Glykeria (born Glykeria Kotsoula, ; born 16 November 1953 in

Agio Pnevma Agio Pnevma (Greek: Άγιο Πνεύμα) is a village and a former community in Serres regional unit of Central Macedonia, Greece located 12 km east of the city of Serres, on the southwestern mountain slopes of Menoikio (altitude 310 m). Since ...

Serres Serres ( ) is a city in Macedonia, Greece, capital of the Serres regional unit and second largest city in the region of Central Macedonia, after Thessaloniki. Serres is one of the administrative and economic centers of Northern Greece. The c ...

) is a

Greek Greek may refer to: 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 of all kno ...

singer active in

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

and

Cyprus Cyprus (), officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Situated in West Asia, its cultural identity and geopolitical orientation are overwhelmingly Southeast European. Cyprus is the List of isl ...

, while also gaining fame in Israel, France,

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

, Spain, and England. Her career has spanned over 30 years and is marked by several multi-platinum releases. On 14 March 2010,

Alpha TV Alpha TV is a Greece, Greek free-to-air channel, one of the biggest stations in Greece. The station features a mix of Greek and foreign shows with an emphasis on information. The studios are located in Kifissia and Pallini. Alpha TV is owned by A ...

ranked Glykeria the third top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960).''Chart Show: Your Countdown''.

. Airdate: 14 March 2010

Biography

Early solo career

Glykeria began her career in 1974 working in the Athens

Plaka Pláka () is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ...

music ''boites'' and gave performances with well-known artists, singing songs by M. Hadjidakis, M. Theodorakis, M. Loizos and others. She began her discographical career by signing with Lyra Music, releasing her first album alongside another rising artist Giorgos Gerolymatos called "Min Kaneis Oneira" (Don't Dream) in 1978. This release caused a stir in the industry, showcasing Glykeria's unique voice to the nation.

1980-1985: Rise To Fame

At the beginning of the 1980s, Glykeria released her first solo album, "Ta Smyrneika", a compilation album with traditional songs from

Smyrna Smyrna ( ; , or ) was an Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek city located at a strategic point on the Aegean Sea, Aegean coast of Anatolia, Turkey. Due to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence, and its good inland connections, Smyrna ...

. During the following years, Glykeria performed at well-known clubs and bouzoukia, gaining momentum and many fans, and collaborating with other well-known singers, including

George Dalaras George Dalaras (, born 29 September 1949) is a Greek singer and musician. He is one of the most prominent figures of Greek music. In October 2006, he was selected as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. He was born in Piraeus. His ...

. The same year she released her debut album "Sta Matia Koita Me", which was composed entirely by Stelios Fotiadis and marked the beginning of their successful continuing collaboration. In 1982, she was selected to represent

in the Europalia '82 festival in Brussels, together with

Sotiria Bellou Sotiria Bellou () (August 22, 1921 – August 27, 1997) was a Greek singer and performer of the ''rebetiko'' style of music. She was one of the most famous ''rebetisa'' of all, mentioned in many music guides, and a contributor to the 1984 Briti ...

and

Margarita Zorbala A margarita is a cocktail consisting of tequila, triple sec, and lime juice. Some margarita recipes include simple syrup as well and are often served with salt on the rim of the glass. Margaritas can be served either shaken with ice (on the rock ...

. The following year, Glykeria released her first official live concert "Omorfi Nyhta" and due to its massive success Lyra released her first live album, "me ti Glykeria Stin Omorfi Nyhta", which went on to break every musical sales record in Greece up to that point. In April 1985, the release of the double-disk album "Tragoudi Aisthimatiko" brought to life some of Glykeria's biggest hits, like "Magisses", "Pentohiliara", "Ta Dahtilidia" and "Fantaraki", pointing the new artist to first place in the album sales of 1985 amongst national and international sales. In 1986, she sang “Earini Symfonia” (poem by

Yiannis Ritsos Yiannis Ritsos ( ; 1 May 1909 – 11 November 1990) was a Greek poet and communist and an active member of the Greek Resistance during World War II. While he disliked being regarded as a political poet, he has been called "the great poet of th ...

, music by

Yiannis Markopoulos Yannis, Yiannis, or Giannis (Γιάννης) is a common Greek given name, a variant of ''John'' (Hebrew) meaning "God is gracious." In formal Greek (e.g. all government documents and birth certificates) the name exists only as Ioannis (Ιωάνν� ...

) for the song’s premier performance, at the opening ceremony of the World Championships held for the first time at the

Athens Olympic Stadium The Olympic Stadium of Athens "Spyridon Louis, Spyros Louis" (, ''Olympiakó Stádio Athinón "Spýros Loúis"'') is a sports stadium in Marousi, in the north section of Athens, Greece. With a total capacity of 75,000, it is the largest sports v ...

, broadcast to 120 countries all over the world.

International career

She has sung in concerts in Greece and abroad (Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,

, Israel and Turkey). Due to the successful concerts she gave in Israel she was proclaimed most popular foreign singer; the Mayor of

Jerusalem Jerusalem is a city in the Southern Levant, on a plateau in the Judaean Mountains between the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean and the Dead Sea. It is one of the List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest cities in the world, and ...

awarded her the golden key of the city (1994). Three albums were released in Israel at the same time, all of them gold in a very short time: ''Glykeria golden-hits'', ''Far away'', ''Glykeria – 14 classics'', and her first album in France: ''Golden hits – The voice of Greece''. In 1998, her second album was released in France. She took part in two albums for the American label ''Putumayo'' and in compilations released in Europe. In 1999, she performed two concerts in

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

with the

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit ha-Yisra'elit'') is a major Israeli symphony orchestra based in Tel Aviv. Its principal concert ...

. A few months later the concert’s album was released and, immediately afterwards, ''Glykeria and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra'' was released throughout the world by Sony Classical. In 2001, she participated in the album ''Alif'' of the musician

Omar Faruk Tekbilek Omer Faruk Tekbilek (, born 1951) is a Turkish musician and composer, who plays a wide range of wind, string, percussion and electronic instruments. He has developed a style that builds on traditional Sufi music, but includes inspiration from ambi ...

. In 2002, she gave concerts with the “

Mikis Theodorakis Michail "Mikis" Theodorakis ( ; 29 July 1925 – 2 September 2021) was a Greek composer and lyricist credited with over 1,000 works. He scored for the films '' Zorba the Greek'' (1964), '' Z'' (1969), and '' Serpico'' (1973). He was a three-ti ...

Orchestra”, the “Estudiantina” orchestra, and gave a personal tour all over Greece as well. In the same year, her album “Open Heart” was released in Israel and “Glykeria’s

Rebetika Rebetiko (, ), plural rebetika ( ), occasionally transliterated as rembetiko or rebetico, is a term used to designate previously disparate kinds of urban Greek music which in the 1930s went through a process of musical syncretism and develope ...

Songs” in Turkey. In the First Arion Awards in Greece she was awarded the prize for best Greek popular singer. Glykeria, "The Sweet one" in Greek, has been a successful female singer in Greece for many years. In the summer of 1993 she performed in Israel for the first time. She ended her performance with her own captivating version of an Israeli folk song " Shabechi Yerushaly'im" ("Praise the Lord, Jerusalem!") in

Hebrew Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...

. Glykeria became the most loved Greek singer in Israel and a major part of Israel's cultural scene in the 1990s. Her special style full of depth, melancholy and endless emotion captured the heart of the Israelis, and her songs, both in Hebrew (with near perfect pronunciation) and Greek became all-time classics. She became a "household" name in Israel, an "honorary citizen", a platinum and gold albums seller, and the favorite of Israel's top leaders and celebrities. Her deep connection to Israel culminated in 1998 when she was the only foreign artist to be invited to sing in the special memorial event for

Yitzhak Rabin Yitzhak Rabin (; , ; 1 March 1922 – 4 November 1995) was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the prime minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–1977, and from 1992 until Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, his ass ...

, the beloved leader who was assassinated three years earlier. With tears in her eyes she sang in front of 200,000 people in

Rabin Square Rabin Square (), formerly Kings of Israel Square (), is a main large public city square in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel. Over the years it has been the site of numerous political rallies, parades, and other public events. In 1995, the square ...

. In the summer of 1999 she was invited to perform with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Also in 2006 during the Israel–Lebanon conflict she came to Israel with her son and met

Ehud Olmert Ehud Olmert (; , ; born 30 September 1945) is an Israeli politician and lawyer who served as the prime minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009. The son of a former Herut politician, Olmert was first elected to the Knesset for Likud in 1973, at th ...

and sang for the

soldiers A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, a warrant officer, or an officer. Etymology The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word ...

at the borders. Glykeria collaborated with composer

on a two-disc album composed of songs written by the famed composer in 2008. Collaborations in concerts and discography with: A. Kaldaras, S. Fotiadis,

Natacha Atlas Natacha Atlas (, , ; born 20 March 1964) is an Egyptian-Belgian singer known for her fusion of Arabic and Western music, particularly hip-hop. She once termed her music "'' cha'abi moderne''" (modern folk music). Her music has been influenced by ...

Ömer Faruk Tekbilek Omer Faruk Tekbilek (, born 1951) is a Turkish musician and composer, who plays a wide range of wind, string, percussion and electronic instruments. He has developed a style that builds on traditional Sufi music, but includes inspiration from ambi ...

Loukianos Kilaidonis Loukianos Kilaidonis (; 15 July 1943 – 7 February 2017) was a Greek composer, songwriter and singer. Biography Kilaidonis was born at Kypseli, Athens. He studied at the Lycée Léonin of Patissia. He then studied architecture at the Aristotle ...

, Mary Linda,

Pantelis Thalassinos Pantelis Thalassinos (; born June 11, 1958) is a Greek singer and songwriter. He was born in Keratsini, Piraeus. His father, Michalis, hailed from the island of Chios and his mother, Evangelia, from Serifos Serifos () is a Greek island in the ...

Marinella Kyriaki Papadopoulou (; born 19 May 1938), known by her stage name Marinella (), is a Greek singer whose career has spanned several decades. She is well regarded due to her impressive vocal range.Dragoumanos, Petros (2009). ''Elliniki Diskogr ...

Ofra Haza Ofra Haza (; 19 November 1957 – 23 February 2000) was an Israeli singer, songwriter, and actress, commonly known in the Western world as " the Madonna of the East", or "the Israeli Madonna". Her voice has been described as a "tender" mezzo-sop ...

, Ricky Gal,

Chava Alberstein Chava Alberstein ( , born 8 December 1946 in Poland) is an Israeli musician, lyricist, composer, and musical arranger. She moved to Israel in 1950 and started her music career in 1964. Alberstein has released over sixty albums in Hebrew, Englis ...

Amal Murkus Amal Murkus (, ; born 11 July 1968) is a Palestinian singer. Her post-modern music style has a variety of Mediterranean influences. Her first album, ''Amal'', was released in 1998, and her second, ''Shauq'', in 2004. Her songs take inspiration b ...

Babis Tsertos Haralambos (Babis) Tsertos (Greek: Μπάμπης Τσέρτος; born October 27, 1956) is a Greek musician. His sister is the singer Nadia Karagianni and his father was also a musician who played the mandolin. At the age of 17, he settled perm ...

Paschalis Terzis Paschalis Terzis (; born 24 April 1949) is a Greek singer. Biography Terzis was born in Pylaia, a suburb of Thessaloniki. In his early teens, he began to sing with friends, some of whom helped him in his career. After moving to Athens, he beg ...

, Ilias Aslanoglou,

Antonis Vardis Antonis Vardis (; 7 August 1948 – 2 September 2014) was a Greek composer and singer. Born in Moschato, a suburb of Athens, Vardis established a 40-year career as a composer and singer, collaborating with well-known Greek singers: George Dalaras, ...

Sarit Hadad Sarit Hadad (, ; born September 20, 1978) is an Israeli singer. She was named by Channel 24 as the "best female singer of the 2000s" in October 2009. She represented Israel with the song " Light a Candle" at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in T ...

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Nikos Papazoglou Nikolaos "Nikos" Papazoglou (in Greek: Νίκος Παπάζογλου; 20 March 1948 – 17 April 2011) was a Greek singer-songwriter, musician, and producer from Thessaloniki. Papazoglou began performing in a number of Greek local groups in th ...

and more.

Discography

* 1978: '' Min Kaneis Oneira Trela'' * 1980: '' Sta Matia Kita Me'' * 1981: '' Ta Smyrneika'' * 1983: '' Apo ti Smyrni ston Peiraia'' * 1984: '' Stin Omorfi Nyhta'' (Live) * 1985: '' Tragoudi Esthimatiko'' * 1986: '' Matia Mou'' * 1987: '' Me Panselino'' * 1988: '' Nea Selini'' * 1990: '' Ola Mou Ta Mystika'' * 1991: '' Ximerose'' * 1992: '' I Hora Ton Thavmaton'' * 1992: '' Nyhtes Magikes ki Oneiremenes'' (Live) * 1994: ''

Se Mia Schedia SE, Se, or Sé may refer to: Initialisms * Standard Edition (e.g. Java Platform, Standard Edition) * Special Edition * Second Edition (e.g. Windows 98 Second Edition) Arts and entertainment * ''Sé'' (album), by Lúnasa, 2006 * Se (instrume ...

'' * 1996: '' I Glykeria Tragoudai Antoni Vardi'' * 1998: '' Maska'' * 2000: '' Harama 2000 (Live) * 2002: '' Ta Rebetika'' * 2004: ''

Aniksi ''Aniksi'' (Greek: ''Άνοιξη''; English: ''Springtime'') is a successful studio album by Greek artist Glykeria. It was released in mid-2004 by Sony Music Greece. The album was certified Gold by IFPI Greece. The album also includes several w ...

'' * 2006: ''

Vrohi Ton Asterion ''Vrohi Ton Asterion'' (Greek: ''Βροχή Των Αστεριών''; ) is a studio album by Greek artist Glykeria. It was released in November 2006 by Sony BMG Greece and also is her first studio album since the Gold 2004 release of '' Aniksi' ...

'' * 2008: '' Ta Themelia Mou Sta Vouna'' * 2010: '' I Agapi Einai Eleftheri'' * 2014: '' kane kouragio ellada mou''

References

External links

Glykeria

(English) * http://www.myglykeria.gr * https://web.archive.org/web/20110531161510/http://www.glykeria.com.ar/ (Spanish) {{Authority control 1953 births Living people Greek entehno singers 20th-century Greek women singers Greek laïko singers Greek folk singers Greek women folk singers MAD Video Music Awards winners Greek Macedonians People from Emmanouil Pappas Hebrew-language singers of Greece