Lauris Reiniks facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Lauris Reiniks
Reiniks in 2023
Background information
Born	(1979-07-11) July 11, 1979 (age 45) Dobele, Latvia
Origin	Riga, Latvia
Genres	Pop pop-rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter TV host actor
Years active	1999–present
Labels	MicRec (2008–present) MicRec PM (2005–2008) Platforma Records (2002–2005)

Lauris Reiniks (born July 11, 1979) is a famous Latvian pop singer, songwriter, TV host, and actor. He studied music at Jelgava Music College and acting in Los Angeles, California. Lauris has released 9 solo albums and many songs in 11 different languages!

He is also a composer and helped create the popular Ričijs Rū / Richie Roo Bear project for kids. Lauris Reiniks has won over 20 national awards in Latvia for his music. He is also well-known in the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania). Lauris Reiniks was the first winner of Latvia's "Dancing with the Stars" show. With millions of views on his music videos, many people in Latvia call him the "King of YouTube"!

Lauris's Early Life and Music
Amazing Music Achievements
Lauris on Television
Dancing with the Stars Champion
Lauris's Acting Roles
Eurovision Song Contest and Eirodziesma
Music Albums
Images for kids
See also

Lauris's Early Life and Music

Lauris was born in Dobele, a small town in Latvia. He grew up in Tērvete, in a family that loved music. When he was just 5 years old, Lauris first appeared on Latvian television. He sang in a show called "Tiekas kaimiņi" (Neighbors Meet).

As a child and teenager, Lauris was the main singer in a pop-rock band called "AURI". His father started this band. With "AURI", Lauris got his first experience performing on stage. They took part in many children's music festivals and contests.

The Reiniks family was very musical. His mother Dace, father Arturs, and sister Ruta often sang together. They appeared on a TV show called "Spiets" (The Swarm). They also toured around Latvia, giving concerts.

In 1998, Latvian Television noticed Lauris. They asked him to host a new music TV show called "Nošu Spēles" (Games of Music Notes). This show helped Lauris meet the famous Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls. Raimonds Pauls invited Lauris to join his music projects and record songs. This partnership lasted for a year. Then, Lauris realized he could write his own music and become an independent artist.

In 2000, a management company called "Aktiv Music" offered Lauris Reiniks a record deal. This was a big step for Lauris. It was the start of his journey to becoming a famous pop star in Latvia.

Amazing Music Achievements

Lauris Reiniks has many popular songs in Latvia. Some of his hits include "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti" and "Es skrienu" (I'm running). Many of his Latvian songs were written with Mārtiņš Freimanis, who wrote the lyrics. Lauris wrote the English lyrics himself. He also worked with Edward Van De Vendel and Gordon Pogoda.

Lauris has even recorded his Latvian hit songs in Estonian and Lithuanian! He worked with Estonian writer Leelo Tungal and Lithuanian writers Justinas Jankevičius and Deivydas Zvonkus.

Here are some of Lauris Reiniks's biggest music achievements:

He has won the Universality Prize three times. This award is given by the Latvian copyright agency AKKA/LAA. It's for songs played most often on radio and TV in Latvia. His winning songs were "Tell Me" (2004), "Sirds Sadeg Neparasti" (2007), and "Es skrienu" (2012).
Lauris was the voice for a Coca-Cola commercial in Latvia.
His 2003 album, Lidot savādāk (To Fly Differently), sold over 8,000 copies and became Gold certified.
In 2005, the Latvian Top of the Pops magazine named Lauris "Latvian National Megastar 2004".
In 2005, Lauris released "And You Came" with Estonian singer Maarja. It became a hit in both Latvia and Estonia.
In 2009, experts ranked Lauris as the second most successful pop musician in Latvia. Only the band Brainstorm was ahead of him.
His 2010 album Es skrienu won "Best Pop Album" at the Annual Latvian Music Awards 2010. It also went Gold. The song "Es skrienu" was the best-selling song of 2010 in Latvia.
The song "Es skrienu" was recorded in 8 other languages! These include Estonian ("Ma jooksen"), Lithuanian ("Aš bėgu"), Russian ("Я бегу"), and English ("I Will Run"). It became a hit in all three Baltic States.
The music video for "Es skrienu" set a Baltic record. It was the first video by a Baltic artist to reach over 1 million views on YouTube in less than 2 months! This happened with the Lithuanian version, "Aš bėgu".
In 2011, Lauris's song "Aš bėgu" won "Song of the Year" in Lithuania.
He released his first albums in Lithuania ("Aš bėgu") and Estonia ("Ma jooksen") in 2011. These albums included his popular songs in local languages and English.
In September 2011, his "Es skrienu" album sold 5,000 copies in Latvia and became Gold certified.
In February 2012, Lauris won "Radio Hit of the Year" for "Es skrienu" at the Latvian Music Awards.
In November 2012, Lauris released his Christmas album, "Lauris Reiniks Ziemassvētkos". He also had a big concert in Arena Riga with 7,000 fans!
From 2012 to 2014, Lauris toured Lithuania and Estonia. He released many songs in Estonian and Lithuanian.
In 2015, Lauris released a new song and video in all three Baltic languages at once! The English version was called "Morning in Dandelion Fluff".
In 2017, Lauris went on a sold-out tour in Latvia. He also released a music book with 50 popular songs and a collection of his 22 best songs.
In 2018, Lauris released "Viss labi būs". This song was the theme for the movie "Jaungada taksometrs" (New Year's Eve Taxi), where he played the main role.
In 2021, the "Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu" (Richie Roo throws a concert) album and book for kids was released. Lauris composed the songs, and his grandmother wrote the poems. These songs quickly became very popular with kids and parents!
In 2022, the "Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu" concert tour sold out across Latvia. The book was named "Book of the year 2021 for children". The album also won a Golden Disc award for amazing sales.
On January 11, 2023, "Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu" received the Platinum Disc. The album and book sold over 10,000 copies!
On August 3, 2023, a second "Ričijs Rū" album and book, "Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu 2", was released. It was followed by another sold-out tour.
On December 3, 2023, Lauris Reiniks received his 4th "Eternity prize". This award is for the most published, broadcast, and streamed music. This time, it was for "Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu 2". His sister Rūta Reinika-Preisa also received the award for writing the lyrics and creating the project.
On March 8, 2024, "Richie Roo Throws a Concert 2" won "Best Music Album For Children" at the Latvian Music Awards.

Lauris on Television

Since 1998, Lauris Reiniks has hosted many TV shows. He has worked for Latvian Television LTV, TV3 Latvia, 360TV, and LNT Television. Lauris has also appeared in several TV commercials.

In 2010, Lauris won his first TV award, "Zelta Vilnis 2009" (Golden Wave), for "TV Personality of the Year". In 2016, he received the TV3 Latvia "Screen's Favorite" award for his contributions to Latvian show business.

Lauris Reiniks has hosted these TV shows and projects:

1998–2003: "Nošu spēles" LTV
1998–2001: International children music festival "Saules zaķis" LTV
2000: Eurovision Song Contest 2000 spokesperson from Latvia. LTV
2000: VIII Latvian school and youth song and dance festival LTV
2000: "Rīga 800"; LTV
2001–2005: "Kam gaišāka galva?" LTV
2002–2003: "Troksnis" LTV
2003: "SeMS" LTV 7
2004: "Junior Eurovision Latvia 2004" LTV; co-hosted by Rūta Reinika.
2005: IX Latvian school and youth song and dance festival LTV
2005: "SeMS " LTV 7
2007: "Dziedi ar zvaigzni" (Sing With a Star) TV3 Latvia, co-hosted by Iveta Feldmane.
2008: "Koru kari" " (Clash of the Choirs). TV3 Latvia
2009: "Muzikālā banka 2008" (Latvian Radio 2 Music Awards) LTV
2009: "Latvijas zelta talanti 2009" (Latvia's Golden Talents) LNT
2009–2010: "Latvijas ģimeņu dziedāšanas svētki" (Latvia's Singing Families) LNT
2012: "Pelnrušķīte" (Cinderella) LNT
2013: "Koru kari" " (Clash of the Choirs). TV3 Latvia
2014: "Izklausies redzēts" Season 1 (Your Face Sounds Familiar). TV3 Latvia
2015: "Izklausies redzēts" Season 2 (Your Face Sounds Familiar). TV3 Latvia
2016: "Izklausies redzēts" Season 3 (Your Face Sounds Familiar). TV3 Latvia
2020: "Pasaki to skaļi" (Say It Out Loud) Season 1 360TV
2021: "Pasaki to skaļi" (Say It Out Loud) Season 2 360TV
2022: "Pasaki to skaļi" (Say It Out Loud) Season 3 360TV
2022: "Supernova 2022" (Latvian Eurovision Song Contest selection) LTV
2023: "Supernova 2023" (Latvian Eurovision selection) LTV
2023: "Paaudžu duelis" (Duel of Generations) Season 1 360TV
2024: "Supernova 2024" (Latvian Eurovision selection) LTV

Dancing with the Stars Champion

On April 8, 2007, Lauris Reiniks won the first season of Latvia's "Dancing with the Stars" (Dejo ar Zvaigzni) on TV3 Latvia. His dance partner was Aleksandra Kurusova, a professional ballroom dancer. A year later, an American TV channel even featured a story about Lauris and his win!

In 2011, Lauris was invited to join the same show in Lithuania, "Šok su manimi" (Dance with me). After three episodes, Lauris and Aleksandra decided to leave the show.

Lauris's Acting Roles

Lauris Reiniks has also trained as an actor in Los Angeles. He studied at "The Acting Corps" and "Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio".

Here are some of his acting roles:

In 2004/2005, he played Rolf in the musical The Sound Of Music.
In 2005, he was Olympus in the musical "Autoplanet".
He appeared as a guest star in the LTV series "Prāts vai Instinkts" (2010).
In 2011, he starred as Edvards, a Latvian soldier, in the film "Dancis pa trim" (Three to Dance).
From 2010 to 2012, Lauris played a main role in the play "Ladies Night" (Kailie Brieži) in Riga.
In 2016, Reiniks joined the TV3 Latvia series "Viņas melo labāk" (Women lie better). He played Igors, a former criminal. His character returned in 2018.
In 2018, Lauris got his first main role in a movie! He played Andrejs, a taxi driver, in the romantic comedy "Jaungada Taksometrs" (New Year's Eve Taxi).
In 2019, he played Andrejs again in the movie's sequel, "Jaungada taksometrs 2".
Also in 2019, Lauris was the voice of adult Simba in the Latvian version of Disney's new The Lion King movie!
In 2021, he played a priest in the Tet TV+ series "Pefektās kāzas" (The perfect wedding).
In 2022, Lauris Reiniks told stories to kids in the "Ričija Rū pasakas" (Fairytales of Ričijs Rū) series on Tet TV+.
In October 2023, he played a famous actor named Andris Zviedris in the TV series "No naida līdz mīlestībai" (From hate to love).

Eurovision Song Contest and Eirodziesma

Lauris Reiniks has been involved in the Eurovision Song Contest and Latvia's national selection, Eirodziesma, several times:

2001 – Lauris and Linda Leen came in 2nd place in Latvia's national selection with their song "I Wish I Knew".
2002 – Lauris finished 5th in Eirodziesma 2002 with "My Memory Tape".
2003 – Lauris, Mārtiņš Freimanis, and Yana Kay formed a group called F.L.Y.. They won the Latvian selection with "Hello From Mars". They represented Latvia at Eurovision Song Contest 2003 in Riga. The song finished 24th.
2009 – Lauris Reiniks wrote the song "I wish I could pretend". Kristina Zaharova performed it and finished 2nd in Ireland's Eurovision Finals.
2010 – Lauris's song "Your Morning Lullaby" reached the finals of Latvia's national selection, "Eirodziesma 2010", finishing 4th.
2011 – Lauris finished 2nd in Latvia's national selection, "Eirodziesma 2011", with his song "Banjo Laura". He later released a Spanish version called "La chica del Banjo".

Music Albums

Planet 42 (2002)
Lidot savādāk (2003)
Tik balti (2003)
Never Look Back (with F.L.Y.) (2003)
Debesskrāpju spīts (2005)
Nakts veikalā (2007)
Es skrienu (2010)
Aš bėgu (2011) Lithuania
Ma jooksen (2011) Estonia
Lauris Reiniks Ziemassvētkos (2012)
Lauris Reiniks – Labāko dziesmu izlase (2017)
Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu (2021)
Ričis Ra su muzika gera (2022) Lithuania
Ričijs Rū rīko koncertu 2 (2023)

Images for kids

A robot for kids