Jānis Sproġis

Sproġis had five siblings; the whole family was deported to Siberia in 1949, they returned, after Stalin's death, in 1956.

He made his debut in Riga in 1974, but soon left the stage and went to Ventspils as a voice teacher. He returned to the Riga opera theater in 1980, and stayed until 1986; after that, he continued to sing as a freelancer, primarily in concerts. He also taught voice at the Riga conservatory until 1992. By the mid-1990s, he was a pop and folk singer.

Reference

I wish to thank Vladimir Efimenko for the recording (Rigoletto).