Name: Grigory Leps (Grigory Lepsveridze)
Age: 56 years old
Activity: singer, composer, producer, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
Marital status: married
Grigory Leps: biography
Pop and chanson, rock and rap. Few people on the Russian stage manage to combine the seemingly incongruous. Sincerity, a voice recognizable from the first chords, live performance and “work to rupture the aorta.” Endless tours. Balancing on the brink of life and death. Even his mother warns Grigory Leps that it is impossible, it is dangerous, to give all his best on stage.
But the words “through thorns to the stars” are directly related to the singer. He is now “happy than anyone,” has become wiser and remembers the past, and still prefers not to talk about music, but to make it and enjoy the result.
Childhood and youth
Grigory Viktorovich Leps ( real name- Lepsveridze) was born on July 16, 1962 in a Georgian family. Changing his last name does not mean that the singer is trying to hide his nationality. Leps is simply more harmonious and easier to remember.
The musician's father worked at a meat processing plant in Sochi, and his mother worked as a nurse. Grigory went to Sochi school No. 7 and was a completely useless student, constantly receiving bad marks. But from childhood the boy was interested in sports and music.
After school, Leps entered a music school to master percussion instruments. Here he was more successful than at school. Then the young man went to the army, and after military service ended, sang in Caucasian restaurants and tried his hand at performing in various rock bands. In the 80s, Leps was known as the lead singer of the then sensational band Index-398.
In his youth, Grigory Leps sang in Sochi restaurants every night. This greatly exhausted the singer, and he relieved the feeling of fatigue with the help of alcohol. After a while, the understanding came that he needed to move on, otherwise he would die both as an artist and simply as a person. Therefore, Gregory went to Moscow, where he was not received particularly cordially.
Nobody was interested in the artist’s repertoire, and Leps did odd jobs, became addicted to drugs, and neglected his appearance. The singer does not hide this period of his biography; on the official website, this is where Leps’ story begins.
Music
The real growth of his career began when the artist’s age exceeded 30 and the artist’s first album, “God Bless You,” was released, including the then popular composition “Natalie.” A video was also recorded for this song, which the singer himself saw only in the hospital, where he ended up due to a stomach ulcer.
Health problems did not allow Grigory to perform at the Song-95 festival; the musician lost a lot of time and 35 kg of weight. After this incident, Leps gave up alcohol and, even more so, drugs.
In 1997, Leps released his next album, “Whole Life.” In the same year, the artist appeared on “Song of the Year-97”, where he performed the composition “My Thoughts”. Participation in the famous concert influenced Leps’s popularity, and already in 1998 he starred in “Christmas Meetings”.
In 2000, Grigory Leps suddenly lost his voice and had to resort to surgery to restore the ligaments. The artist regained his former strength only in 2002, returning to the stage with the album “On the Strings of Rain.” Also this year, a video was shot for the now popular hit “A Glass of Vodka on the Table.”
Grigory Leps - “A glass of vodka on the table”In 2006, the album “In the Center of the Earth” was released and a concert of the same name took place at the Olympic Stadium.
In 2007, Leps recorded memorable duets with (“I Don’t Believe You”) and with (“She’s Not Yours”). The music for the songs was composed by a famous Russian composer and producer.
Grigory Leps and Stas Piekha - “She’s not yours”After 2 years, Grigory Leps performed in the Kremlin for 3 days in a row with his new album “Waterfall”. 15 thousand fans of the artist’s work attended the concerts. A month later, Grigory was again hospitalized, this time with acute bronchitis. However, just a few weeks - and the artist again attracts full houses, this time in Germany.
The singer’s new album appeared in 2011 and was called “Pince-nez”. In the same year, the President awarded Grigory Leps the title “Honored Artist Russian Federation».
In December of the same 2011, Leps recorded the song “Requiem for Love” together with a rap artist, and a year later the result of the collaboration of this unusual creative tandem called “London” was presented.
Grigory Leps and Timati - “Requiem for Love”Leps sang Lev Shapiro’s song “The Best Day.” For her and for " A real woman"He received 2 Golden Gramophone statuettes in 2011. For the first time in the history of this prestigious award, two solo songs by the same artist were awarded simultaneously.
In 2012, the musician opened a production center of his own name, designed to help young musicians find a place in show business. In the same year, Leps received the Golden Gramophone and Best Singer of the Year" according to the Song of the Year festival.
Grigory Leps and Alexander Rosenbaum In December, the man recorded the album “Full Speed Ahead!”, which immediately took first place in the chart of the Russian segment of the iTunes Store. In parallel with the new disc, 2 collections of songs were published that have already earned the love of the public: “The Best”, consisting of three discs (2 with Leps’ hits and 1 with an audio version of a previously unreleased concert in 2011), and “Duets” on 2 discs, where included compositions recorded by the musician together with Irina Allegrova and other star Russian performers.
In 2013, Leps presented several new songs during the festival " New Wave" The musician sang the “Moscow Song” solo, performed “Captive” with, “Brother Nicotine” with Loic and Timati, and sang the composition “Mirrors” in a duet with. This year Gregory again received the Singer of the Year award and already 2 Golden Gramophone awards.
Grigory Leps and Ani Lorak - “Mirrors”In October 2013, the US Treasury Department stated that the musician was part of a “Eurasian crime syndicate.” For his connection with the “post-Soviet mafia,” the United States banned Leps from entering the country, froze his assets and prohibited its citizens from making transactions with the musician.
Shortly before being blacklisted, Grigory, in alliance with Alexander Rosenbaum, recorded the video “Zastolnaya” (“Evening Drinking”). The song, as a number of sources wrote, is dedicated to businessman Otari Kvantrishvili, who was considered an authority in criminal circles and was killed by a sniper in 1994.
Grigory Leps, Alexander Rosenbaum and Joseph Kobzon - “Evening Table”2014 brought Leps 3 concerts in Crocus City Hall, the release of the 12th studio album “Gangster No. 1”, which became Leps’s answer to America’s accusations, 2 more Golden Gramophones and many other prestigious awards. The song “By-bye” was released as a separate single, which Grigory performs with.
In 2015, Grigory Leps organized a festive annual music festival"Christmas at Rosa Khutor." The singer is a regular participant in the Zhara festival. The artists have a joint business – the restaurant “A Glass of Vodka”.
TV
In 2015, Leps began to regularly appear on television not in a performing role. The musician accepted an invitation to host a show on the Russia-1 channel. Main stage" together with the co-host.
In the 4th season of the popular music program “,” Leps acted as a mentor. In addition to Grigory Viktorovich, they shared their experience with young people. Leps' team won the show. The finalist of “The Voice” was. After the victory, the monk toured Russia and near abroad.
In 2016, Grigory Leps again organized a Christmas festival and continued the path of a mentor in the show “The Voice”. In the 5th season, among Leps’s wards was (Nuki) from the “Slot” group and, who took 2nd place in the season finale.
Subsequently, Panayotov became an object close attention production company Leps. The artist, according to Gregory, is the first candidate to take off Russian stage. The producer is very pleased with what Sasha is doing in the studio. All that remains is to gain recognition from the public. And Leps even welcomed the failure of his ward’s fifth attempt to get to Eurovision, since this is not a competition that is useful for performers.
Grigory undertook to promote her as a singer, but then abandoned this idea, limiting himself to organizing concerts for the TV presenter.
The artist has four children. , 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 talk shows. 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, Grigory presented a collection of valuables for public viewing at the Kremlin Historical Museum, with the exception of the icon donated.
In 2016, Leps’ daughter tried to follow in her father’s footsteps and start a musical 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 Inge 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, Grigory created the pop group COSMOS girls, which, in addition to Eva, included her friend Alexandra Giner and child “Voice” participant 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.
The fact that Leps, succumbing to the trends of the times, finally opened a page in "Instagram", Basta said. In addition to social networks, Gregory has an official website where he posts tour schedule, photos, interviews and news about the artist.
Grigory Leps now
In 2018, Grigory Leps again turned to cinema, writing the soundtrack for the series “” starring. Again because for the first time it was complete musical accompaniment The artist composed it back in 2016 for a biopic about a Byzantine princess. Previously, other films used compositions that were already familiar to viewers and had been performed on stage more than once. For “Godunov,” the singer released the song and video “Unsaid.”
Leps, without hesitation, agreed to participate in the film, which involves the color of Russian cinema and theater. In addition, the film tells “about the country where I was born, grew up and live, and which I love and for which I root for in my soul. you need to understand, feel and know how the country lived 500 years ago. You can't lose track of the past! A person has no future if he does not know his past.”
In November 2018, Gregory’s collection of awards was replenished with another “Golden Gramophone”. The singer pleased fans with a number of new products.
Grigory Leps with the Golden Gramophone award in 2018 The video for the song Life Is Good stars businessman Roman Vasilenko, founder of the Best Way cooperative, in which the authorities discovered signs of an online pyramid. The song “Without You” from the album “You’re So Serious,” released in 2017, also took on a video format. The director of the “Amen” video from the same disc was Oleg Chervonyak, video director of Gazgolder and author of videos and. In the scandalous video “The Color of Mood is Blue,” the honored artist appeared in the guise of a homeless person.
Grigory Leps - “Life Is Good” (premiere 2018)Leps had to make changes to his summer tour schedule - the singer was hospitalized with broken ribs. However, Gregory spoke at anniversary concert poet and businessman. The traditional “Christmas with Grigory Leps” in December 2018 was moved from Sochi to Moscow, to Crocus City Hall, but will last 2 days instead of one.
Discography
- 1995 – “God bless you”
- 1997 – “A Whole Life”
- 2000 – “Thank you, people”
- 2002 – “On the Strings of Rain”
- 2004 – “Sail”
- 2006 – “Labyrinth”
- 2006 – “In the center of the earth”
- 2007 – “Second”
- 2009 – “Waterfall”
- 2011 – “Pince-nez”
- 2012 – “Full speed ahead!”
- 2014 – “Gangster No. 1”
- 2015 – “Babos to bosses”
- 2016 – “Lonely”
- 2017 – “Why Are You So Serious”
Famous musicians and artists always attract great attention from the press and public, and Grigory Leps is no exception. The biography, personal life of the singer, his successes and failures are of great interest to fans. His path to the stage was not easy; he spent a long time searching for himself, but never betrayed his calling. Let's talk about how Grigory Leps, a biography whose personal story is unique, came to great fame and achieved his goals.
Childhood and family
On July 16, 1962, a boy was born in the city of Sochi, whom the whole country would later recognize under the pseudonym Leps. The biography, in which the family was not a decisive factor, began very ordinary. The parents of Grisha Lepsveridze (that is the singer’s real name) were absolutely far from music. My mother worked at a bakery, my father worked at a local meat processing plant, and a girl, Eteri, also grew up in the family. Since childhood, Grisha has demonstrated an independent character and rebellious disposition. But from an early age it was clear that the boy had good musical abilities.
Education
The future Leps, a biography whose personal history at the very beginning did not foreshadow any turbulent events, studied at an ordinary Sochi school No. 7. Grigory did not show any zeal for study and was happily in the very last positions in terms of academic performance in the class. But at the same time, he was seriously involved in football, was fond of music, and played in the school ensemble. The vocation eventually took its toll, and at the age of 14 he entered the music school in the class percussion instruments, which successfully graduates in 4 years. Although here Lepsveridze was not listed among the excellent students. Academic progress was greatly hampered by temperament and addictive character.
Start of a career
After college, Leps, whose biography was still rolling along fairly typical Soviet-era tracks, joined the army and served in Khabarovsk. But after demobilization, the time has come to start working, and Grigory chooses his own path, deciding that he wants to devote his future life to music. He begins to work in a group that plays on the dance floor, then in the group of the Riviera park. He not only works as a drummer, but also actively tries himself as a vocalist. In Sochi at that time there were many restaurants with live music, so singers were in demand. Grigory sings in restaurants, collaborates with several rock bands, including becoming the lead singer of a famous Sochi band called Index 398. At that time, Leps’s performing style was significantly different from what we are used to hearing now. The young man is still in search of his own individuality and unique manner.
Local scale star
Pretty soon Gregory becomes famous in Sochi. He sings in a restaurant called “1.3.7” of the largest hotel “Pearl”. In addition to the usual restaurant repertoire, Leps then began to try to write his own songs and make his own arrangements. In the early 90s, he already had deafening fame on a local scale. People came to the restaurant specifically to listen to a singer with an unusual timbre. Each of his performances was always sold out. By the end of the program, the stage was usually strewn with banknotes. Such a stunning success, big and easy money turned to a young musician head. He spent all his fees on entertainment, drinks, and women. Restaurant night work is actually quite exhausting, and Leps found his way to recover: alcohol. He does not hide the fact that at that time he drank a lot and led a dissolute lifestyle.
Not only ordinary vacationers and the local population, but also various famous musicians often came to the restaurant. They all said that Grigory needed to go to Moscow, since he had “outgrown” the scale of Sochi. He was even promised support in promoting on the Moscow stage. But Gregory still hesitated for some time. However, at one fine moment he clearly realized that in Sochi he had reached his ceiling, and that further a dead end and alcoholism awaited him.
Moscow period
In 1992, Grigory Leps, whose biography by that time was already inextricably linked with singing, finally decided to move to the capital of Russia. Moscow greeted the singer without much cordiality, all promises of help and support disappeared like smoke, and Leps was forced to start his journey from scratch. For a soloist accustomed to success, this was not an easy test. In addition, at that time Gregory was not in in better shape, he gained weight and drank a lot. Therefore, no one was in a hurry to help him. However, restaurant workers in Moscow soon appreciated Leps’ vocal capabilities and provided him with work. He again had enough for entertainment and a wild life.
It took the singer two years to establish connections; he began working on his first album, “God Bless You.” The following year the record was released, and some of the songs gained popularity, especially the composition “Natalie”, which became a real hit. Leps’s concert activities began to improve, and he began filming two videos at once. But rehearsals, work, recordings, as well as ongoing alcoholic libations led to Gregory having a severe attack of pancreatic necrosis. The singer fell under a surgical knife. During treatment, he lost 35 kg, and the doctors’ words that any, even the smallest dose of alcohol could now become fatal for him, forced him to give up the addiction. Therefore, after leaving the hospital, Leps threw himself into work, and the results were not long in coming.
Big stage
In 1997, the singer released his second album, “Whole Life,” recorded a year before. Also, Leps (his biography is starting to go uphill) takes part in the prestigious television concert “Song of the Year”. The broad masses of listeners are beginning to recognize him. In 1998, the singer received an invitation from Alla Pugacheva to take part in the “Christmas Meetings” - this was a special sign of quality.
Leps begins to enjoy success. Colleagues invite him to group concerts, a tour program appears, and the authors are no longer afraid to entrust new songs. Leps is forming his own repertoire, which increasingly includes hits. The singer releases new albums, and since 2000 his concerts are almost always sold out.
Grigory Leps becomes a real star, his participation adds status to any concert or event. The singer's songs are breaking records in popularity. In the 21st century, he received everything a vocalist could dream of: the love of the audience, hits, interesting creative projects. But he doesn't want to stop. Leps experiments with different pop genres, gradually moving away from classical chanson. He works a lot in various projects, participates in music programs his colleagues and tours. In addition, he continues to write songs himself, although there are few of them in his repertoire, but they gain wide popularity among viewers.
Discography
Grigory Leps, whose biography has been associated with music for more than 30 years, has released more than a dozen albums, and listeners have the right to expect many new hits from him. The singer released his first albums as part of the Index 398 group in 1987 and 1988. In 1995, his first solo album, “God Bless You,” was released. Today the artist has 12 numbered albums. On average, he releases a new disc every two years. He also participates in the recording of duet songs that are included in his colleagues’ programs and collections. In 2011 he was born collaboration Lepsa with Alexander Rosenbaum, album “Shores of Pure Brotherhood”. Gregory also released 7 collections in which he combined his best compositions, and also presented his musical experiments to the public. The singer also has 9 reissue discs in his creative collection, which remind listeners of creative path artist.
Concert activities
Like any artist, Grigory Leps, a biography whose photos are known to almost every resident of Russia today, works for live communication with listeners. Therefore, he is active in concert activities. Leps has 19 concert programs. The first of them, “On the Strings of Rain,” appeared in 2003. The singer gave concerts in support of the release of new albums and in honor of his birthdays. There are several charitable and fundraising programs in his biography. Several of the singer's concerts were recorded on DVD.
Clips
Any singer, presenting his song to the audience, strives to create complete image, that’s what video clips are made for. Leps has more than 30 mini-films in his luggage. The first video was filmed in 1995 for the song “Natalie”. Several were filmed as duet compositions with different performers.
Television career
Grigory Leps, whose biography is closely connected with television today, has regularly participated in various projects since 1998. He annually stars in the “Song of the Year” and “Blue Light” programs, participates in various national concerts and attends award shows, as well as other events.
In 2009, the singer, together with actress Irina Grineva, took part in the “Two Stars” program. The duet did not take prize place, but was loved by the public. In 2010, Leps became a participant in NTV’s New Year’s project “Carnival Night with Maxim Averin.” In 2015, the singer, together with Garik Martirosyan, hosted the show “Main Stage” on the Rossiya channel. In 2015 and 2016, Leps successfully worked as part of a team of mentors on the Channel One music show “The Voice.”
Also, the singer is often invited to various programs and shows, for example, “Looking at Night” and “Evening Urgant.” Leps is the organizer of the “Christmas on Rosa Khutor” festival, which brings together all the cream of the Russian stage. The concert is traditionally filmed for Channel One.
Duets
Today, all singers strive to diversify their sound and often work in duets. Grigory Leps, whose biography continues to gain height every year, is a desired partner for many performers. And in his creative baggage there are many brilliant duet numbers. To the most noticeable partner work It is worth including a duet with Alexander Rosenbaum, Irina Allegrova, Valery Meladze, Ani Lorak, Polina Gagarina, Stas Piekha and rapper Timati.
Entrepreneurship
Singer Grigory Leps, biography, whose personal life is more than successful, is also trying himself in business. Together with a restaurant holding company, the singer opens a karaoke bar in Moscow under his own name - Leps Bar. The musician himself visits this establishment quite often. In 2013, the artist tried to open a similar establishment in Kyiv, but it could not withstand the competition and soon closed. The singer is also a participant in the Leps Optics eyewear business.
Awards
For my creative life Gregory received many awards; in the 21st century, awards literally rain on him. In 2004 he received the title of Honored Artist of Ingushetia. In 2011 he was awarded the high title “Honored Artist of the Russian Federation”. In 2015, he became the People's Artist of Karachay-Cherkessia. More than 10 times the singer became the laureate of the “Song of the Year” award and twice received the L. Utesov prize at this festival. He has three awards from Muz-TV for duets with Irina Allegrova, Ani Lorak and Stas Piekha. He is also the winner of 8 RU.TV awards and 10 Golden Gramophones from Russian Radio.
Personal life
Fans are always interested in the artist’s private life. Grigory Leps is no exception. Journalists and listeners want to know the details of his family history.
The singer married twice. The first wife of Grigory Leps, whose biography has always been colorful female names, studied with him at the music school. This student marriage with Svetlana Dubinskaya gave birth to the singer’s daughter Inga and very quickly broke up.
Then there was a long and stormy period of freedom in Leps’ life. And in 2000, in a nightclub, he saw his new love. Leps’s second wife, whose biography is also connected with show business, worked as a dancer in the Laima Vaikule ballet. Anna Shaplykova was 10 years younger than Grigory and amazed him with her beauty and grace. But the girl did not take the singer’s hasty marriage proposal seriously. And Leps had to seek her consent, but she did not have a chance to resist Leps’s charm and pressure. The couple had three children - two daughters and the long-awaited son Vano.
Singer Leps, biography, personal life, whose wife is constantly in the field of view of journalists and fans, tries to hide the details of his life. But he doesn't do it well. The paparazzi are hunting for him, and today interesting facts about the musician’s biography are known to everyone. During his life, he was seriously ill several times, even lost his voice and underwent several operations, but each time he returned to the stage. It is impossible to imagine the image of Leps without sunglasses. The singer collects them; today his collection includes more than 300 exhibits, which he periodically wears. Due to suspicions of connections with the Russian mafia, the singer was banned from entering the United States. The musician reacted to this event with humor and released the album “Gangster No. 1.”
A popular artist, having stumbled only once in life, can forever forget about recognition and people's love. True, for some reason this rule does not apply Russian singer with Georgian roots - Grigory Leps. He indulged in drugs, mercilessly drowned his sorrows and joys in a glass, spent money on dubious pleasures, thoughtlessly wasted his life, but the audience still loved him. Despite the “sins of youth,” the performer with a bewitching voice has had a great personal life. Leps's wife is a patient and wise woman who knows how to forgive, listen, love and inspire.
Grigory Leps with his wife Anna Shaplykova
Leps's first wife Svetlana Dubinskaya: secret hot dates, quarrels and sobs...
Fragile Sveta was the real queen of the Sochi Music School, where the future national idol Grigory Leps received his education. The young men fell in love with the modest student without looking back, and the hero of her dreams was the “soul of the party” Grisha. Sveta's lover was distinguished by his brilliant wit - he talentedly told jokes and won the hearts of girls with his acting skills. Student romance between two loving hearts was full of tenderness and charm. The couple was kindly envied. Classmates, watching the “love story” at the school, predicted future happy changes in Leps’ biography.
The first wife of Grigory Leps Svetlana Dubinskaya
Having received his diploma, Gregory went to serve in the army. After demobilization, Leps decided to take a serious step in life - he proposed his hand and heart to Svetlana Dubinskaya. The Leps family received the new wife coldly. The guy’s strict parents constantly found flaws in his chosen one and pointed out mistakes to the girl. Scandals began to occur between relatives. Even the appearance of a child in the family, Inga’s daughter, did not save the fragile marriage.
The first wife of Grigory Leps Svetlana Dubinskaya with her daughter Inga
By that time, Gregory had become a sought-after restaurant singer. Family, wife, children faded into the background for Leps - in first place among life priorities The artist turned out to have successful performances and crazy earnings. Leps's first wife, being a proud and desperate young lady, one fine day took her daughter and left forever. Svetlana’s husband had no time to suffer due to a breakup. Fame came to the singer.
Grigory Leps on stage
New happy family of Grigory Leps: wife, children, photo from personal archive
After his divorce from his first wife Svetlana, Leps’s personal life did not work out for a long time. The artist broke the hearts of fans to pieces, while remaining unapproachable and cold. Leps met his second wife Anna Shaplykova at one of the parties. The artist managed to spot his future life partner in the twilight of the nightclub. Noise, booze, celebrity friends - and no serious mood. And suddenly she appeared on stage - an elegant ballerina with a charming smile. The girl performed as part of the Laima Vaikule ballet. Grigory Leps drew attention to the graceful lady from the “back-up dancer” and immediately, without a shadow of a doubt, announced to his friends: “I will marry this beauty!” Cheerful company took the words of a convinced bachelor as a joke. Then none of the event participants could have imagined that Leps’s future wife was performing on the same stage with Vaikule.
Anna Shaplykova with children Eva, Nicole and Ivan
The brutal singer did not dare to approach the charming ballerina that fateful evening. A few months later, Leps saw the beautiful stranger again. The non-random meeting took place on the anniversary of Laima’s husband. This time the artist did not hesitate - he approached Anna and asked straight to the forehead: “Will you become my wife?” Shaplykova was not in the mood for flirting that day. The dancer had a reliable gentleman for a long time, and, unlike hundreds of other women, she was not crazy about Leps. To the famous fan’s proposal, the woman responded with a counter question: “Do you have Moscow registration?” The answer of the daring beauty puzzled Leps.
Grigory Leps and Anna Shaplykova
Leps's wife Anna Shaplykova: “You have to be an idiot to leave such a wife!”
Grigory Leps courted his future wife Anna with unusual tenacity - he showed imagination and surprised him with surprises. The ballerina was in no hurry to rush into the arms of her star admirer, but the man was persistent. In the end, Anna’s heart melted - her ex-boyfriend was turned away. Shaplykova moved to Leps. After the birth of their daughter Eva, the couple formalized their relationship at the registry office. For the sake of the cloudless family life the talented ballerina gave up her career and, without fear of ruining her figure, gave birth to two more children to Gregory. Leps's wife was able to easily find common language and with her husband’s daughter from her first marriage. Inga became friends with her stepsisters.
The daughters of Grigory Leps - Inga and Eva - on the set music project"Voice"
The head of the family constantly disappears on tour, sparing no effort to earn money. Anna is busy raising her offspring and doing household chores. A wise woman never reproaches her husband for devoting little time to his family, relieving stress with strong drinks and bathing in female attention. “You have to be an idiot to leave such a wife!” - says Leps, inspired by love.
The secret passion of Grigory Leps is his family
Family of Grigory Leps: “I’m happier than anyone!”
Large family Lepsa in the photo looks friendly and united. Living together creative personalities has been going on for more than 15 years. Leps draws inspiration from a real “flower garden”. The artist has three charming daughters - Inga, Eva and Nicole. The woman he loved also gave Gregory a son, Ivan.
How old is Leps's wife?
Fans famous couple People often wonder how old Leps’ slender wife is. A youthful beauty born in 1972, she is a mother of three times, but, apparently, great love does not allow her to wither and waste away. The age difference between him and Gregory is 10 years.
Grigory Leps and wife Anna Shaplykova
Children of Grigory Leps, photo
The singer’s children show creative abilities from an early age and grow up active and inquisitive. Parents, despite their wealth, do not want their children to turn into “majors” and spoiled people. Children receive expensive gifts only on special occasions. The family now lives in a large country house. To the daughters of Leps weekdays I need to wake up at 6 am to be on time for my first lesson at school. A caring mother of many children strictly monitors the daily routine of her treasures, and her husband is calm about an irregular work schedule. Anna does not consider it necessary to “re-educate” her life partner and deprive him of the opportunity to do what he loves in life. Now Grigory Leps is almost one hundred percent satisfied with his personal life.
Grigory Leps with his family
The singer, despite his addictions, was able to conquer more than one peak in life. Like all purposeful men, the artist dreams of working less while earning more than he does now. Leps is incredibly pleased to admire his wife and children in the photo, but this is not enough for complete happiness. A public person wants to see loved ones more often, forgetting about concerts and albums for a while. The artist is ready to meet new achievements and dreams, and his faithful wife Leps, as before, is happy to support her other half in all endeavors.
Grigory Leps is a Russian singer who is known both to those who lived through the times of the USSR and those born after this period. During his life, the artist managed to receive many prestigious awards, captivating millions of listeners. Many people wonder how old Grigory Leps is now, because according to him appearance it is difficult to determine the singer's age.
Although Gregory is of Georgian origin, he was born in Sochi, into a family of factory workers. Leps's father (real name is Lepsveridze) worked at a meat processing plant, and his mother at a bread factory. At school, Grigory Viktorovich stood out only with negative side. There he was called a “damned loser,” but this did not stop Leps from starting to perform at the age of twenty.
How old is Grigory Leps?
The life of Grigory Leps was incredibly rich in various events and achievements, but what is it like now? There's a lot to be said about an artist these days. For example, he:
- Accused by the American authorities of involvement in the post-Soviet mafia.
- Receives more than $15 million annually.
- Has a share in the Moscow bar “Leps Bar”.
- A series of glasses, “Leps Optics,” is produced under his name.
- He is included by the Ukrainian Security Service in the list of people “creating a threat to national security.”
As for the artist’s latest creative successes, it is worth noting his organization of the “Christmas on Rosa Khutor” and “Heat” festivals, a nomination for the Muz-TV award, a number of concerts, new songs and videos. The artist also works as a mentor in the television project Voice.
How long did it take the singer to reach such heights? How old is Grigory Leps? Famous Russian performer was born in July 1962, so he will turn 55 in July 2017.
The origins of Leps's career
Grigory's passion for music manifested itself in childhood, when, in addition to football, he went to school ensemble. A little later, the boy entered a music school, where he was trained to play percussion instruments.
I had to forget about creativity for a while when Grigory went to serve in Khabarovsk. When he returned, he began singing in restaurants in his hometown and even playing in rock bands. In those days, he managed to sing for some time for the group “Index-398”, with which he released two albums.
Leps performed in numerous hotels and restaurants, but almost all his earnings went to waste. He spent huge sums on slot machines, alcohol and women. The artist himself admits that he could easily have given more than 150 rubles, which at that time was a very large sum.
Only at the age of thirty did Gregory move to Moscow. He believed that he could no longer continue to live at such a rhythm in Sochi, that he needed something more, and therefore, following numerous advice famous artists, he left for the capital.
Through thorns to the stars
Leps's journey in Moscow started off hard. The artist recalls that at first no one was interested in him in the capital, which is why he first returned to his old habit - alcohol, and then became addicted to drugs. As always happens, all the people who promised to help Gregory in Moscow instantly evaporated.
With all this, Leps managed to earn enough for a very hectic life, with regular visits to restaurants. A couple of years later, he finally recorded his first album, the tracks of which included famous song"Natalie". She became one of the most popular on radio stations in record time.
Such a surge had varied consequences. On the one hand, Gregory began to listen to two clips at once. The first is for his most popular song, and the second is for “God Bless You.” On the other hand, such a tight schedule resulted in health problems for the singer. The main reason His hospitalization was caused by his former addictions; his body simply could not withstand the sudden stress.
Lying on the operating table, Gregory was literally on the verge of life and death. But after discharge, according to doctor’s orders, he almost completely gave up alcohol. In general, the fear of death changed the direction of the performer's life, thanks to which, to some extent, his career began.
Creative Dawn
Shortly after this, Grigory Leps began releasing new songs. He recorded the album “Whole Life”, and a little later was able to take part in the “Songs of the Year” festival, which he had previously missed due to illness. Then Alla Pugacheva invited him to sing together at the Olimpiysky, and Alexander Kalyanov asked him to perform Vysotsky’s song.
Working with Alexander Solokha was no less productive, thanks to whom numerous Leps videos appeared. After this, the singer’s life became especially stormy. Almost in one year he:
- Released third album
- Performed a song by David Tukhmanov,
- Got my own website
- Met my future wife
- Lost his voice and underwent surgery to restore it.
The latter hit Gregory’s condition especially seriously, but it was at this time that Anna, the future wife, showed herself in all her glory and greatly helped the artist with great care. Literally a year later, Leps gave a number of major concerts, and a year later received the “Chanson of the Year” award.
After that, he released more than twelve albums, many reissues, singles and compilations, as well as a split album recorded with Alexander Rosenbaum, called “Shores of Pure Brotherhood”. Leps received titles such as “Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia”, numerous awards from Ru.TV, ZD Awards, Muz-TV, Golden Gramophone and many others.
Leps Grigory Viktorovich(real name Lepsveridze) - Soviet and Russian singer, composer, producer, member International Union figures pop art. Honored Artist of the Republic of Ingushetia, the Russian Federation, People's Artist of Karachay-Cherkessia. Winner of the World Music Awards, Song of the Year, Golden Gramophone, laureate of the Chanson of the Year award and many others.
The childhood and youth of Grigory Leps
Grigory Leps (Lepsveridze) was born on July 16, 1962 in Sochi. His father, Viktor Antonovich Lepsveridze, worked at a meat processing plant, his mother, Natella Semyonovna, worked at a bakery. Gregory has sister Eteri Alavidze.
Grigory in childhood (Photo: grigoryleps.ru)
Grigory Leps studied at Sochi school No. 7. But he did not succeed, as he himself admitted, very successfully. Twitchy and nervous teachers called Gregory a “damned loser,” says Leps’ biography on the Find Out Everything website.
Grisha Leps has always been fascinated by music. IN official biography on the website of Grigory Leps it says: “I knew how to study, but did not want to, in high school the only reason to go to school was the school ensemble, where Grigory began to sing and play the drums.”
In addition, Grigory has been playing football quite seriously since childhood.
He entered and four years later graduated from a music school in the class of percussion instruments (Photo: grigoryleps.ru)
In 1976, Grigory Leps entered the music school in the percussion class. After graduating from college, Leps joined the army. The service took place miles away from my hometown - in distant Khabarovsk. And only after demobilization, Grigory Leps was able to devote himself to his favorite activity - music. At first, Grigory sang in Sochi restaurants, what is called “non-stop”, all night long. I was tired, of course, and as Grigory himself said, he relaxed with alcohol; nothing else helped relieve the excessive stress. Leps spent all his fees on casinos, slot machines, women and excessive libations. And there was quite a lot of money at that time. “It used to be up to 150 rubles a day. It happened much more,” recalled Grigory Viktorovich.
Grigory Leps served in the army in Khabarovsk (Photo: grigoryleps.ru)
Grigory Leps worked as a soloist in the restaurant of the famous Sochi hotel "Riviera" (Photo: grigoryleps.ru)
In the 80s, Grigory Leps was the lead singer of the Index-398 group in Sochi. In the early 90s, as can be understood from Leps’ biography on his website, he reached a certain level and worked as a soloist in the restaurant of the famous Sochi Riviera hotel. “Became a local celebrity! People went specially to Leps’ concerts; by Soviet standards, the fees were “off the charts.” Many celebrities, having heard Gregory’s singing, advised him to go to Moscow,” says the musician’s biographical article.
Finally, Grigory Leps realized that if he did not raise himself to a higher level in musically, then he will never be able to express himself as a real artist and, in the end, will become completely drunk.
Gregory decided to go to the capital. Leps said: “I didn’t go for fame as such. I just already understood that if I stayed singing in Sochi restaurants, I would fizzle out as an artist.”
Moscow career of Grigory Leps
The decision to leave was fueled by many famous musicians such as Alexander Kalyanov, Oleg Gazmanov, Mikhail Shufutinsky, Alexander Rosenbaum. They often dined at the restaurant where Leps sang and were hospitably invited to the capital.
Grigory Leps moved to Moscow, sang in Moscow restaurants (Photo: grigoryleps.ru)
However, Moscow greeted the new arrival without joy. Grigory Leps continued to drink a lot and, according to his own recollections, during the conquest of Moscow, he began to use drugs. “Looked appropriately bad. My weight was over 100 kg. And the people who once promised to help naturally disappeared. It was difficult with me like this,” Leps recalled.
An unhealthy lifestyle was not slow to make itself known in Moscow. In 1995, Leps began filming two videos - “Natalie” and “God Bless You” (the album “God Bless You” that year became the first in Grigory Leps’ solo discography). The intense schedule of rehearsals and concerts completely undermined his health. Grigory was hospitalized with a serious diagnosis. The artist, recalling those events in his memory, said: “Then, after many years of stupid drunkenness, the body simply could not stand it - pancreatic necrosis. I was so twisted at the moment that I thought it was all over. They took me to the hospital by ambulance and immediately onto the operating table. The doctors had serious doubts whether I would survive. I remember lying and staring blankly at the hospital ceiling. There is not a single thought in my head. It was only scary when the dead neighbors were taken out of the room.”
Leps’s biography notes that “Gregory was attended by his mother, who moved to his hospital during her son’s illness.” During his illness, Leps lost 35 kilograms.
When Grigory Leps was discharged from the hospital, doctors warned that one sip of alcohol could be his last. Since then, Leps almost never drinks alcohol. "There was a lot different periods in my life. And only the fear of dying young stopped me from repeating certain mistakes,” Leps frankly admitted.
Due to illness, Grigory was also unable to perform at the “Song of the Year-95” concert.
The flourishing career of Grigory Leps
But the singer's popularity grew. In 1997, the second album “Whole Life” was released, and in 1998 Grigory Leps received an invitation from Alla Pugacheva to sing the song “I’ll See You Anyway” at the Olimpiysky at the “Christmas Meetings”. From this moment on hometown Mostly good news came about Gregory.
Grigory Leps creatively collaborated with many singers. Climbing big stage continued steadily.
Alexander Kalyanov organized a concert of Vysotsky’s songs performed by contemporary authors. Leps took part in this celebration with the song “Sail”. Collaboration with Alexander Solokha led to the appearance of such videos as “My Thoughts”, “First Birthday” and “Rat-Jealousy”, which made it possible to look at the chanson genre from a different perspective.
Singer Grigory Leps during a performance (Photo: Anvar Galeev/Russian Look/Global Look Press)
In 2001, several large concerts of Leps took place at the Rossiya State Central Concert Hall. In April 2002, for the first time in the Kremlin, Grigory was awarded the “Chanson of the Year” award in the “Your Way” nomination for the composition “Tango of Broken Hearts.” Then the album “On the Strings of Rain” was released, which included songs such as “A Glass of Vodka on the Table”, “Tango of Broken Hearts”, “I Believe, I’ll Wait”, a duet with Irina Allegrova “Angel of Tomorrow”, etc. Song “A Glass of Vodka on the Table” became Leps’s notable hit, and its popularity reached new level.
Popular singer Grigory Leps (pictured) at a press conference dedicated to his upcoming solo concerts with the new program “On the Strings of Rain” at the Rossiya State Central Concert Hall, 2003 (Photo: Sergey Miklyaev/TASS)
In the spring of 2005, Grigory Leps gave several sold-out concerts at the Rossiya State Concert Hall with the program “10 Best Years” and released a collection of songs “Favorites... 10 Years,” which included songs from the 10 most successful years of Leps’ musical career, as well as the original version of the song “ Chistye Prudy".
In May 2006, Grigory Viktorovich released the album “Labyrinth”, consisting of 9 songs. Among them was, in particular, the song “Blizzard”, the video for which with the participation of “Moscow Virtuosi” with Vladimir Spivakov was shown by all central TV channels. Video clips were also shot for the songs “Labyrinth” and “She”. In November, Leps released the album “In the Center of the Earth.”
On February 15, 2007, at the festival “New Songs about the Main Thing,” the premiere of the duet “I Don’t Believe You” by Leps and Irina Allegrova took place. April 12 and 13 at the Moscow Art Theater. A. M. Gorky hosted a presentation of the collection of the best songs “My whole life is a road...”.
Grigory Leps and Irina Allegrova (Photo: Anatoly Lomohov/Russian Look/Global Look Press)
In 2008, the New Year’s edition of the “Two Stars” program premiered a duet version of the song “Gop-Stop” with Rosenbaum and the song “She’s Not Yours” in a duet with Stas Piekha. On February 16, Leps and Stas Piekha performed at Edita Piekha’s creative evening. Grigory Leps also participated during this period in a creative evening with Igor Nikolaev.
Grigory Leps and Alexander Rosenbaum (Photo: Anatoly Lomohov/Russian Look/Global Look Press)
Leps performed in Kharkov on August 23, 2008, on the day of the liberation of the city from fascist invaders in one of the largest squares in the world - Freedom Square. His concert attracted more than 250 thousand spectators.
On February 10, 12 and 13, 2009, a presentation took place in the Kremlin new program Lepsa "Waterfall". Three concerts attracted more than 15,000 people.
On November 20, 2009, Leps held a big concert at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex, timed to coincide with the release of the “Waterfall” disc, which attracted 18,000 spectators. On November 28, 2009, Gregory received the Golden Gramophone award for the composition “I Don’t Love You.” At the end of 2009, Alexander Gradsky’s rock opera “The Master and Margarita” was released, where Leps performed the 21-second role of the driver.
The following years were replete with creative performances, exciting discoveries, implementation interesting ideas. So in January 2010, Leps gave two concerts for the first time in the UAE on the stage of the Marina Gardens of the Burj al-Arab hotel in Dubai.
In March of the same year, the premiere of the song “Turn Around” by Valery Meladze and Grigory Leps (music and lyrics by Konstantin Meladze) took place on Russian Radio. A video was shot for this song.
Grigory Leps and Valery Meladze (Photo: Anatoly Lomohov/Russian Look/Global Look Press)
Since June 2011, Leps began working on a joint album with Alexander Rosenbaum. On October 31, the premiere of the video for the song “Evening Drinking” took place with the participation of not only Rosenbaum, but also Joseph Kobzon. In the same year, Leps recorded the song “Requiem for Love” in a duet with Timati.
Singers Timati (Timur Yunusov) and Grigory Leps (from left to right) at the annual awards ceremony music award"Golden Gramophone-2013" (Photo: Ruslan Shamukov/TASS)
On October 18, 2011, by decree of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Grigory Viktorovich Leps was awarded the title “Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.”
Gregory is invited to creative concerts. He sang on anniversary parties Alexander Zatsepin, Oleg Gazmanov, Dima Bilan. In Kyiv, Grigory Leps sang on Yan Tabachnik’s program “I have the honor to invite.”
Singer Grigory Leps at the annual music award ceremony "Golden Gramophone 2014" (Photo: Vyacheslav Prokofiev/TASS)
2012 brought new creative achievements. On September 29, Leps was awarded the “RU.TV 2012” award in the “Best Artist of the Year” category.
In the same year, Leps gave concerts in London. The singer received ZD Awards in three categories: “Artist of the Year”, “Album of the Year” and “Concert of the Year”. On May 25 he was awarded the RU Prize. TV 2013 in the categories " Best Song" and "Best duet of the year."
In 2014, a video for the song “Lord, give me strength” was released. This is followed by the release of the twelfth studio album, Gangster No. 1. Soon the premiere of three concerts took place at Crocus City Hall and the presentation of the disc of the same name.
A member of Leps’ team, Hieromonk Photius, won the 4th season of the show “The Voice”.
The singer organizes the “Christmas at Rosa Khutor” Festival in Sochi every year. He became one of the organizers of the “Heat” festival in Baku.
In 2016, Grigory Leps again recorded a duet composition with Timati, which is called “Let me leave.” In June of the same year, Leps became the winner of the MUZ-TV Prize.
Leps was also among the mentors of the fifth season of the music show “The Voice,” along with such musicians as Dima Bilan, Leonid Agutin and Polina Gagarina. News about Grigory Leps’s work in “The Voice” regularly appears in the media; he is one of the most popular heroes of the show.
Singers Grigory Leps and Alexander Panayotov (from left to right) during the concert “The Voice. 5 Years” at the State Kremlin Palace, 2017 (Photo: Komsomolskaya Pravda/Global Look Press)
In February 2017, the anniversary tour #You'reSoSerious began, dedicated to the 55th anniversary of Grigory Leps.
Business and income of Grigory Leps
The restaurant holding "Ginza Project" opened a karaoke bar "Leps Bar" in Moscow, where Grigory Leps has a share and often appears. On November 16, 2013, the karaoke restaurant “Gleps” was opened in Kyiv (the establishment is currently closed). Also, a line of glasses “Leps Optics” is produced.
In the fall of 2015, Leps presented the debut line of GL Juwelry jewelry called “Angels and Demons.”
Leps also opened his own production center.
Grigory Leps is constantly in the ratings of the Russian edition of Forbes magazine. For the last 5 years, Grigory Viktorovich has not fallen below 3rd place in the ranking of show business stars. In 2017, his income was $6 million, and in 2013, Forbes counted Leps as much as $15 million.
In 2015, in the ranking of “50 main Russian celebrities", compiled by Forbes magazine, Leps let only tennis players Maria Sharapova and Philip Kirkorov ahead. In this rating, Forbes evaluates stars based on a set of parameters, in particular, income, mentions in the media and queries in Yandex.
Grigory Viktorovich Leps is engaged in charitable activities. Most of the funds raised from the sale of tickets to the artist’s charity concerts were transferred to the Balashikha Cancer Center.
Political views of Grigory Leps
The political loyalties of Grigory Leps are on the side of Vladimir Putin. In August 2015, the Security Service of Ukraine added Leps to the list of cultural figures whose actions pose a threat to the national security of Ukraine. They tracked Leps’s statements in support of the return of Crimea to Russia.
Leps gave a concert for Russian military personnel at the Syrian Khmeimim airbase.
Singer Grigory Leps performing at the rally "Defend the Country!" in support of V. Putin (Photo: Alexandra Mudrats/TASS)
Scandals surrounding Grigory Leps
The beginning of 2013 brought Grigory Leps an additional 100 thousand rubles - the Izmailovsky court forced Zheltaya Gazeta to pay Leps compensation for publishing a photo of the singer, since his rights to the image were violated. The singer was outraged by the shameless interference in his personal life: “Some creature comes to my house, I’ll get him anyway! My darling can’t stand it, I’ll soon calm them all down, the freaks!” - Mr. Leps shouted, addressing the journalists.
In 2013, unexpected news came - Grigory Leps was denied entry into the United States. The addition of Leps to the “black list” of the US Treasury became known on the night of October 31. The report from the American department indicates that Grigory Lepsveridze is associated with the leader of the post-Soviet criminal group Brothers Circle, Vladislav Leontyev. Allegedly, the artist helped him transport money. Leps himself learned about the accusations against him from news on the Internet and called them absurd.
Even the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, asked the United States to comment on the situation related to sanctions against the famous Russian singer Grigory Leps.
Leps responded to the United States the following year, calling his album “Gangster No. 1.”
In 2016, Grigory Leps was denied a British visa. The refusal was motivated by reference to “ American list».
Family and personal life of Grigory Leps
"2002. A wonderful event happened in Gregory's life! His daughter Eva was born!" (Photo: grigoryleps.ru)
Grigory Leps was married twice.
The first wife is Svetlana Dubinskaya. Common daughter Inga Lepsveridze (born December 23, 1984). Leps met his first wife at a music school in Sochi. Svetlana studied at the vocal department.
The second wife, Anna Shaplykova (born May 13, 1972), is a ballet dancer in Laima Vaikule. Anna graduated from school in Nikopol, Dnepropetrovsk region. As Leps' biography on Wikipedia states, he first saw his second wife in 2000 in a nightclub.
Leps and his second wife have two daughters - Eva Lepsveridze (born February 23, 2002) and Nicole Lepsveridze (born May 12, 2007), as well as a son, Ivan (Vano) Lepsveridze (born May 6, 2010).
Singer Grigory Leps with his wife Anna (right) and daughter Inga (Photo: Komsomolskaya Pravda/Global Look Press)
Eva Leps in an interview with Tatler said that “we already have one musician in our family, and that’s enough. And I develop dramatic talent at the school at the Children’s Musical Theater for Young Actors, practice galloping in the arena and write poetry.” On stage, Leps' daughter played a clown in the play "Pippi Longstocking"
Eldest daughter Grigory Leps Inga Lepsveridze, according to her biography on the Smi24 website, studied in London, received a bachelor's degree in communications at Goldsmiths University and a master's degree in history at Sotheby's Institute of Art. In New York in 2014, Inga Leps graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts. Inga Leps plays in films and tries herself as a singer, however, she did not make it into the show “The Voice” blind audition from his own father.