The great singer Marinella died at the age of 87

The top singer breathed her last at home, while her family announced the sad news with a statement: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the loss of Marinella, our beloved mother and grandmother, who passed away at her home, today, March 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM.”

The great singer suffered a stroke on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the packed Herodion. The concert had begun and Marinella was performing her third song, “Ego ki esyi,” when she suddenly collapsed on stage, shocking the audience and the entire country. Since then, Marinella was hospitalized for a long time in a private hospital in the Northern Suburbs. After discharge, she was at home where she received care from her family, as she had not had contact with the environment for almost 1.5 years.

Marinella, born Kyriaki Papadopoulou, was born on May 20, 1938 in Thessaloniki. From an early age, she showed her love for singing. Her first contact with the public was through the music scenes of Thessaloniki in the late 1950s.

The beginning of her career
In 1957, she moved to Athens and began collaborating with great creators of the time. In 1957, she appeared for the first time on the discography, while a few years later, in 1964, she married Stelios Kazantzidis, with whom she collaborated on great successes. The couple was particularly popular with the general public, although their marriage lasted until 1966.

Solo career and rise

After her separation, Marinella continued her career independently and quickly established herself as a top performer. She sang works by great composers such as Manos Hadjidakis, Stavros Xarchakos, Giorgos Hatzinasios, Mimis Plessas, as well as many younger creators.

In 1973, she presented the first one-woman show in Greece, establishing a new form of artistic performance that combined singing with the presentation of a spectacle. The 1970s marked her great recognition.

Discography and collaborations

Over the course of her career, she has released over 40 personal albums, while her collaborations with artists such as Giorgos Dalaras, Antonis Remos, Haris Alexiou, Paschalis Terzis and others constitute important chapters in Greek discography. Her greatest hits are the songs "Borders love knows no bounds", "Stalia stalia", "Den einai pou fyegis", and dozens of others that remain timeless.

Important moments

• In 1974, she represented Greece at Eurovision with the song "Wine, Sea and My Boy" with music by Giorgos Katsaros and lyrics by Pythagoras.
• In the 80s and 90s, she presented major performances in collaboration with leading singers, filling music stages and theaters.
• In 2003, she made joint appearances with Haris Alexiou, which are considered among the most special collaborations of her career.

Legacy

With a career spanning six decades, Marinella is considered the greatest Greek performer and one of the most important figures in contemporary Greek song. Her voice, her stage presence, and her timelessness have left an indelible mark on the country's musical history.