Petr Dranga is a Russian accordion musician, producer and singer. The unique artist has become a kind of phenomenon on the national stage.
The father of the virtuoso musician Yuri Dranga is Greek by nationality. He met his chosen one Elena in Rostov. The union of the teacher of the conservatory and the student of the same educational institution turned out to be creative.
The beginning of the road to vocation
The biography of Peter Yuryevich Dranga began in 1984. He was born on the eighth day of March in a family of musicians. Parents raised two older sisters of their long-awaited son, Eugene and Lydia.
There was always music in the house. The son decided to continue the work of his father, a professor at the Gnessin Academy of Music, a famous accordionist and People's Artist of the country. As a child, Petya dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.
From the age of five, the boy began to learn music. He quickly mastered simple melodies under his father's guidance. At six, classes began in the capital's music school named after Richter. Peter constantly took part in various concerts, festivals, competitions.
The first notable success came at twelve. Peter became a laureate of the metropolitan accordion competition. He also became the winner at an international competition in Italy after the tournament.
The young musician masterly played not only the classics on the instrument. He brilliantly handled grunge, art and punk rock, amazing listeners with his performing skills and unexpected selection of works. On his own, Dranga Jr. mastered the bass guitar. The boy won the fame of a man-orchestra, capable of replacing a small team.
Achievements
Peter effortlessly created interesting arrangements of the classics, drawing adolescents to listen to music unfashionable among young people. One of the first accordionist to provide classical compositions with a modern sound and made them popular with young people.
New peaks were conquered to Peter. He first won domestic, then international competitions.
After leaving school Dranga in 2000 created the "Torra" collective. The members of the group performed in the evenings, prepared new programs, and received education during the day. Peter studied at the Gnesin School of Music at the department of conducting and folk instruments. This was followed by admission to the Gnessin Academy.
Soon "Torra" transformed their vocal-instrumental into an exclusively instrumental group. However, despite the talent of the musicians, they failed to achieve resounding success. The existence of the collective has ceased.
Two years later, tired of part-time jobs in restaurants and clubs, Peter left for the Caucasus. He has earned a solid capital. The funds were invested in its own music studio and a new group, Over Drive. The first tour of the band took place in early autumn 2002. They turned out to be very successful.
Confession
The play of the young musician amazed the famous parodist Alexander Peskov. He invited Dranga to participate in his show. Together, the musician and the artist have traveled to many cities in Russia and abroad. Gradually, the name of Peter gained fame. Thanks to his artistry, bright appearance and talent, Peter constantly performed between the numbers of domestic and world celebrities.
By the beginning of the 2000s, Peter began a solo career. He became a popular artist who did not need the role of "warming up the audience" at other people's concerts.
The accordionist's debut album was released in 2008. The disc was called "23". It includes the most famous works, most of the hits for the record were written by the performer himself. Incendiary latina alternated with theatrical performance, tango, rock, chanson. The musician's program consisted of a mix of ethnic and rock music.
In autumn 2009, the first solo concert took place at the Rossiya State Central Concert Hall. The musician often collaborates with fashion brands as a model. Dranga regularly participates in television programs. In "Dancing on Ice", together with Oksana Grischuk, he won the third place. In the show "Just the same" he reincarnated as Valery Meladze, played the role of Eminem, Timberlake, Iglesias Jr.
In 2016, fans were delighted with two new discs, "Gulf Stream" and "Perspective". At the performances in support of them, the accordionist not only played, but also sang. Several of his compositions became hits. Among them are "Tango", "Make mewanna stay", for which clips were shot.
Off stage
Nothing is known about the personal life of a talented musician and an attractive man. Therefore, he is constantly credited with high-profile novels. Dranga has already denied rumors about his relationship with Leysan Utyasheva and Anfisa Chekhova.
In 2010, Peter, together with Oksana Kutuzova, attended the International Film Festival in Moscow. However, when asked by journalists about the relationship between them, the musician did not give an unambiguous answer to the press.
It was also reported about the beginning of an affair with a girl far from show business. There was no comment from Dranga on this matter. Finally, the fans were shocked by the news of the unexpected wedding of the idol with Alina Agafonova. Soon this message was refuted, and the media were carried away by the search for new data.
Dranga is already tired of keeping track of the "stuffing", since he has neither the strength nor the desire to "marry" twice in years. There is not the slightest hint of arranging a family nest on the artist's Instagram page. Occasionally there are pictures of Peter with the baby, but the accordionist does not publish any information about the presence of a wife or the birth of a child. Although it is not always possible to hide private life from journalists, the musician does his best not to advertise it.
New perspectives
At the end of 2017, an album was released with musical experiments of the accordionist, covers of popular compositions called Part One with Orchestra.
Petr Yurievich is also successful as a producer. His company "Dranga Music" is engaged in the "promotion" of novice musicians.
One of his wards, rapper Z Johnny, together with Timberlake recorded a track that hit the top ten on the Billboard charts.
With Pharrell Williams Peter created a beatbox and accordion for the composition "Freedom".
At the anniversary concert of singer Tamara Gverdtsiteli in March 2018, in a duet with her, Dranga sang the song "Padam …". The virtuoso's creativity continues. He gives concerts, creates music. For the whole of 2019, his tour schedule is scheduled.
