Kyriaki Papadopoulou (; born 19 May 1938), known by her stage name Marinella (), 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 whose career has spanned several decades. She is well regarded due to her impressive vocal range.Dragoumanos, Petros (2009). ''Elliniki Diskografia 1950–2009'' (''Greek Discography 1950–2009'') Since the beginning of her professional singing career in 1956, she has released 66 solo albums, and has also been featured on many albums by other musicians. She represented

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 ...

in the

Eurovision Song Contest 1974 The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 was the 19th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held on 6 April 1974 in the Brighton Dome, Dome in Brighton, United Kingdom. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster the BBC, ...

, becoming the first ever Greek entrant in the contest. From 1956 to 2024, Marinella remained active for 68 years, performing in concerts and weekly shows at nightclubs. On September 25, 2024, at the age of 86, she suffered a severe

hemorrhagic stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and hemorrhagic, due to bleeding. Both cause parts of the brain to stop ...

while performing at the

Odeon of Herodes Atticus The Odeon of Herodes Atticus (; also called Herodeion or Herodion; ) is a stone Roman theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. The building was completed in AD 161 and then renovated in 1950. Ancien ...

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

, collapsing on stage. After four months of hospitalization, on January 21, 2025, she was discharged from the hospital and returned home.

Early life

Kyriaki Papadopoulou was born in the city of

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

in northern

. Her parents were Greek refugees from

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

. She is the fourth and last child of a large family, which despite its poverty, was rich in love and in artistic vein. The whole family gathered around the turntable and sang, while her father tried to teach children the steps of the

waltz The waltz ( , meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...

and the

tango Tango is a partner dance and social dance that originated in the 1880s along the Río de la Plata, the natural border between Argentina and Uruguay. The tango was born in the impoverished port areas of these countries from a combination of Arge ...

. From the age of four years singing on the radio broadcast in "Pediki Ora ''(Children's Hour)''" and later did ads for shops such as "Melka" in Thessaloniki, earning her first pocket money. She participated in many performances of children's theatre. At age 15, she gave up her budding career to finish school, but by seventeen, her passion for the theatre returned and she joined the artistic group of Mary Laurent, a "mpoulouki" (so called then the singer troupes that traveled Greece end-to-end for performances) and plays small roles. One day, the lead singer fell sick and sought Marinella as a replacement, who was willing to take the singer's place. Marinella then became the lead singer of the troupe. Additionally, she later joined the Military Theatre because the remuneration was better. At the same time she started her career as a singer at the "Panorama" centre of Thessaloniki, where Greek actor and singer Tolis Harmas coined the name "Marinella" for her, inspired by his song. She released her first song in 1957, "Nitsa, Elenitsa ''(Little Helen)''". Her early career was marked by her collaboration with singer

Stelios Kazantzidis Stelios Kazantzidis (Greek: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης; 29 August 1931 – 14 September 2001) was one of the most prominent Greek singers. He was of Pontian and Asia Minor roots. A top artist of Greek music, or Laïkó, he collaborat ...

. Together they managed to become the greatest duet of Greece, unsurpassed even today. Starting at the night club "Luxembourg" in Thessaloniki where they enjoyed great success, they later moved to Athens, where they became widely known. They sang the songs of

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 ...

Manos Hadjidakis Manos may refer to: Films * The Hands (film), ''The Hands'' (film) (Spanish: ''Las manos''), a 2006 Argentinean-Italian film * ''Manos: The Hands of Fate'', 1966 horror film Other uses * Manos (album), ''Manos'' (album), by The Spinanes * Manos (n ...

Vassilis Tsitsanis Vassilis Tsitsanis ( 18 January 1915 – 18 January 1984) was a Greek songwriter and bouzouki player. He became one of the leading Greek composers of his time and is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Rebetiko and Laiko music. Tsi ...

, Giorgos Mitsakis,

Giorgos Zambetas Giorgos Zampetas (Pronounced 'Zabetas', , sometimes romanized as George Zambetas / George Zabetas / Giorgos Zabetas; 25 January 1925 – 10 March 1992) was a Greek bouzouki musician. He was born in Athens, where he also died, but his origins were ...

, Apostolos Kaldaras, Theodoros Derveniotis,

Stavros Xarchakos Stavros Xarchakos, Greek: Σταύρος Ξαρχάκος (born 14 March 1939) is a Greek composer and conductor. Stavros Xarchakos was born in Athens, where he studied at the Athens Conservatoire. He has family origins from the Mani Peninsul ...

, Christos Leontis, whom are considered the best composers of the era. Marinella married

on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States. They divorced in September 1966. Marinella then began a solo career and eventually married singer Tolis Voskopoulos in 1974. This marriage also ended in divorce in 1981.

Early career

In October 1970, Marinella participated in the V Festival Internacional da Cançao Popular – Parte Internacion (FIC) in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

, representing

with the song "Kyra Giorgena ''(Wife of George)''", finishing 4th among 38 countries. On October 24, 1970, the

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

wrote "Marinella from Greece, knows audiences in Athens clubs, carries enchantment in her songs and the warmth of the sun in her voice" (by Henry Johnston). Marinella was the first Greek singer to participate in the International MIDEM Festival of 1973 in

Cannes Cannes (, ; , ; ) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a communes of France, commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes departments of France, department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions Internatio ...

with three new songs composed by

. She also participated in the

Eurovision Song Contest The Eurovision Song Contest (), often known simply as Eurovision, is an international Music competition, song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) among its members since 1956. Each participating broadcaster ...

in 1974, placing eleventh with the song " Krasi, thalassa kai t' agori mou" ("Wine, sea and my boyfriend"). Initially Greek rock band Nostradamos had won the first Eurovision participation contest run by the state broadcaster ERT to represent Greece at Eurovision. However the band was not allowed to compete at Eurovision due to a scandal, and Marinella was sent instead. She also performed in several Greek musicals, both as singer and actress. Her popularity rose in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, with a string of successful albums and live shows. She developed a new standard for shows in the Greek night clubs, introducing costumes, dancing, and special lighting effects.

Later career

On 27 April 1998, Marinella performed in the

Athens Concert Hall The Athens Concert Hall ( Greek: Μέγαρον Μουσικής Αθηνών, ''Mégaron Mousikis Athinon'') is a concert hall located on Vasilissis Sofias Avenue in Athens, Greece. The Hall was inaugurated in 1991 with two halls. Since then i ...

, performing her older hits to great acclaim. Her concert at the small

Olympic Stadium ''Olympic Stadium'' is the name usually given to the main stadium of an Olympic Games The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international Olympic sports, sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports ...

of Athens on 1 October 1999 was a great success with more than 25,000 people. In November 2002, she collaborated with

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 ...

. They performed concerts in

and

as well as abroad. The tour was titled " Mazi ''(Together)''" and the released live album from these performances reached platinum status in 2003.On 10 April 2003, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' critic wrote about Marinella, ''"Her voice was earthy and strong, and she had the presence of an actress as she danced a few teasing steps or brought dignity to longing"'' (by Jon Pareles). In March 2004, she released a brand new album with new songs by Nikos Antypas and

Lina Nikolakopoulou Evangelia (Lina) Nikolakopoulou (Λίνα Νικολακοπούλου) is widely recognised as one of the foremost lyricists in Greece. She was born in Methana on 30 June 1957 and studied social and political sciences at the Panteion University ...

, entitled " Ammos Itane ''(Sand it's what it was)''". In the same year, on 29 August, she performed at the

closing ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly constructed location or the start of an event.

of the

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad (), and officially branded as Athens 2004 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 13 to 29 August 2004 in Athens, Greece. The Games saw 10,625 athletes ...

, along with

Dimitra Galani Dimitra Galani () is a Greek singer and songwriter. Galani was born 1952 in Athens and began her musical career at the age of 16 providing vocals on several tracks of Dimos Moutsis and Nikos Gatsos on the album "A Smile": (). She subsequently ...

, Haris Alexiou, Yiannis Parios and

. In December 2005, she released a new album titled " Tipota Den Ginete Tihea ''(Νothing happens by chance)''", composed by Giorgos Theofanous. The album reached gold status and includes duets with famous Greek singers, such as

Antonis Remos Antonis Remos (, ; born Antonios Paschalidis, ; 19 June 1970) is a Greek singer. Biography Early life He was born in Düsseldorf, West Germany. Later his family moved back to their native Thessaloniki, Greece, where he finished school. During h ...

and

Glykeria Glykeria (born Glykeria Kotsoula, ; born 16 November 1953 in Agio Pnevma, Serres) is a Greek singer active in Greece and Cyprus, while also gaining fame in Israel, France, Turkey, Spain, and England. Her career has spanned over 30 years and is m ...

. In 2006, two new compilations of Marinella were officially released, the first titled " Sti Skini ''(On stage)''" and containing older live recordings and the second one titled "Ta Logia Ine Peritta – 50 Chronia Tragoudi ''(Words are pointless – 50 Years of song)''", which is a complete eight CDs boxset with Marinella's greatest hits from the beginning of her career until her collaboration with Kostas Hatzis at " Recital". She returned to nightlife, by performing live with

at the Athens Arena in 2006–07 and 2007–08, with

Giannis Parios Yiannis Parios () 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 first appearance as a singer in 1969 ...

at the Diogenis Studio in the winter season 2008–09, and with Natassa Theodoridou at the Votanikos in 2011–12, in Athens.

Health

On September 25, 2024, Marinella was set to perform at the iconic

. During the performance, audience members noticed that the 86-year-old singer appeared unwell, and she ultimately collapsed while singing her third song of the night. She was rushed to a private hospital, where she was diagnosed with a severe and widespread

and spent 21 days in intensive care. After four months of hospitalization, on January 21, 2025, she was discharged from the hospital and returned home.

Discography

Albums

*1964: Kazantzidis & Marinella – Megales Epitihies ''(Great hits)'' *1965: Chrysos Diskos Kazantzidi & Marinellas ''(Golden record)'' *1967: Anapolontas ''(Remembering with Stelios Kazanztidis and Marinella)'' *1969: Stalia - Stalia ''(Drop by drop)'' *1969: Kazantzidis & Marinella *1969: Otan Simani Esperinos ''(When the evening bells are ringing)'' *1969: Marinella *1970: Ena Tragoudi Ein' I Zoi Mou ''(A song is my life)'' *1970: Kazantzidis & Marinella Sing Greek Songs *1971: Marinella – Enas Mythos ''(A tale)'' *1972: Mia Vradia Me Tin Marinella ''(An evening with Marinella)'' *1972: Athanata Rebetika ''(Immortal Rebetiko songs)'' *1973: Mia Vradia Me Tin Marinella No.2 ''(An evening with Marinella no.2)'' *1973:

Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea, and shares land borders with Montenegro to ...

*1974: Marinella Gia Panta ''(Marinella forever)'' – Cyprus release *1974: Marinella & Voskopoulos *1974: Marinella & Tolis Voskopoulos – Ego Ki' Esy ''(You and I)'' *1975: Marinella Gia Panta ''(Marinella forever)'' *1976: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis – Recital ''(Recital)'' *1976: Alli Mia Fora ''(Once again)'' *1977: Marinella & Athenians *1978: I Marinella Tou Simera ''(Marinella of today)'' *1979: S' Agapo ''(I love you)'' *1980: I Marinella Se Tragoudia Tis Vembo ''(Marinella in songs of Vembo)'' *1980: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis – To Tam - Tam ''(The tam-tam)'' *1981: Marinella – Gia 'Senane Mporo ''(For you, I can)'' *1983: Gia 'Sena Ton Agnosto ''(For you, the unknown)'' *1984: Megales Stigmes ''(Great times)'' *1985: I Agapi Mas ''(Our love)'' *1986: Mia Nihta ''(One night)'' *1987: Marinella & Kostas Hatzis – Synantisi ''(Encounter)'' *1988: Tolmo ''(I dare)'' *1989: Eisai Mia Thiella ''(You're a storm)'' *1990: Lege Mou "S' agapo" ''(Keep telling me "I love you")'' *1991: Stelios Kazantzidis & Marinella – Ta Tragoudia Tis Amerikis ''(The songs of America)'' *1992: I Marinella Tragouda Mimi Plessa ''(Marinella sings Mimis Plessa)'' *1992: I Marinella Tragouda Megales Kyries ''(Marinella sings great Ladies)'' *1993: To Ximeroma Tou Erota ''(The dawn of love)'' *1994: I Marinella Tragouda Hatzinasio ''(Marinella sings George Hadjinasio)'' *1995: Ta Prota Mou Tragoudia ''(My first songs 1967 – 1970)'' *1996: Ta Prota Mou Tragoudia Nο. 2 ''(My first songs No. 2 1971 – 1974)'' *1997: Gia Proti Fora ''(For the first time)'' *1997: Tragoudia Apo Tis 45' Strofes ''(Songs of 45' rpm vinyl records)'' *1998: I Marinella Tragouda Ke Thimate ''(Marinella sings and remembers)'' *1999: Me Varka To Tragoudi ''(On a boat of song)'' *2003: Marinella & George Dalaras – Mazi ''(Together)'' *2004: Ammos Itane ''(Sand it's what it was)'' *2005: Tipota Den Ginete Tihea ''(Νothing happens by chance)'' *2007: Marinella & Antonis Remos – Live

Appearances in film, theater and television

Film

Marinella's first appearance in the cinema was with

- the most popular artistic couple of the time - in the 1960 film "I kyria dimarhos" ''(The Mayoress)''. In the film they sing two of their big hits of that time, ''"Ziguala"'' and ''"Gia mas pote min ximerosei"''. In the film Marinella sings alone, the song ''"Allaxane ta pragmata"'' which was written especially for the film and relates to

women's empowerment Women's empowerment (or female empowerment) may be defined in several method, including accepting women's viewpoints, making an effort to seek them and raising the status of women through education, awareness, literacy, equal status in society, ...

which is one of the themes of this comedy.Τα Κινηματογραφικά του Στέλιου Καζαντζίδη
/ref>
In 1962 she appears again with Kazantzidis in the melodramatic film "Klapse ftohi mou kardia" ''(Cry my poor heart)'' singing their hit ''"Fevgo me pikra sta ksena"''. In 1965 the couple will sing in the film "Oi adistaktoi" ''(The ruthless)'', the song of Yannis Markopoulos "Pios dromos ine anichtos" in which the leading actor of the film, Nikos Kourkoulos, participates.
Kazantzidis and Marinella will appear together for the last time on screen in 1966, in Andreas Katsimitsoulias' film "Angeloi tis amartias" ''(Angels of Sin)'' with the song "Na fygo, na fygo". Her big personal successes, however, would come in 1968 and 1969. In 1968 she would appear in two films with two songs that marked her career: in the comedy "O pio kalos o mathitis" ''(The best student)'' she sang Giorgos Zampetas's "Stalia-stalia" - which gave the title to her first solo album, and in the musical " Gorgones kai magkes" when she sang ''"Anixe Petra"'', with music by

Mimis Plessas Dimitrios "Mimis" Plessas (; 12 October 1924 – 5 October 2024) was a Greek musician, composer, conductor and pianist. Life and career Plessas was born in Athens. He attended the Lycée Léonin school in the Athens suburb of Nea Smyrni, and ...

and lyrics by

Lefteris Papadopoulos Lefteris (Eleftherios) Papadopoulos (; born 14 November 1935) is a Greek lyricist, writer and journalist. Lefteris Papadopoulos was born in Athens, Greece on 14 November 1935. He was the son of Greek Pontian refugees, with a father from a vill ...

. Her performance especially in this song launched her career and is still associated with her name to this day. Το λαϊκό τραγούδι στον ελληνικό κινηματογράφο
/ref>
In 1969 she will also sing in two films three songs that will also become big hits: "Pios in' aftos" in the film "O Blofatzis"''(The bluffer)'' and "Dos' mou t' athanato nero" and "Zografismena sto charti" in "I Pariziana"''(The Parisienne)''
In total, she has appeared as a singer in 24 films.

Theatre

She appeared in the theatre in the summer of 1962 in the

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

"Omorfi Poli" with music and songs by

. The artistic couple Kazantzidis and Marinella were enlisted to boost the audience attendance, which was not as expected. In 2010 she will star in the theatrical performance "Marinella - The musical" a musical theatre performance that tells the story of her life. The musical, directed by Stamatis Fasoulis, became a great commercial and artistic success.

Television

She participated in two television series by Kostas Koutsomytis. In 1995 she performed the title song and seven other songs in the drama series "I prova tou nyfikou" while 2000 played the role of Marika Suez, the patron of a theatrical troupe, in the series "Ystera irthan oi melisses".https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0236904/

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marinella 1938 births Living people Arion Music Awards winners Greek actresses 20th-century Greek women singers Greek laïko singers Greek entehno singers Greek rebetiko singers Greek women folk singers Universal Music Greece artists PolyGram Records (Greece) artists Minos EMI artists Musicians from Thessaloniki Singers from Thessaloniki Thessaloniki Song Festival entrants Eurovision Song Contest entrants Greek Macedonians