Sakis Rouvas, one of Greece’s most popular singers and former pole vaulter, was born on the 5th of January 1972 and turns 49 today!
At the age of four, he exhibited athletic ability and took ballet classes as a child. His parents had a theatrical background, and at the age of ten, Rouvas starred in his first theatrical production 'If Sharks Were People'.
Soon afterwards Rouvas discovered music, which he enjoyed nearly as much as athletics.
Inspired by international artists such as Elvis Presley, he taught himself guitar.
At the age of 15, Rouvas joined the Greek national track and field team as an admirer of Ukrainian pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka. His vaults were consistently high—averaging 4.17 metres (13.7 feet)—and he won a number of national awards.
He left Corfu at the age of 18, moving to Patras then later Athens, in search of a better future.
Rouvas made his first professional appearance in 1991 at the Show Centre. His showmanship attracted the attention of music executives such as Nikos Mouratidis, who encouraged songwriter Giorgos Pavrianos to produce him.
During the early 1990s, Rouvas signed with PolyGram Records and won the Thessaloniki Song Festival.
His tenor vocals, complex choreography, costumes, and technological advancements have been credited with transforming music videos and live performances.
Rouvas is noted for avoiding domestic music, attaining success for a non-laïko artist, and for breaking cultural, social, artistic, and generational barriers in Greece and Cyprus.
Studio albums:
- Sakis Rouvas (1991)
- Min Andistekese (1992)
- Gia Sena (1993)
- Aima, Dakrya & Idrotas (1994)
- Tora Arhizoun Ta Dyskola (1996)
- Kati Apo Mena (1998)
- 21os Akatallilos (2000)
- Ola Kala (2002)
- To Hrono Stamatao (2003)
- S'eho Erotefthi (2005)
- Iparhi Agapi Edo (2006)
- Irthes (2008)
- Parafora (2010)
- Iraklis – Oi 12 Athloi (2014)
One of the few Greek entertainers to gain recognition abroad, Rouvas has been popular in the Balkans since the 1990s.
In March 2004, Hellenic Radio and Television (ERT) announced that Rouvas would represent Greece in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest.
Fokas Evangelinos, Rouvas' longtime choreographer, choreographed his stage show. "Shake It" finished third in the final, with Rouvas attracting great interest in the contest by Greek viewers (with a rating of 86.7%, the highest rating in Greek TV history at the time).
He also represented Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Russia with the song 'This Is Our Night'.
By the 2010s, Rouvas had expanded his career to film, television, theatre and fashion.
His single "Shake It" is the all-time bestselling single in Greece; his songs and videos, such as "1992", "Aima, Dakrya & Idrotas", "Ela Mou", "Xana", "Tora Arhizoun Ta Dyskola", "Den Ehei Sidera I Kardia Sou", "Ypirhes Panta", "Antexa", "Se Thelo San Trelos" and "+ Se Thelo", have topped the popular Greek charts.
Rouvas has also been praised for his dedication to philanthropic organizations.
Rouvas has won six Arion Music Awards, 15 Pop Corn Music Awards, 22 MAD Video Music Awards, four Status Man of the Year Awards, an MTV Europe Music Award and a World Music Award.
Several number-one albums and singles which have been certified gold or higher have made him one of Greece's most popular musical artists.
In 2010, Forbes listed him as the third-most-influential celebrity in Greece and the country's top-ranked singer.
In July 2017, Sakis Rouvas married Katia Zygouli. Together they have four children.
Rouvas always gives the audiences a fun, wild and unforgettable performance!
Xronia Polla!
