His non-standard and at the same time wide-ranging vocals with elements of "hoarseness" today are recognized by almost everyone. And there was a period when he was a little-known singer entertaining the public in Sochi restaurants. Grigory Lepsveridze himself made his way to the Olympus of domestic show business, and it turned out to be very thorny.
Today he is a self-sufficient and sought-after artist, who, according to the authoritative edition of Forbes, is among the highest paid stars. So who is he, Grigory Lepsveridze, speaking under the unusual pseudonym Leps, and what success did he achieve in his work? Let's take a closer look at this issue.
Years of childhood and youth
Grigory Viktorovich Lepsveridze is a native of the city of Sochi (Krasnodar Territory). He was born on July 16, 1962 in a family of ordinary workers. The parents of the future celebrity worked at a bakery and a meat-packing plant.
The stage name of Grigory Lepsveridze "fixed" to him yetin childhood. Peers called him Leps, and, having embarked on a creative career, he decided to perform under this last name, although there were alternative options, for example, "Grisha Sochi".
It should be noted that studying at school was difficult. The teenager was much more pleased to drive a soccer ball around the field than listen to teachers at the desk. Soon, his interest in music will awaken and Grigory Lepsveridze will begin to play in the school ensemble. In parallel, the young man attends classes at a music school in the class of percussion instruments and successfully graduates from this institution.
Having received a matriculation certificate, the future pop star will go to serve in the army for 2 years.
After demobilization, Grigory Lepsveridze takes the first steps in his career, performing songs in a Sochi park, on dance floors and in restaurants. In the late 80s, he became a member of the musical group "Index - 398".
The young man immediately spent the money earned from concerts on entertainment.
Capital
In the early 90s, Grigory Lepsveridze, whose biography is of interest to a huge number of people, begins to realize that he has already outgrown the level of the restaurant scene and needs to develop further. Famous artists who regularly come on tour to Sochi, in particular Mikhail Shufutinsky, Alexander Rosenbaum, Oleg Gazmanov, advise a novice colleague to try his hand at the capital's concert venues.
Disappointment
Leps agrees and goes to Moscow. However, as he later recalledsinger, Belokamennaya "received him without any cordiality. His songs were little known, and there were no people who wanted to promote them either. Gradually, Leps began to overcome depression, which he began to "treat" with alcohol. Disillusioned with the cruel world of show business, he began to take drugs. People who in the past promised to help Grigory Viktorovich in promoting songs suddenly turned away from him. The artist's he alth was in serious danger, and he ended up in the Botkin hospital with a disappointing diagnosis of a stomach ulcer.
But Leps managed to overcome he alth problems and give up bad habits.
Hit
Shortly before getting to the medical institution, Grigory Viktorovich manages to complete work on his debut album "God bless you" and record several video clips for his songs. Lying in a hospital bed, he sees Natalie's video on TV, which becomes a real hit and regularly "spins" on radio stations. Leps has hope.
Second wind
Having been discharged from the clinic and having promised himself never to resort to alcohol and drugs again, the singer, after some rehabilitation, starts working on his second album - "A Whole Life". It was released in 1997. Leps is invited to "Song of the Year", where he introduces the listener to the new composition "My Thoughts". The singer's popularity is growing day by day, and now he is already singing at the "Christmas Meetings" at the Diva.
Fame and recognition
At the beginning of the 2000s, the surname Lepsa becomesknown throughout the country. His songs are recognizable, and they are massively sung in karaoke clubs. Grigory Viktorovich releases the third disc called "Thank you, people …".
He goes on a tour of Russia and in 2002 was awarded the prestigious Chanson of the Year award. Lepsveridze works hard, recording album after album. In total, he released 12 solo compilations, and this is far from the limit.
Currently, Grigory Viktorovich actively participates in television projects, performs at festive concerts, records video clips and sings songs in tandem with other singers and singers. In particular, he worked together with Valery Meladze, Stas Piekha, Ani Lorak, Irina Allegrova. And, of course, a duet should be mentioned separately - Alexander Rosenbaum and Grigory Lepsveridze. "Cats", "Afghan Blizzard", "Gop-stop", "Kamikaze", "Quartertinochka" - this is just a small fraction of the songs from their joint work.
Persona non grata for USA
For Americans, a singer from Russian Sochi is an undesirable person in their country. Moreover, the authorities of this “democratic” state openly announce that Grigory Lepsveridze is a mafioso who has contacts with the “Eurasian crime syndicate” called “Brotherly Circle”. The singer is not allowed to enter the United States. All of his funds held in American financial institutions are frozen. The US authorities consider the Russian artist a carrier of mafia money. And how does Grigory Lepsveridze himself relate to such attacks and accusations?Viktorovich? He denies crime in his life. The singer also denies the information that he has money in American banks.
But Leps has some business assets in his homeland. In particular, on a parity basis, he owns a network of karaoke bars Leps Bar and Gleps. Also, under the Leps Optics brand, a range of stylish glasses has been released.
At his leisure, he is engaged in charitable activities and carefully ensures that the sharks of the pen write exclusively truthful information about him. Grigory Viktorovich is fighting against "unscrupulous" journalists in court.
Regalia and awards
Over the years of creativity, Leps has received a huge number of prestigious awards. He is the winner of the "RU. TV" awards in the nominations "Best Singer" and "Best Duet". The composer is also the owner of the Golden Gramophone award, the Leonid Utesov prize for Song of the Year, the Muz-TV national music award in the Best Duet of the Year category.
In addition, Grigory Viktorovich received the title of Honored Artist of Russia.
Private life
Leps is a loving husband and caring father. He married twice.
He met his first wife Svetlana Dubinsky within the walls of the Sochi Musical College. She gave birth to the singer's daughter Inga. However, the family idyll after some time ended in divorce.
The second darling of the musician was the ballerina Anna Shaplykova, who worked in the team of the singer Laima Vaikule. LepsI saw her in a nightclub and was captivated by the beauty of the girl. As a result, Grigory and Anna got married, and after a while the ballerina gave birth to the wife of daughters Eva and Nicole and son Ivan.
