Giannis Poulopoulos
Encyclopedia
Giannis Poulopoulos is a Greek singer-songwriter who had many prominent hits in the Greek music world during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s . He has sold the fourth-highest number of albums of all Greek singers.
Poulopoulos resides in Greece; many fans consider him a legend;
Shortly after his birth, his parents, originally from Messenia
, moved to the Saint Ierotheos region of Peristeri
, near Athens
. From an early age Poulopoulos liked singing, but in the region of his home there was no one who was able to promote his talent. Prompted by friends, he sought but could not obtain an audition with Columbia Records
. He was not discouraged and continued with almost-daily requests for an audition. Meanwhile he worked as a builder, playing football in Saint Ierotheos for the Courageous team and developed a skill for oil painting.
Eventually his persistence paid off for him. Still only 19, Poulopoulos secured auditions with the so-called megatheria
of Greek music - Mikis Theodorakis
, Apostolos Kaldaras, Vassilis Tsitsanis
, and Giannis Papaioannou
. Poulopoulos chose two somewhat difficult songs, Mana mou kai panagia ("My Mother and the Madonna") and Parapono ("Complaint").
After one audition, Mikis Theodorakis
approached Poulopoulos, declaring: "I will make this one a singer." Recognizing his great talent, Theodorakis took Poulopoulos under his wing and arranged for him to sing three songs in a theatrical production by Nikos Kourkoulos
and Tzeni Karezi
of Iakovos Kambanellis's play "The Neighbourhood of Angels". Grigoris Bithikotsis
later made cover version
s of the first three songs ("Set a table for two," "Glory to God" and "Bread is on the Table") that Poulopoulos recorded
.
Poulopoulos would regularly ding in a music hall in Plaka
. He recorded four or five 45rpm disks for Columbia Records
which are now difficult to find, as the singer soon agreed to record for Lyra
, for whom he recorded three songs by Mikis Theodorakis
. In 1965 he was the first performer of four songs written by Manos Loïzos
. Nearly at the same time he also had a great success with Mi mu thymonis matia mou (Don't be angry with me, my love) composed by Stavros Koujioumtzis
.
By 1966 his records were being distributed more widely, and his songs were featured in movies. In Oi Stigmatismenoi ("The Stigmatized"), which starred Giorgos Foundas and Maro Kodou, he sang "Very late" and "I love you" with Helen Kladi. In O Tetraperatos ("The Cunning") with Kostas Chatzichristos he sang "In Piraeus, in Piraeus" by Giorgos Katsaros
, and in the romantic comedy Tzeni-Tzeni he and Tzeni Karezi
performed a song by Giannis Markopoulos.
Poulopoulos resides in Greece; many fans consider him a legend;
Shortly after his birth, his parents, originally from Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
, moved to the Saint Ierotheos region of Peristeri
Peristeri
Peristeri is a suburban municipality in Athens, Greece, located about 5 km NW of the downtown area. The municipality is bordered by the Cephissus/Cephissos River, Athinon Avenue , Chaidari in the west and Petroupoli in the northwest, with a size of around...
, near Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. From an early age Poulopoulos liked singing, but in the region of his home there was no one who was able to promote his talent. Prompted by friends, he sought but could not obtain an audition with Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. He was not discouraged and continued with almost-daily requests for an audition. Meanwhile he worked as a builder, playing football in Saint Ierotheos for the Courageous team and developed a skill for oil painting.
Eventually his persistence paid off for him. Still only 19, Poulopoulos secured auditions with the so-called megatheria
Megatherium
Megatherium was a genus of elephant-sized ground sloths endemic to Central America and South America that lived from the Pliocene through Pleistocene existing approximately...
of Greek music - Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
, Apostolos Kaldaras, Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis 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 Rebetika. Tsitsanis wrote more than 500 songs and is still remembered as an extraordinary bouzouki...
, and Giannis Papaioannou
Giannis Papaioannou
Giannis Papaioannou was a famous Greek musician and composer born in Kios, Turkey . In English his name is sometimes romanized as Yannis, Ioannis or Yiannis. Most active in the 1940s, he wrote many songs, some of which are today considered classics of the rebetiko folk music style...
. Poulopoulos chose two somewhat difficult songs, Mana mou kai panagia ("My Mother and the Madonna") and Parapono ("Complaint").
After one audition, Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
approached Poulopoulos, declaring: "I will make this one a singer." Recognizing his great talent, Theodorakis took Poulopoulos under his wing and arranged for him to sing three songs in a theatrical production by Nikos Kourkoulos
Nikos Kourkoulos
Nikos Kourkoulos was a highly respected Greek theatrical and film performer, one of the most talented and recognizable actors in Greece of modern times...
and Tzeni Karezi
Tzeni Karezi
Tzeni Karezi was a Greek film and theatre actress. She was considered one of the most popular and successful actresses of the cinema of Greece.-Early life:...
of Iakovos Kambanellis's play "The Neighbourhood of Angels". Grigoris Bithikotsis
Grigoris Bithikotsis
Grigoris Bithikotsis was a popular Greek folk singer/songwriter with a career spanning five decades.-Biography:...
later made cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of the first three songs ("Set a table for two," "Glory to God" and "Bread is on the Table") that Poulopoulos recorded
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
.
Poulopoulos would regularly ding in a music hall in Plaka
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 ancient town of Athens...
. He recorded four or five 45rpm disks for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
which are now difficult to find, as the singer soon agreed to record for Lyra
Lyra
Lyra is a small constellation. It is one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and remains one of the 88 modern constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. Its principal star, Vega — a corner of the Summer Triangle — is one of the brightest...
, for whom he recorded three songs by Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
. In 1965 he was the first performer of four songs written by Manos Loïzos
Manos Loïzos
Manos Loïzos was considered to be one of the most important Greek music composers of the 20th century.-Biography:...
. Nearly at the same time he also had a great success with Mi mu thymonis matia mou (Don't be angry with me, my love) composed by Stavros Koujioumtzis
Stavros Koujioumtzis
Stavros Kouyioumtzis, also Kougioumtzis, Kouyoumtzis, or Koujioumtzis, is one of the most significant Greek music composers of the 20th century....
.
By 1966 his records were being distributed more widely, and his songs were featured in movies. In Oi Stigmatismenoi ("The Stigmatized"), which starred Giorgos Foundas and Maro Kodou, he sang "Very late" and "I love you" with Helen Kladi. In O Tetraperatos ("The Cunning") with Kostas Chatzichristos he sang "In Piraeus, in Piraeus" by Giorgos Katsaros
Giorgos Katsaros
Giorgos Katsaros is a famous Greek musician and songwriter. He plays the alto saxophone. He has made a variety of recordings, collaborating amongst others with Greek musical composers, such as Yannis Theodoridis and Mimis Plessas.In 1972 he wrote the music for Alekos Sakellarios' I Komissa tis...
, and in the romantic comedy Tzeni-Tzeni he and Tzeni Karezi
Tzeni Karezi
Tzeni Karezi was a Greek film and theatre actress. She was considered one of the most popular and successful actresses of the cinema of Greece.-Early life:...
performed a song by Giannis Markopoulos.