Biography
Who is Vitas?
Early life and background
Born in Daugavpils within the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic, he was raised in Odesa, Ukraine. His mother, Lilia Mihailovna Gracheva, worked as a costume designer, while his father, Vladas Arkadevich Grachev-Marantzman, was a musician. He learned to play the accordion at age five under his grandfather's guidance.
He attended art school beginning at age seven and participated in various theatrical productions throughout his teenage years. During this time, he began composing songs, claiming to have written at least 1,000 tracks by age 12. He eventually adopted the professional name Vitas because he felt his birth name was too long.
Early career and breakthrough
Before achieving fame, he performed in nightclubs, doing magic tricks, comedy, and impressions of Michael Jackson. He attempted to enter the Chervona ruta festival in 1997 but was turned away because he lacked Ukrainian-language songs in his repertoire. Later, he performed in an experimental theatre where he met producer Sergey Pudovkin.
His debut music video for the song Opera 2 premiered in December 2000. The video depicted an eccentric character with fish gills living in a bathtub, which drew significant public attention. This helped launch his career and led to his first major concert tour titled Philosophy of Miracle, which began in 2001.
Musical style and global reach
His musical output incorporates a wide range of genres, including opera, techno, pop rock, and folk. He often designs his own stage costumes and performs alongside a backing band called DIVA. Beyond his initial success in Russia, he became well-known in Asian markets, particularly China, following a 2006 performance at a major event in Beijing.
His music gained further international traction in the 2010s as older videos for songs like The 7th Element and Smile! Became viral sensations. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with artists such as Demis Roussos and Lucio Dalla. He has also released albums dedicated to his late mother, including The Songs of My Mother, which featured classic Soviet tracks.
Film and television work
In addition to his music, he has appeared in several acting roles. He starred in the television murder mystery series Beloved Scoundrel, where he played a pop singer with a high-pitched voice. He also held a role in a comedy film titled Crazy Day.
Birthday and age
Vitas was born on February 19, 1979, which makes Vitas 47 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Vitas shares the date with 57 other famous people.
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