Giannis Kalatzis ( el, Γιάννης Καλατζής, 29 April 1943 – 13 July 2017) was a

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

singer who was especially popular in Greece in the late 1960s and the first half of the 1970s. Giannis Kalatzis was born in

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...

in 1943. His career as a singer began in the early 1960s when he was a member of the Trio Moreno in Thessaloniki. Kalatzis later moved to

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

, where he initially co-operated with the famous composer

Giorgos Mitsakis Giorgos Mitsakis ( el, Γιώργος Μητσάκης; Constantinople, 1921 - Athens, 17 November 1993) was a Greek composer and lyricist of numerous ''rebetika'' and folk songs, as well as a skillful bouzouki player. He was also known by the ni ...

. His popularity began to increase and he had a productive collaboration with some of the most famous Greek composers of the period –

Manos Loizos Manos may refer to: Films * ''The Hands'' (Spanish: ''Las manos''), a 2006 Argentinean-Italian film * '' Manos: The Hands of Fate'', 1966 horror film Music * Manos (band), German Black metal band * ''Manos'' (album), by The Spinanes Other use ...

, Stavros Kougioumtzis,

Giorgos Katsaros Giorgos Katsaros ( el, Γιώργος Κατσαρός) (born on 7 March 1934 in Corfu) is a famous Greek musician and songwriter. He plays the alto saxophone. He has made a variety of recordings, collaborating amongst others with Greek musical ...

Mimis Plessas Mimis Plessas ( el, Μίμης Πλέσσας; born 12 October 1924) is a Greek composer born in Athens. He began his career in 1952 and has written music for over 100 films, television and radio programs, and theatrical events. He has worked wit ...

Giannis Spanos Ioannes "Giannis" Spanos ( el, Ιωάννης "Γιάννης" Σπανός, ; 26 July 1934 – 30 October 2019), also transliterated as Yannis Spanos, was a Greek music composer and lyricist. In his early days as a musician he was also a piano ac ...

, and

Tolis Voskopoulos __notoc__ Apostolos "Tolis" Voskopoulos ( el, Απόστολος "Τόλης" Βοσκόπουλος; 26 July 1940 – 19 July 2021) was one of the legends of modern Greek music. He also starred in many films and played in the theatre in Athens. ...

. Kalatzis participated in albums alongside singers such as

Giorgos Dalaras George Dalaras ( Γιώργος Νταλάρας, 29 September 1949) is a Greek musician and singer. He is one of the most prominent figures of Greek musical culture. In October 2006, he was selected as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Ag ...

Haris Alexiou Haris Alexiou ( el, Χάρις Αλεξίου, ; born 27 December 1950 in Thebes, Greece as Hariklia Roupaka, el, Χαρίκλεια Ρουπάκα, ) is a Greek singer. She is considered one of the most popular singers in Greece and has been co ...

Giannis Parios Yiannis Parios ( el, Γιάννης Πάριος) is a Greek singer, with a career spanning five decades. Biography Yiannis Parios was born Ioannis Varthakouris (Ιωάννης Βαρθακούρης) on the island of Paros. He made his firs ...

Mariza Koch Mariza Koch ( el, Μαρίζα Κωχ; born 14 March 1944) is a Greek folk music singer who has recorded many albums since starting her career in 1971. On the wider stage she is best remembered for representing her homeland at the Eurovision Song ...

Litsa Diamanti Litsa Diamanti ( el, Λίτσα Διαμάντη, born Euaggelia (Evangelitsa-Litsa) Cosmidou; 1949 in Kolonos, Athens) is a Greek laïko singer who became famous in the 1960s and 1970s. She has been described as the "child-wonder of the Sixties ...

and Kostas Smokovitis. He also appeared in ten films. In the second half of the 1970s, Kalatzis co-operated with composer

Nikos Karvelas Nikos Karvelas ( el, Νίκος Καρβέλας; born Nikos Leonardos on 8 September 1951) is a Greek songwriter, producer and singer. He has sold millions of records as a producer and is most recognizable for his three-decade-long collaborat ...

and in 1981 he released an album with the songs of

. His last album before giving up active singing was in 1984, however, in 1985, he took part in a big concert dedicated to composer Manos Loizos held in

Athens Olympic Stadium The Olympic Stadium of Athens " Spyros Louis" ( el, Ολυμπιακό Στάδιο Αθηνών "Σπύρος Λούης", ''Olympiakó Stádio Athinon "Spyros Louis"'') is a sports stadium in Athens, Greece. It is a part of the Athens Olympic ...

. In 2000, he released a double CD, the first disc with his greatest hits in new versions and the second disc with famous Greek sons in his rendition. Kalatzis is considered one of the best singers of the time and his songs have been performed by younger singers as well. In 2013 Giannis Kalatzis was honoured in the Greek version of the television programme

Your Face Sounds Familiar ''Your Face Sounds Familiar'' (Spanish: ''Tu cara me suena'') is a Spanish interactive reality television franchise series where celebrity contestants impersonate singers. The format, similar to Dutch television series ''Soundmixshow'', was f ...

broadcast by

ANT1 Antenna, better known as ANT1, is a television network airing in Greece. The alternate spelling is wordplay in Greek; ''ena'' (ένα) is the Greek number ''1'' (one), thus ''ANT1'' is pronounced the same as ''Antenna'' (Αντέννα). It laun ...

with actor Konstantinos Kazakos impersonating him and performing one of his most famous songs – 'Delfini delfinaki'.

Most famous songs

* ''I Gorgona (Stin Apano Yitonitsa)'' Music: Manos Loizos; Text: Lefteris Papadopoulos * ''Paporaki Tou Burnova'' Music – Manos Loizos * ''Dhelfini, Dhelfinaki'' Music: Manos Loizos; Text: Lefteris Papadopoulos * ''Tzamaika'' Music – Manos Loizos * ''To Palio Roloi'' Music – Manos Loizos * ''Xenaki Ime Ke Tha 'Rtho'' Music – Stavros Kouyioumtzis * ''O Stamoulis O Lochias'' Music – Giorgos Katsaros * ''Paramythaki Mou'' Music – Manos Loizos (the song can be heard in the film

The Exorcist (film) ''The Exorcist'' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin and written for the screen by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 The Exorcist (novel), novel of the same name. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, ...

) * ''An Zousan I Arhei'' Music – Giorgos Mitsakis * ''Isoun orea'' Music – Stavros Kouyioumtzis * ''Ta hrisa klidia'' Music – Theodoros Derveniotis * ''Kyra Giorgena'' Music – Giorgos Katsaros

DiscographyDragoumanos, Petros (2009). Elliniki Diskografia 1950–2009 (Greek Discography 1950–2009)

Personal albums

*1968: Giannis Kalatzis *1969: O Epipoleos *1970: Kyra Giorgena *1971: Paramythaki Mou *1973: Ena Taxidi *1975: Ke I Zoi Sinechizete *1976: Mi Perimenis *1978: Kapios Panta Leei Antio *1979: Ta Kalitera Mou Tragoudia *1979: Pali Konta Sou *1981:

Gia Olous ''Gia olous… O Giannis Kalatzis se tragoudia tou Toli Voskopoulou ke Nikou Lavranou'' (Greek: ''Για όλους… Ο Γιάννης Καλατζής σε τραγούδια του Τόλη Βοσκόπουλου και Νίκου Λαβρά� ...

*1984: Thymithite Me Ton Gianni Kalatzi *1989: I Megaliteres Epitihies Tou (Compilation) *1994: I Megales Epitihies (Compilation) *1996: Tragoudia Apo tis 45' Strofes

Collaborations

*1968: Stathmos *1969: An Zousan I Archei *1969: Synantisi *1970: Thalassografies *1971: Zei? *1971: O Stamoulis O Lochias *1971: Otan Anthizoun I Paschalies *1972: I Ora Tis Gardenias *1972: Na 'Chame, Ti Na 'Chame *1974: 13 Periptosis *1974: Manolis Barberakis No. 2 *1974: Odos Aristotelous *1974: Oh, Ti Kosmos? Mpampa *1974: 13 Periptosis *1974: Welcome To Greece No. 5 *1977: Agapo Mia Pantremeni *1985: Manos Loizos – Afieroma, Live

TV appearances

*Το Παρτυ της Ζωης Σου (2005) ALTER *Δρόμοι (2005) ΕΤ1 *Κοίτα τι Έκανες (2004) ΝΕΤ *Οδικές βοήθειες MEGA *Μαζί την Κυριακή (1996) ANT1 *Ciao (1992) ANT1 *Στιγμές από το ελληνικό τραγούδι (1990) ET2 *Εν αρχή ην ο λόγος – Αφιέρωμα στον Πυθαγόρα (1988) ΕΤ2 *Εν αρχή ην ο λόγος – Κώστας Βίρβος (1988) ΕΤ2 *Γιώργος Κατσαρός – Παραλλαγές στο Ιδιο Θέμα (1986) ΕΡΤ *Λαϊκό πάλκο (1985) ΕΡΤ *Αφιέρωμα στον Μάνο Λοϊζο (1985) ΕΡΤ *Αφιερώματα – Θόδωρος Δερβενιώτης (1983) ΕΡΤ *Σταύρος Κουγιουμτζής – 20 χρόνια Τραγούδι (1982) ΕΡΤ *Έξι ρεβεγιόν, εξήντα χρόνια (1978) ΕΡΤ *Στούντιο 3 (1978) ΕΡΤ *Ντο-Ρε-Μι (1974) ΕΙΡΤ *Δώδεκα μήνες τραγούδι (1973) ΕΙΡΤ *Σήμερα ΥΕΝΕΔ *Αλάτι και πιπέρι (1971) ΥΕΝΕΔ

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalatzis, Giannis 1943 births 2017 deaths 20th-century Greek male singers Singers from Thessaloniki