Grigory Leps

People's Artist of Russia (2022). 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.

The recorded working language is Russian. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are Russian chanson, Russian post-chanson, estrada and rock. Distinctions recorded are Merited Artist of Russia, Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland", 2nd class without swords, Medal to Participant in Military Operations in Syria and World Music Awards.

• Name — Grigory Leps • Birth Name — Григорий Викторович Лепсверидзе Grigory Victorovich Lepsveridze • Alias — Григорий Лепс Grigory Leps • Born — 16 July 1962 • Birthplace — Sochi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union • Origin — Georgian • Genre — Soft rock, pop rock, Russian chanson • Occupation — Singer-songwriter, musician • Instrument — Singing, guitar, piano, drums • Years Active — 1987–present • Label — Мистерия Рекордс • Associated Acts — Timati, Sergey Shnurov, Joseph Kobzon, Valery Meladze Irina Allegrova • Website — www.grigoryleps.ru

Grigory Leps was born Grigory Lepsveridze in the city of Sochi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union 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, 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 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 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. 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, he released the album, "Waterfall". On 18 March 2022, Leps sang at Vladimir Putin's Moscow rally celebrating the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation from Ukraine and justifying the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Presidential Administration of Russia put him on the list of singers who were recommended to be invited to state-sponsored events. On 22 February 2023, Leps sang at Vladimir Putin's 2023 Moscow rally. In June 2023, Leps' concert in the Almaty Region of Kazakhstan was canceled following pressure from the Kazakh public and activists over his support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan canceled a music festival where pro-Kremlin Russian singers, including Leps, were scheduled to perform.

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 in it.

In December 2022 the EU sanctioned Grigory Leps in relation to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• 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 • 2007 — «Бессонница» • 2008 — «Она не твоя» duet with Stas Piekha • 2009 — «Уходи красиво» (cover-version of Bryn Christopher's "The Quest") • 2009 — «Что может человек» • 2010 — «Измены» • 2010 — «Обернитесь» duet with Valery Meladze • 2011 — «Вечерняя застольная» Trio with Alexander Rosenbaum and Joseph Kobzon • 2012 — «Реквием по любви» duet with Timati • 2012 — «Водопадом» • 2012 — «Лондон» duet with Timati • 2013 — «Зеркала» duet with Ani Lorak • 2014 — «Господи, дай мне сил» • 2014 — «Бай-бай» duet with Natalia Vlasova • 2015 — «Бабосы боссам» duet with Green Grey • 2017 — «Орлы или вороны» duet with Maxim Fadeev • 2020 — «СПАСИБО» duet with Timur Rodriguez • 2020 — «НА КАРАНТИН» duet with Timur Rodriguez • 2023 — «Родина-мать» • 2023 — «Ещё вчера» duet with Elena Sever • 2023 — «Русские маяки» trio with Yulia Chicherina & Vlad Malenko • 2025 — «Дайте надежду» duet with Lesha Svik • 2025 — «Пепел» duet with Egor Kreed • 2025 — «Она не скажет да» duet with SHAMAN • 2025 — «Рок-н-ролл в кармане» • 2026 — «Шутка» duet with AKMAL'

• Year — Final — Title in English • 2007 — Я тебе не верю — I do not trust you • 2008 — Озеро надежды, Она не твоя — Hope Lake, She is not yours • 2009 — Я тебя не люблю — I do not love you • 2010 — Обернитесь, Уходи красиво — Turn around, Get out beautifully • 2012 — Лондон, Водопадом — London, Waterfall • 2013 — Зеркала, Я – счастливый — Mirrors, I'm happy

Grigory Leps was recorded at birth as გრიგორი ლეპსი. He also worked under the names Григорий Лепс and наГЛец. The authorities additionally record the heading Grigory Viktorovich Lepsveridze. His recorded language was Russian. His recorded confession was Eastern Orthodox Church. He married Anna Shaplykova. 2 children are recorded: Inga Leps and Eva Leps.

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, which the Treasury describes as a Eurasian criminal organization chiefly based in countries of the former Soviet Union.