Asparuh Leshnikov – Ari
/1898 – 1978/

Asparuh LeshnikovA Brilliant tenor and singer of old popular tunes of international popularity, he was called by the European Criticism the “the knight of the upper F”.
He was born on 16th June 1898 and was a scholarship student of the prominent “Star Conservatory” in Berlin.

In 1828 Asparuh Leshnikov entered the biggest review-theatre in the German capital and is among the founders of the male vocal sextet “Comedy Harmonist”, which raised a furor on the scenes of Germany, Europe and the USA in the 1930s.

The songs of the group were recorded in many thousands of circulation, and among its admirers are the American President Roosevelt the Swedish King Olaf. After the coming of Hitler to power, the sextet dissolved and Ari came back to Bulgaria, where he recorded more than 100 records.

In 1968 he was awarded golden batch and the rank “Honored Member of Friedrichstatdpalast” and in 1977 he was awarded the “Cyril and Methodius” order. Asparuh Leshnikov died in extreme poverty on 31 July 1978 in Sofia.