Famous Greek Singers

Greek pop icon Nana Mouskouri soared to fame all over Europe with her track The White Rose of Athens. She has sung in a wide range of languages, including German, Italian, Chinese, and Dutch. Dubbed Europe’s Barbra Streisand, she also sang the theme song of the Oscar-nominated movie The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.

Demis Roussos was a Greek singer-songwriter remembered for his work with the band Aphrodite's Child. He also had an illustrious career as a vocal soloist and sold over 60 million albums worldwide. His works have inspired musicians all over the world, including Bollywood music director R. D. Burman, whose song Mehbooba Mehbooba is based on Roussos' Say You Love Me.

One of the best-known pop singers from Germany, Greek-origin Vicky Leandros is the daughter of famous Greek composer and musician Leo Leandros. She soared to international fame representing Luxembourg in Eurovision and later won countless awards, such as the Goldene Europa. She has also released hit tracks in Japanese.

Eleni Foureira is a Greek dancer and singer best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 where she represented Cyprus with the song Fuego. Foureira finished second in the contest, the best result for Cyprus thus far. Over the course of her career, Eleni Foureira has won several prestigious awards such as MAD Video Music Awards.

Lindsay Armaou is a Greek-born Irish singer and actress best known for her association with the popular girl group B*Witched. Over the years, Armaou has helped increase the popularity of B*Witched, thanks to her fame as an actress outside the music industry.

Yannis Philippakis dropped out of an Oxford English course to step into music. Starting his career with the indie rock band Foals, he made it to the 2016 Forbes list of 30 under 30. Born to a Greek father and a Ukrainian mother, he was first introduced to music through Greek songs.

Stefania Liberakakis is a Greek-Dutch singer, YouTuber, and voice actress. She is best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 where she represented Greece with the song Last Dance; Stefania finished tenth in the contest. Stefania Liberakakis has also voiced important characters in the Dutch version of films like Dolittle and Wonder Park.

Initially part of the Greek navy, Pantelis Pantelidis later quit his naval career to focus in music. A YouTube sensation, he was a self-taught guitarist, too, and soared to fame with tracks such as Den Tairiazete Sou Lew. The singer lost his life to a tragic car accident at age 32.

Tamta is a Georgian-Greek singer who participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019 where she represented Cyprus with the song Replay; Tamta finished 13th in the contest. Over the years, Tamta has become a household name in Greece and Georgia, having appeared in popular TV shows like Super Idol Greece, X Factor Georgia, and The X Factor Greece.

Sakis Rouvas was not just a musical prodigy, having started his ballet lessons as a child, but also a national-level pole-vaulter. He later quit sports to focus on music and soared to fame with hit Greek tracks such as S'eho eroteftei and Hilia milia. He was the highest-scoring third-placed contestant on Eurovision.

Born in the Netherlands, Nikolaos Arvanitidis, better known as Nikos Vertis, moved to Greece at age 6 and began training in music soon after. Starting his musical journey with Greek clubs, the talented laika/pop singer later soared to fame with tracks such as Pes To Mou Ksana and Mono Gia Sena.

Helena, or Elena, Paparizou is one of Greece’s finest singers. The Swedish-born musician started her career as part of the folk/Eurodance duo Antique. She soared to fame after winning Eurovision 2005, singing My Number One, becoming the first Greek to win the contest ever. She is now one of Greece’s most powerful celebrities.

A Greek music icon, Anna Vissi had started training in music at age 6 and won her first talent contest at age 12. Born in Cyprus, the singer later moved to Athens and also briefly studied law. After soaring to fame with Eurovision, she gradually became one of Greece’s best-selling artists ever.

German-born Greek singer Despina Vandi initially gained fame with her successful collaborations with songwriter Phoebus. Her 2000 single Ipofero was 6-time platinum and became Greece’s best-selling track of all time. She has also released hit Billboard-charting tracks such as Gia and Opa Opa, and has starred in musicals too.

Mary Tsoni was a Greek singer and actress best remembered for playing important roles in films like Evil, Evil: In the Time of Heroes, and Dogtooth. She was honored at the Sarajevo Film Festival with the Best Actress award for her performance in Dogtooth. A month before her 30th birthday, Mary Tsoni was found dead due to pulmonary edema.

Elena Tsagrinou is a Greek singer best known for her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021 where she represented Cyprus with the song El Diablo; Tsagrinou finished 16th in the contest. She is also a voice actress and has voiced important characters in the Greek version of films like Free Birds (2013) and Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017).

One of the most popular Greek singers of all time, Haris Alexiou has experimented with genres such as folk, laika, and rebetiko. In a career spanning over 5 decades, she has collaborated with multiple artists. She also has a huge fan following in Turkey, where a street has been named in her honor.

Legendary Greek folk singer Tolis Voskopoulos is best remembered for his theatrical hit Oi Erastes tou Oneirou. With a career spanning over 6 decades, he also starred in many plays and movies. He was later married to Greek politician Antzela Gerekou and passed away at age 80.

Stelios Kazantzidis was a Greek singer who helped popularize Laïkó or Greek popular music. He is best remembered for his collaboration with several of Greece's foremost composers. His collaboration with Vassilis Tsitsanis helped transform the musical scene of post-war Greece. Stelios Kazantzidis' music is cherished by the Greek diaspora spread across the world.

Popular Greek Cypriot singer Ivi Adamou made her stage debut at age 9. She soared to fame with season 2 of the Greek version of The X Factor. Known as the Pop Queen of Greece, she has released scores of hit singles, such as Krata Ta Matia Sou Klista.  

Marinella is a Greek singer best known for her longevity and versatility. Marinella, whose singing career has spanned over 65 years, is one of the most popular and respected singers in Greece. Apart from releasing several solo albums, she has also collaborated with other prominent musicians over the course of her illustrious career.

One of the most internationally renowned Greek musicians of all time, George Dalaras has been part of over 1000 concerts globally. His 2 concerts at the Athens Olympic Stadium in 1983 were among Greece’s largest. He has also been named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and has been made a Cypriot citizen.

Legendary Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis was one of the prominent figures of Éntekhno orchestral music and was one of the first to popularize the rebetika genre. His Greek movie score Ta Pediá tou Pireá, or Never on Sunday, was the first foreign-language film track to win an Academy Award.

Mario Frangoulis is a Greek theatre actor and vocalist best known for his refined tenor vocals. A commercially and critically acclaimed recording artist, Frangoulis has recorded songs in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Greek. Mario Frangoulis is also known for his charity work; he has sung in several charity galas, including the Red Cross Annual Ball.

Konstantinos Argyros was 5 when he began learning the piano and later started his singing career at a Thessaloniki club. The Greek singer is now a regular at the Teatro Music Hall of Athens. With singles such as Telika and Ximeromata, he is now one of Greece’s bestselling artists.

Swiss-born Greek singer-actor Panos Mouzourakis is best known for his roles in the Greek series S1ngles and 4. He had first gained attention with the play Acharnis, which toured around the globe. He has also lent his voice to the Greek version of the hit Disney animated film Frozen.

Josephine is a Greek singer who took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2014 where she represented her country with the song Dancing Night. She became a household name in Greece in 2020 when she won the fourth season of the popular reality show Just the 2 of Us.

Antonis Remos is a Greek singer best known for releasing several multi-platinum studio albums like Kleista Ta Stomata and Kardia Mou Min Anisiheis. Over the course of his illustrious music career, Antonis Remos has won several prestigious awards, such as Arion Music Awards, Cyprus Music Awards, MAD Video Music Awards, and Pop Corn Music Awards. 

Notis Sfakianakis is a singer whose signature song O Aetos has become one of the most famous songs in the history of Greek music. The best-selling artist of his generation in Greece, Sfakianakis is also one of the most successful singers of all time in Cyprus and Greece. An outspoken person, Sfakianakis is one of the most controversial Greek artists.

Sakis Tolis soared to fame as the guitarist for the Greek black metal band Rotting Christ. Also known as Necromayhem, Tolis has played with Thou Art Lord and has co-written a book on his time with Rotting Christ. In early 2022, he announced the launch of his first solo album.

Katy Garbi is a singer who is credited with recording two of the best-selling Greek albums of the 1990s: Arhizo Polemo and Evaisthisies. In 2010, Garbi was included in Alpha TV's list of top-certified female Greek artists since 1960. Garbi is also known for her philanthropic efforts; she has participated in several fund-raising events to benefit homeless and sick children.

Dimitris Mitropanos was a Greek singer remembered for his mastery of a popular Greek music style known as Laïkó. One of the most important Greek musicians of his generation, Mitropanos worked alongside other greats like Mikis Theodorakis, Giorgos Zabetas, and Manos Hatzidakis. Some of his songs, such as Ta Ladadika and Roza, continue to be cherished by Greek music lovers. 

Vasilis Karras is a Greek singer who is considered a legend of Greek folk music. He is also one of the last singing survivors of a style of Greek music known as Kapsourika. Vasilis Karras is credited with introducing many young talents, including Despina Vandi, to the mainstream music industry.

Greek-Sudanese singer Marina Satti initially studied architecture but was later drawn to theater and jazz music and graduated from Berklee. She soared to fame with her viral track Mantissa and later established the female a cappella group Fonés and the all-female choir Chόres. She has also been part of musical plays.

Greek laika and pop singer Giorgos Mazonakis started his music career singing at nightclubs. Best known for his hit tracks such as Mou Leipeis, he soon became a sensation all over Europe. He has also performed in the US and contributed to the soundtrack of a film by Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

Yiannis Parios is a Greek singer whose cover version of Alain Barriere’s Tu t’en vas with Greek lyrics inspired other Greek singers to adapt foreign songs to Greek lyrics. Nowadays, many of Parios' original songs are being translated and sung abroad. Yiannis Parios has performed in major venues all over the world, including the famous Royal Albert Hall.

Glykeria is a Greek singer who has gained fame, not only in Greece and Cyprus, but also in countries like England, Turkey, France, Israel, and Spain. Her immense popularity in Israel has made her a favorite among celebrities. Over the course of her illustrious career, which has spanned more than three decades, Glykeria has released several multi-platinum songs and albums.

Natassa Theodoridou is a Greek singer who holds the distinction of being the only female Greek artist whose first three albums achieved platinum status. In her career so far, she has a total of ten platinum and three gold albums to her name. She has collaborated with numerous popular composers and songwriters, including Mihalis Hatzigiannis and Eleanna Vrachali.  

Known for tracks such as Den Thelo Tetious Filous and Afise Me Mono, Greek singer Paschalis Terzis began his career as a back-up singer. A financially challenged childhood saw him work at vegetable markets. He quit music at the peak of his career and retired to his farm in Agia Paraskevi.

Yannis Ploutarchos is a Greek singer-songwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the most famous laïko singers of his generation. A prolific singer, Yannis Ploutarchos has released many albums so far, including Dio Fones – Mia Psihi, which was certified 15x Platinum!

Greek-Armenian singer Athena Manoukian first gained fame with the talent show This Is What Missing, which she won. Known for hits such as Party Like A Freak and I Surrender, she also directed the video of her track Dolla. Her guest appearance on The X Factor was covered by all top UK tabloids.

Known for her remarkable vocal range, Melina Aslanidou is one of the most successful singers of her generation. She initially collaborated with Christos Mitrentzis, and later sang as part of Oi Apenanti. Known for tracks such as Psila Takounia, she has also judged the Greek version of The X Factor.

Sotiria Bellou was a Greek singer and an exponent of the rebetiko style of music, which she helped popularize. In 2010, Bellou was included in Alpha TV's top-certified female Greek artists since 1960 list. She was also an activist who was part of the Greek Resistance during World War II. Her life inspired a theatrical play titled Sotiria me lene.

Eleftheria Arvanitaki is a Greek singer whose impressive career and achievements earned her sixth place in Alpha TV's list of top-certified female Greek artists since 1960. Her contract with Verve Records has helped popularize Greek music, especially Laïko and folk, in the Western world. Over the course of her career, Eleftheria Arvanitaki has worked with prominent musicians like Cesária Évora.

Born to Greek parents in Egypt, singer Alkistis Protopsalti moved to Greece because of the political instability in Egypt. In the past, she has been Greece’s alternate tourism minister. She has not only released several platinum and gold albums, but has also sung in languages such as Chinese, Swahili, and French.

Nikos Karvelas is a Greek singer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known for his collaboration with his ex-wife and singer-songwriter Anna Vissi. Nikos Karvelas is also a prolific producer who has sold millions of records. In 2012, he was included in Alpha TV's list of top Greek composers in the phonographic era.

One of the most popular Greek singers of the recent times, Elli Kokkinou is known for her hit tracks such as De Ginetai, Adiaforos, and Erota Mou. Born into a music-loving family, Elli started learning ballet at age 5. She was also an excellent water ski player before she devoted herself to music.

Agnes Baltsa is a Greek mezzo-soprano singer, often counted among the best in the genre. Musically gifted from childhood, she started playing the piano at six. She later trained at the Greek National Conservatoire and made her professional debut in the opera The Marriage of Figaro at Frankfurt Opera. She has collaborated many times with noted tenor José Carreras.