Thessaloniki, Greece. Marinella, born Kyriaki Papadopoulou, was a defining figure in Greek music, with a career spanning six decades and a reputation as one of the country’s most successful and recognisable voices. She remained active for years and spoke publicly about viewing age as “just a number.”
Views on age and life
Marinella told Lifo magazine that her age did not concern her, saying a birth date was “just a number for the registry office and nothing more.” In the same remarks, she criticised what she described as constant grumbling, misery, apathy, and envy, and said she could not understand people who fail to live every moment.
Health incident during a performance
In September 2024, Marinella suffered a haemorrhagic stroke while performing on stage at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. She was hospitalised and later moved to a rehabilitation centre.
Early years and start in performance
Marinella’s journey began in Thessaloniki. At 17, she joined Mary Loran’s acting troupe and toured Greece with then-rising stars Kostas Voutsas and Martha Karagianni. Her singing career began when the troupe’s lead singer fell ill one evening and Marinella, who knew every song by heart, replaced her.
Meeting Stelios Kazantzidis and rise to fame
In August 1957, Marinella met singer Stelios Kazantzidis after he heard her singing his track “To pio pikro psomi,” and noted her lighter approach to laiko music. Marinella told Kathimerini that their connection deepened through a shared love for the sea, recalling that Kazantzidis asked to join her on a fishing trip with her father.
The pair toured in Greece and abroad, including in America and Australia, and their harmonies continued to be admired and studied. Between 1960 and 1966, they appeared together in 10 Greek films.
Solo career and “Anixe Petra”
After her professional split from Kazantzidis, Marinella continued as a solo performer. In 1968, director Giannis Dalianidis sought her for the musical Gorgones kai Magkes, and songwriter Mimis Plessas and lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos produced “Anixe Petra.” Plessas said she recorded the song in a single take due to time constraints, and the recording used in the film helped propel her solo career.
International recognition
Marinella later received international recognition at the International Song Festival in Rio de Janeiro, where she won the “Best Artistic Performance” award.
Which Marinella performance or recording do you associate most with her impact on Greek music?
