Marinella: Untold Stories of a Legendary Greek Singer

Marinella, one of Greece's most important voices, rose from humble beginnings in Thessaloniki to conquer the world with her voice. Her life and career are chronicled in Yannis Xanthoulis' book, 'Marinella, the Nights that Became Afternoons.'

Marinella, whose real name was Kiki Papadopoulou, was born in Thessaloniki in 1938. She began her career touring the Greek provinces. Her stage name came from a Romani song.

A significant milestone in her career was her collaboration with and marriage to Stelios Kazantzidis. Their relationship was not easy. After their divorce, Marinella evolved into an independent and successful performer. She collaborated with important artists such as Mikis Theodorakis and Irene Papas.

Marinella brought a new aesthetic to nightlife, influenced by international shows and theatrical performances. Frank Sinatra said that if she chose to pursue an international career, she would quickly become world-famous.

She married Tolis Voskopoulos in 1973, in a wedding that became a talking point. Marinella represented Greece at Eurovision in 1974 with the song 'Wine, Sea and My Boy'.

To this day, Marinella continues to perform and captivate audiences with her presence.