Yannis Vogiatzis, an iconic singer and actor in the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 89.
Born on December 20, 1934, Vogiatzis began his singing career at the talent nights hosted by Joseph Korinthiou. He achieved significant recognition by winning the first prize twice at the Thessaloniki Song Festival. In 1963, he triumphed with the captivating song ‘Petakse ena Pouli’ composed by Kostas Klavvas and Alexis Alexopoulos. Seven years later, in 1970, he secured his second victory with the soulful composition ‘Adelfia mou Alites, Poulia’, written by Tolis Voskopoulos and Ilias Liberopoulos. Vogiatzis also embarked on three successful tours in Australia.
A dedicated supporter of Panathinaikos, Vogiatzis lent his voice to the team’s anthem. From 1958 to 1962, he served as the official singer at the palace. In 1970, he underwent surgery for polyps, leading to a temporary hiatus in his singing career. However, he made a triumphant return in 1978.
Vogiatzis collaborated with renowned composers of light-hearted music and performed songs by esteemed artists such as Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Mimis Plessas, Giorgos Mouzakis, Giorgos Theodosiadis, Kostas Kapnissis, and many others. His repertoire included unforgettable hits like ‘Enas Ouranos M’ Asteria’, ‘I Proti mas Nyxta’, ‘Sou to pa mia’, ‘Thelo Konda sou na Meino’, ‘S’ Agapo se Oles tis Glosses’ to name a few.
Sadly, the 89-year-old singer recently underwent an operation for a nephrological ailment at the urology clinic of Laiko Hospital. Although doctors successfully treated a subsequent complication of obstructive ileus during an emergency visit to Ippokratio Hospital, Vogiatzis developed acute renal failure shortly thereafter and experienced cardiac arrest. He ultimately succumbed to multi-organ failure.
During a November 2022 interview on the MEGA TV show Kalimera Vogiatzis reflected on his illustrious artistic career and the unwavering support he received from industry peers. He shared a poignant story about his time in prison for debt-related issues and expressed gratitude for the intervention of Mary Chronopoulou, who played a pivotal role in securing his release. The singer also mentioned his efforts to support emerging talent in the music industry, citing successful artists like Gerolymatos and Tolis Voskopoulos. In his own words, Vogiatzis expressed a heartfelt desire for his songs to remain his own even after his passing, as he believed they should not be performed by others.
