Tributes flow for legendary Greek singer Yiannis Poulopoulos

·

Tributes have flown in for beloved Greek singer, Yiannis Poulopoulos, who passed away on Sunday night at the age of 79.

The singer had been in the intensive care unit of the capital’s Attikon Hospital for treatment for serious health problems, sources said.

In one Facebook post, George Dalaras wrote: “Yiannis Poulopoulos, a great singer. He had the luck, the strength and the criteria to choose good songs.”

Γιάννης Πουλόπουλος, ένας σπουδαίος τραγουδιστής. Είχε την τύχη, το σθένος και το κριτήριο να διαλέξει καλά τραγούδια -…

Posted by Γιώργος Νταλάρας on Monday, 24 August 2020

This was followed by singers, Haris Alexiou and Yannis Markopoulos, as well as Greece’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Manos Konsolas, who wrote on Twitter: “A great loss for our musical culture.”

Born in the village of Kardamili, in the Peloponnese’s Messinia region, Poulopoulos became a household name with a series of hits in the 1960s. He collaborated with the country’s most eminent composers including Mikis Theodorakis, Giannis Spanos and Mimis Plessas.

In 1965, he was the first performer of four songs written by Manos Loizos. It was also about the same time he had a successful hit with ‘Mi mou thymonis matia mou’ (Don’t be angry with me, my love) composed by Stavros Kouyioumtzis.

By 1966, his records gained considerable popularity and his songs were featured in popular Greek films.

But the year that sent Poulopoulos to the top was 1969, when the album “O Dromos” (The Street) by Mimis Plessas and the lyrics of Lefteris Papadopoulos was released. Yiannis Poulopoulos sang 10 of the 12 songs, making the album the first gold record in Greek recording history.

That was the zenith of Poulopoulos career, allowing him to rest on his laurels for years. Until 1999, when he decided to retire from singing. Despite generous proposals to sing in clubs and record again, the singer declined to accept.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Greece draw Kosovo, Slovenia and Moldova for UEFA Nations League

Greece's National Football Team have been drawn with Kosovo, Slovenia and Moldova in League C of the 2020 UEFA Nations League, after being announced in Amsterdam on March 3, 2020.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos debuts as Socceroos defeat Palestine

Socceroos manager, Graham Arnold made his first substitution during Tuesday's 5-0 win over Palestine by debuting Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.

Greece repatriates over 100 people from Israel via Egypt in coordinated operation

Greece has successfully repatriated 105 people from Israel through Egypt in a coordinated operation led by the Greek Foreign Ministry.