Marinella

Marinella

Genres: Greek, greek female vocalists, female vocalists, greece, greek rebetiko

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About Marinella

Kyriaki Papadopoulou (Greek: Κυριακή Παπαδοπούλου; 19 May 1938 – 28 March 2026), known by her stage name Marinella (Greek: Μαρινέλλα), was a Greek singer whose career spanned several decades. She was noted for her vocal range and long-standing presence in Greek popular music. Beginning her professional career in 1956, she released numerous solo albums and also appeared on recordings by other artists. She represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, marking the country’s first participation in the contest. Marinella remained active from 1956 to 2024, performing in concerts and nightclub shows. On 25 September 2024, she suffered a haemorrhagic stroke while performing at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and collapsed on stage. After several months of hospitalisation, she was discharged on 21 January 2025. She died on 28 March 2026 at the age of 87. Kyriaki Papadopoulou was born in Thessaloniki in northern Greece to parents who were refugees from Constantinople. She was the youngest of four children in a family with strong musical interests. As a child, she participated in radio programmes, including “Paidiki Ora”, and performed in children’s theatre productions. She also appeared in advertisements for local businesses. At the age of 15, she paused her early artistic activities to complete her education, but returned to performance at 17, joining a travelling theatrical troupe led by Mary Laurent. During one performance, she replaced an ill singer and subsequently became the troupe’s lead vocalist. She later joined the Military Theatre and began performing at the “Panorama” venue in Thessaloniki, where the stage name “Marinella” was given to her. She released her first song, “Nitsa, Elenitsa (Little Helen)”, in 1957. Early in her career, she collaborated extensively with Stelios Kazantzidis, forming a successful musical partnership. Together, they performed in Thessaloniki and later in Athens, gaining wider recognition. Their repertoire included compositions by prominent Greek composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, and Vassilis Tsitsanis, among others. Marinella married Stelios Kazantzidis on 7 May 1964, and the couple toured internationally, including performances in Germany and the United States. They divorced in 1966. She later married Tolis Voskopoulos in 1973; this marriage ended in divorce in 1981. In October 1970, she represented Greece at the International Song Festival in Rio de Janeiro with the song “Kyra Giorgena (Wife of George)”, placing fourth. In 1973, she participated in the International MIDEM Festival in Cannes. The following year, she represented Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Krasi, thalassa kai t' agori mou”, finishing eleventh. Marinella also performed in Greek musical theatre productions as both a singer and actress. Her popularity increased during the late 1960s through the 1980s, supported by successful recordings and live performances. She was associated with developments in Greek nightclub entertainment, incorporating elements such as costume changes and choreographed presentation into her shows. In later years, she continued to perform and record. On 27 April 1998, she gave a concert at the Athens Concert Hall, followed by a large-scale performance at the Olympic Stadium of Athens in 1999. In 2002, she collaborated with George Dalaras on the concert tour and live album “Mazi (Together)”. In March 2004, she released the album “Ammos Itane”, featuring songs by Nikos Antypas and Lina Nikolakopoulou. Later that year, she performed at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics alongside other Greek artists. In December 2005, she released the album “Tipota Den Ginete Tihea”, composed by Giorgos Theofanous, which included collaborations with artists such as Antonis Remos and Glykeria. In 2006, two compilation releases appeared: “Sti Skini (On stage)”, featuring live recordings, and “Ta Logia Ine Peritta – 50 Chronia Tragoudi”, an eight-CD box set covering her career. She continued to perform live in Athens during the following years, including collaborations with Antonis Remos, Giannis Parios, and Natassa Theodoridou.

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