born 20 January 1952) is a Russian singer. She is a People's Artist of Russia (2010).
# 2007 — «Бессонница» # 2008 — «Она не твоя» duet with Stas Piekha # 2009 — «Уходи красиво» (cover-version of
Bryn Christopher Bryn Christopher (born 8 November 1985) is a British singer and songwriter. Born in Great Barr, Birmingham, England, he attended the Italia Conti Stage School and was a contestant on '' Popstars: The Rivals''. His debut single, "The Quest", ...
's "The Quest") # 2009 — «Что может человек» # 2010 — «Измены» # 2010 — «Обернитесь» duet with
Valery Meladze Valerian Shotayevich Meladze, ka, ვალერიან შოთას ძე მელაძე (born 23 June 1965), known professionally as Valery Meladze , is a Georgian singer and a Meritorious Artist of Russia. He is the brother of c ...
# 2011 — «Вечерняя застольная» Trio with
Alexander Rosenbaum Alexander Yakovlevich Rosenbaum PAR (russian: link=no, Александр Яковлевич Розенбаум, ''Aleksandr Jakovlevič Rozenbaum'') (born September 13, 1951) is a Russian bard from Saint Petersburg. Graduated from the First ...
and
Joseph Kobzon Iosif (Joseph) Davydovich Kobzon (russian: link=no, Ио́сиф Давы́дович Кобзо́н; 11 September 1937 – 30 August 2018) was a Russian singer, known for his crooner style. Early life Kobzon was born to Jewish parents in th ...
# 2012 — «Реквием по любви» duet with
Timati Timur Ildarovich Yunusov (born August 15, 1983), better known by his stage name Timati (russian: link=no, Ти́мати), is a Russian rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. Biography Early life Timur Ildarovich Yunusov ( ...
# 2012 — «Водопадом» # 2012 — «Лондон» duet with
Timati Timur Ildarovich Yunusov (born August 15, 1983), better known by his stage name Timati (russian: link=no, Ти́мати), is a Russian rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. Biography Early life Timur Ildarovich Yunusov ( ...
# 2013 — «Зеркала» duet with
Ani Lorak Karolina Myroslavivna Kuiek, russian: Каролина Мирославовна Куек (born 27 September 1978), popularly known as Ani Lorak,, russian: Ани Лорак is a Ukrainian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and former U ...
# 2014 — «Господи, дай мне сил» # 2014 — «Бай-бай» duet with Natalia Vlasova # 2015 — «Бабосы боссам» duet with Green Grey


Song of the year


Discography

; AlbumsDiscography
* 1995 – Натали (''Natalie'') * 1997 – Целая жизнь (''Lifetime'')Not mentioned in the discography, but quoted here
1997.
... We are releasing the album "Lifetime", where I experiment with different authors ...
* 2000 – Спасибо, люди... (''Thanks, people ...'') * 2002 – На струнах дождя... (''On the strings of rain ...'') * 2004 – Парус (''Sail'') * 2006 – Лабиринт (''Maze/Labyrinth'') * 2006 – В центре Земли (''In the center of the Earth'') * 2007 – Второй (''Second'') * 2009 – Водопад (''Waterfall'') * 2011 – Пенсне (''Pince-nez'') * 2011 – Берега чистого братства (''Bank of pure brotherhood'') together with singer Alexander Rosenbaum * 2012 – Полный вперед! (Full speed ahead) * 2014 – Гангстер No.1 (Gangster #1) * 2019 – ТыЧегоТакойСерьезный (WhyAreYouSoSerious) ; DVDs * 2005 – Парус Live (''Sail Live'') Concert at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow 13 March 2004 * 2007 – В центре Земли Live (''In the center of the Earth Live'') Concert in SC "Olympic" 16 November 2006 * 2007 – Я – живой! (''I (am) alive'') Collection of video clips * 2010 – Что может человек (''What can a man'') Sat ornik videos * 2010 – Водопад Live (''Waterfall Live'') Presentation album, "Waterfall", SC "Olympic" 20 November 2009, Full version concert * 2011 – Научись летать Live (''Learn to fly'') Presentation album, "Pince-nez", Crocus City Hall, 7 mat, Full version concert ; Collections * 2005 – Избранное... 10 лет (''Favorites... 10 years'') * 2007 – Вся жизнь моя – дорога... (''All my life – the road ...'') * 2010 – Берега. Избранное (''Shore. Favorites'')


References


External links

*
Grigory Leps at the Forbes
*
Concert of Grigory Leps in Olympic Stadium, Moscow 2006Concert of Grigory Leps in Olympic Stadium, Moscow 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leps, Grigory Russian chanson 1962 births Russian people of Georgian descent Living people People from Sochi 20th-century Russian singers 21st-century Russian singers 20th-century Russian male singers 21st-century Russian male singers Russian National Music Award winners Winners of the Golden Gramophone Award