Nikos Karvelas (; born 8 September 1951) 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 ...

musician A musician is someone who Composer, composes, Conducting, conducts, or Performing arts#Performers, performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general Terminology, term used to designate a person who fol ...

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

singer Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...

songwriter A songwriter is a person who creates musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music genre and film scoring. ...

record producer A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

and

author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...

. He has sold millions of records as a producer and is most recognizable for his four-decade-long collaboration with

Anna Vissi Anna Vissi (, , ; born 20 December 1957) is a Greek Cypriot singer. She studied music at conservatories and performed locally before moving to the professional scene in Athens, in 1973, where she signed with Minos EMI#Merger with Minos Matsas ...

, while some of his other well-known collaborations include

Tolis Voskopoulos __notoc__ Apostolos "Tolis" Voskopoulos (; 26 July 1940 – 19 July 2021) was one of the legends of modern Greek music The music of Greece is as diverse and celebrated as its History of Greece, history. Greek music separates into two parts: ...

and

Sakis Rouvas Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas (, ; born 5 January 1972), also known :wikt:mononym, mononymously as Sakis, is a Greeks, Greek singer, actor, businessman and former pole vaulter. Born in Corfu, Rouvas won medals with Greece's U18 and U20 national sp ...

. Karvelas has released multiple personal studio albums that have had mild to big success. In 2012,

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 Karvelas as the 13th top-certified composer in Greece in the phonographic era.

Early life

Karvelas was born in

Piraeus Piraeus ( ; ; , Ancient: , Katharevousa: ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens city centre along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf in the Ath ...

. When he was five years old, his parents bought him his first piano. He started to play popular songs and composed his first melodies. During the 1970s, he studied law at the

University of Athens The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA; , ''Ethnikó kai Kapodistriakó Panepistímio Athinón''), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens (UoA), is a public university in Athens, Greece, with various campuses alo ...

. Karvelas created his first rock band influenced by famous rock bands like the

Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

and

the Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

. He started to become known at the end of the 1970s. In the early 1980s, Karvelas met his muse, Vissi, and a few years later, in 1983, they got married. Vissi has claimed that the first impression she had when she met Karvelas was a "hairy thing," but she was amazed by his talent and his sex appeal.

Career

1985–1991

Karvelas' career as a singer started in 1985 when he released his first studio album under CBS Records Greece, ''San Diskos Palios'' (Like An Old Record) making two big hits, ''Despina'' and ''Kalokairines Diakopes'' (Summer Holidays). The album sold over 50,000 copies and became

gold Gold is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol Au (from Latin ) and atomic number 79. In its pure form, it is a brightness, bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Chemically, gold is a transition metal ...

. In 1987, he released his second album ''Ola i Tipota'' (All or Nothing) and it became

platinum Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...

. Next year, he released his third album, ''Dimosies Scheseis'' (Public Relations) and in 1989 he released his fourth album, "''Tsouzi''." His fifth step came out in 1990 and tended to be his "lucky" album. It was called ''Diavolaki'' (Little Devil) and became

. The top hit of the album was ''Antistrofi Metrisi'' (Countdown), a duet with Vissi. One year later, he released another gold album, titled ''O Teleftaios Horos'' (The Last Dance). The self-titled duet with Vissi confirmed the rumors about the problems of their marriage. In 1991, Karvelas and Vissi tried their luck in a different type of music. ''Demones'' (Demons) is the first opera composed by Karvelas and Vissi was the protagonist, while actors including Giannis Samsiaris and John Modinos participated. Vissi has stated "Me and Nikos would like so much to do ''Demones'' in

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 ...

and we spent all our money to produce it without knowing if it will have success". The rock opera was a great success and for two years the theater "Attikon" was sold-out.

1992–1999

''Emeis'' (We) was the next album of Karvelas, released in 1992 with the top single ''Emeis'', another duet with Vissi. Two years later, Karvelas releases another gold album, ''25 ores'' (25 Hours). All the albums were great successes and became either gold or platinum. In 1993, Karvelas released ''Best Of'' with 2 new songs, "Oikto" (Mercy) and "Thes Den Thes" (Whether You Want or Not). In 1996, he released the album ''To Aroma tis Amartias'' (The Aroma of Sin) and it became

. Next year, the title of his gold album, ''O Pio Eftihismenos Anthropos Pano Sti Gi'' (The Happiest Man On Earth), ironically expressed Karvelas' mood. This certain period, Karvelas moved to London permanently, having enough time and great inspiration to prepare his next steps. He released the album ''Ena Hrono to Perissotero'' (''One Year the Most''). Vissi sang with Nikos the top single of the album which was the name of the album.

2000–present

In 2000, Karvelas from London shared his new hits with his fans in the album ''Ola Ine Endaxi'' (Everything Is Alright). However, he started to prepare his new musical ''Mala'', dealing with the story of

Mala Zimetbaum Malka Zimetbaum, also known as "Mala" Zimetbaum or "Mala the Belgian" (26 January 1918 – 15 September 1944), was a History of the Jews in Belgium, Belgian woman of Polish Jews, Polish Jewish descent, known for her escape from the Auschwitz-Birke ...

, a Jewish girl who tried to escape from

Auschwitz Auschwitz, or Oświęcim, was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) during World War II and the Holocaust. It consisted of Auschw ...

in 1944. In January 2002, ''Mala''’s premiere in "Pallas" theater took place, with Vissi playing the lead role. The musical was a great success and it was sold-out every night. After ''Mala'', Karvelas released an album titled, ''Party Gia Spasmenes Kardies'' (Party for Broken Hearts). ''Boom Boom Boom'' was the first single of the album, a memorial duet with Vissi. His next album was ''Robot'', released by Nitro Music. In 2004, he released a single dedicated to the Greek football champion team in

Euro 2004 The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2004, was the 12th edition of the UEFA European Championship, a quadrennial football competition contested by the men's national teams of UEFA member associations. Th ...

. The title was ''Imaste Nikites'' (We Are Winners). Some of the football players participated in the song's music video. In 2006, he released the album ''Thriller'' and in 2007 the single ''Pios Fovate ton Passari'' (Who's Afraid of Passaris). In late 2007, he released the album ''Trakter''. In February 2009, Karvelas released his 19th studio album titled '' Adio Heimona''. In a radio interview prior to the album's release, good friend

Natalia Germanou Natalia Germanou (; born 22 June 1965) is a Greek songwriter, television hostess, radio producer and journalist. Germanou has written lyrics for many popular singers such as Anna Vissi, Despina Vandi, Mihalis Hatzigiannis, Notis Sfakianakis, ...

, described the album as featuring a variety of styles, and classified it as "the return of good old Karvelas." In December 2009, it was announced that Karvelas would become the head judge on the Greek talent show "

Greek Idol ''Greek Idol'' is a reality television competition to find new solo singing talent. Part of the ''Idol'' franchise, it is based on the British show '' Pop Idol'' created by Simon Fuller. The first season of the show debuted on March 5, 2010 on A ...

" to be aired on

in 2010, but he eventually withdrew from the project before it started airing. As of 2024, Karvela’s collaboration with

, spans over 4-decades and remains as one of the most lucrative in Greek history, having achieved multi-million record sales (in the range of 15 and 20 million).

Personal life

Karvelas first met Greek-Cypriot singer

in early 1980s, and married in 1983. They have a daughter named Sofia (b. 1983). The couple later divorced, but have remained good friends to date, while Karvelas also has written the lyrics of most of Vissi's songs. In 2006, Karvelas began dating Greek television hostess Annita Pania. In 2008 Pania gave birth to their son named Andreas. The couple married in 2010 and divorced in 2016. Since 2019, Karvelas has been in a relationship with Greek singer Elena Ferentinou. They have a son named Fedon (b. 2022).

Discography

Studio albums

CD singles

Compilations

As a songwriter for other artists

* 1975: Yiannis Parios – ''Erhontai Stigmes'' – Gold * 1976: Yiannis Parios – ''Tora Pia'' – Platinum * 1977: Yiannis Parios – ''Mi Fevgis Mi'' – Platinum * 1977: Litsa Diamanti – ''Ase Me Na S' Agapao'' – Gold * 1977: Yiannis Kalatzis – ''Kapoios Panta Leei Antio'' * 1977: Dimitris Kontolazos – ''Min Rotas'' * 1977: Litsa Sakellariou – ''Litsa Sakellariou'' * 1977:

– ''Einai To Kati Pou Menei'' – Gold * 1978: Themis Andreadis – ''O Themis Pou Paei Pantou'' * 1978: Dimitra Galani – ''M' Agapouses Thimame...'' – Gold * 1979: Yiannis Kalatzis – ''Pali Konta Sou'' * 1979: Tolis Voskopoulos – ''Mera Nychta Pantou'' – Gold * 1981: Doukissa – ''Gia Sena Ksana Tragoudo'' * 1981:

– ''

'' (as Nikos Leonardos) – Gold * 1982: Anna Vissi – '' Eimai To Simera Kai Eisai To Hthes'' * 1984: Anna Vissi – ''

Na 'Hes Kardia Na 'hes Kardia (; ) is the sixth album by Greek singer Anna Vissi. Released in 1984, it was her first album under Columbia Records#In the 1960s, CBS Greece. It featured 12 laika songs, all written by then-husband Nikos Karvelas. Lyricists of the ...

'' – Gold * 1985:

Angela Dimitriou Angeliki Kiourtsaki (; born 18 August 1954), known as Angela Dimitriou (, ), is a Greek singer. She is one of the top 10 most popular and commercially successful Greek female singers, with album sales reaching 1.5 million in Greece and 2.4 milli ...

– ''Poia Thysia'' – Gold * 1985: Anna Vissi – ''

Kati Simveni ''Kati Simveni'' (; ) is the name of a Greek album by singer Anna Vissi. The album was released in Greece and Cyprus by Columbia Records, CBS Greece in 1985. This album includes her signature song "Dodeka". The album reached gold status. Backgro ...

'' – Gold * 1986: Anna Vissi – ''

I Epomeni Kinisi ''I Epomeni Kinisi'' (; ) is a Greek album by singer Anna Vissi released in Greece and Cyprus in 1986 by CBS Greece. This album is all written by Nikos Karvelas. In spite of her previous albums, it featured a clear pop sound, very distinctive of ...

'' – Platinum * 1986: Rita Sakellariou – ''Areso'' – Platinum * 1986: Litsa Diamanti – ''Den Pandrevome'' – Gold * 1987: Dimitris Kontolazos – ''Den M' Agapas'' – Gold * 1987: Haroula Ntanou – ''Dikaiologimena'' * 1987: Dimitris Kontolazos – ''Den M' Agapas'' – Gold * 1987: Polina – ''Pame Gia Treles Stis Seychelles'' * 1988: Anna Vissi – ''

Tora Tora or TORA may refer to: People * Tora (given name), female given name * Tora (surname) * Tora people of Arabia and northern Africa * Torá language, an extinct language once spoken in Brazil Places * Tora, Benin, in Borgou Department * T ...

'' – Gold * 1988: Anna Vissi – '' Empnefsi!'' – Gold * 1988: Litsa Diamanti – ''Piretos'' – Gold * 1989: Anna Vissi – '' Fotia'' – Platinum * 1990: Polina – ''Kali Epityhia'' * 1990: Dimitris Kontolazos – ''Tachypalmia'' – Gold * 1990: Anna Vissi – '' Eimai'' – Gold * 1992: Katerina Stanisi – ''Anastatonomai'' – Gold * 1992: Anna Vissi – '' Lambo'' – Gold * 1993: Sofia Karvela – ''Kolla To'' * 1993: Katerina Stanisi – ''Na Mineis'' – Gold * 1993:

Lefteris Pantazis Lefteris Pantazis () who is often called by the nickname ''LePa'' by the media and his fans, is a Greek singer. He was born Eleftherios Pagkozidis (Ελευθέριος Παγκοζίδης) on 27 March 1955 to Pontic Greek parents in Tashkent, ...

– ''Ego Den Eimai Ego'' – Platinum * 1993: Anna Vissi – '' Live!'' * 1994:

– '' Aima, Dakrya & Idrotas'' – Platinum * 1994: Lefteris Pantazis – ''O Paixtis'' – Gold * 1994: Stathis Aggelopoulos – ''Kripse Me Stin Agkalia Sou'' * 1994: Anna Vissi – '' Re!'' – Gold * 1995: Margarita Pappa – ''Etsi Eimai Ego'' * 1996: Anna Vissi – ''

Klima Tropiko ''Klima Tropiko'' ( Greek: ''Κλίμα Τροπικό''; ) is the name of a Greek album by singer Anna Vissi released in Greece and Cyprus in February 1996. It reached 2× Platinum, acclaiming both critical and commercial success and establishi ...

'' – 3× Platinum * 1996: Sakis Rouvas – '' Tora Arhizoun Ta Dyskola'' – Platinum * 1996: Lambis Livieratos – ''Bam Kai Kato'' – Gold * 1997: Anna Vissi – ''

Travma ''Travma'' (Greek: ''Τραύμα''; English: ''Trauma'') is the 18th studio album by Greek singer, Anna Vissi. It was released on 16 April 1997 by Sony Music Greece. The album was certified gold within 12 days and eventually achieved triple-p ...

'' – 3× Platinum * 1997: Efi Sarri – ''Adinaton'' – Gold * 1997: Lefteris Pantazis – ''Erhetai'' – Gold * 1997: Antypas – ''Kataigida'' – Gold * 1997: Katerina Stanisi – ''Imoun, Eimai Kai Tha Eimai'' – Gold * 1998: Lambis Livieratos – ''Poios Einai Aftos'' – Gold * 1998: Anna Vissi – ''

Antidoto ''Antidoto'' (Greek: ''Αντίδοτο''; English: ''Antidote'') is the nineteenth studio album by famous Greek singer, Anna Vissi. It was released on 1 April 1998 in Greece and Cyprus and certified platinum in a week, but later reached double-p ...

'' – 3× Platinum * 1997: Efi Sarri – ''Tête-à-Tête'' – Gold * 1998: Dimitris Kokotas – ''Gia Mena'' – Gold * 1999: Christina Anagnostopoulou – ''Ola Ki Ola'' * 2000: Anna Vissi – '' Everything I Am'' – Gold * 2000: Anna Vissi – ''

Kravgi ''Kravgi'' (Greek: ''Κραυγή''; English: ''Scream'') is the 20th studio album by Greek singer Anna Vissi. It was released on 23 November 2000 by Sony Music Greece, and later was released by Sony Music in Turkey in 2001 as well as in Austral ...

'' – 7× Platinum * 2001: Christina Anagnostopoulou – ''Ke Hamogelao'' * 2002: Anna Vissi – '' X'' – 2× Platinum * 2003: Anna Vissi – '' Paraksenes Eikones'' – 2× Platinum * 2004: Christina Anagnostopoulou – ''Straight'' * 2004: Anna Vissi – ''

Live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film * ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film *'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...

'' – Platinum * 2005: Anna Vissi – ''

Nylon Nylon is a family of synthetic polymers characterised by amide linkages, typically connecting aliphatic or Polyamide#Classification, semi-aromatic groups. Nylons are generally brownish in color and can possess a soft texture, with some varieti ...

'' – Platinum * 2007: Various artists – ''Je T'Aime'' * 2010: Anna Vissi – '' Agapi Einai Esi'' – Gold * 2011: Paschalis Terzis – ''Dio Nichtes Mono'' – Gold * 2013: Vigor – ''Još Fališ'' (single) * 2015: Anna Vissi – ''Sinentefksi'' – Gold * 2019: Anna Vissi – ''Iliotropia'' – Gold

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Karvelas, Nikos 1951 births Living people Musicians from Piraeus Arion Music Awards winners Greek male songwriters 20th-century Greek male singers Greek music managers Greek laïko singers Greek pop singers MAD Video Music Awards winners