Stamatis Kokotas, the legendary folk singer, has passed away at the age of 85.
The elderly singer was reportedly hospitalized in Asklepio and his health deteriorated rapidly.
Stamatis Kokotas was born in Athens on March 23, 1937. His characteristic feature was a “velvet” voice and phenomenal sideburns. Stamatis Kokotas made a strong presence on the Greek stage in the 1960s and 1970s when he collaborated with some of the leading composers of the time such as Stavros Xarchos, Dimos Moutsis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Giorgos Hatsinassios, Giannis Spanos, Georgios Zambetas, Antonis Katinaris, Haris Limberopoulos, Vangelis Piciladis, Lykourgos Marqueas, Andreas Karagiannopoulos.
Kokotas sang with Edith Piaf
In the early years of the young singer, when he worked in Paris, he was lucky enough to perform on the same stage with Edith Piaf. He also knew Brigitte Bardot, Romy Schneider. “I sang all kinds of songs, French, Spanish and Greek. I was lucky to be heard by a great lover of folk music, Stavros Xarchos. During his trip, he once went to a Parisian bar where I sang, and we met. That’s how it all started,” the legendary singer Stamatis Kokotas shared his memories.
During the military dictatorship, he participated in a concert organized by the junta (anniversary of 21 April) at the Panathinaikos stadium, among other actors and singers.
Stamatis Kokotas’ love for cars, family
Aristotle Onassis was a fan of the singer with a velvety voice and thick sideburns. A fan of motorsports, he occasionally raced and also owned an enviable collection of expensive racing cars. In fact, the famous Lamborghini he owned was supposedly a gift from Aristotle Onassis. Stamatis Kokotas was married twice. The first marriage produced two children.
The legend says that a razor company offered Stamatis Kokotas a staggering amount to shave with a blade on camera for a commercial. “That’s true,” he replied when asked about it by journalists, “They offered me to shave off my famous sideburns for 50 million drachmas, then it was a lot of money, but I told them: thank you very much, but you knocked on the wrong Door”.
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