Maria Dimitriadi
Encyclopedia
Maria Dimitriadi (1950 – January 6, 2009), was a Greek
singer. She was considered a "total voice" and one of the most renowned performers of the songs of Mikis Theodorakis
and Thanos Mikroutsikos
. Dimitiradi primarily connected with political left-wing songs during the Junta and Metapolitefsi
era in Greece, but she also experimented with other styles and genres, of a more lyrical tone.
municipality of Tavros
, where later she became a member of the municipal council. She was the older sister of the acclaimed Greek singer Aphrodite Manou.
Her career was connected with some of the greatest Greek composers, such as Stavros Xarhakos
, with whom she recorded her debut single, "Ένα πρωινό", Mikis Theodorakis
, Thanos Mikroutsikos
, Kostas Grigoréas, Madra Mandicencio, and later on, Giannis Markopoulos and Manos Hadjidakis
.
In the early 1970s, during the military dictatorship in Greece, she was in Europe and toured with Theodorakis for four years. She continued to work with him until the early 1990s. In 1974, Dimitriadi returned to Greece and, in the following years, she started working almost exclusively with Mikroutsikos. In these years he became a member of the Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece
(EKKE) and she was elected counsellor to serve on the Municipal Council of Tavros
, a suburb in the south-western part of Athens in Greece.
In 1980, she signed for CBS Records
and started her solo career. From 1991 to 1993 Dimitiradi lived and worked in former Yugoslavia
and strongly opposed the embargo
on Yugoslavia.
She had a son, Stergios, with Greek television presenter Andreas Mikroutsikos
. In later years, she had withdrawn from active singing and recording and became a sympathizer of the Communist Party of Greece
(KKE).
On the 6th of January 2009, Maria Dimitriadi died at the age of 58 in the Evangelismos General Hospital in Athens from a rare lung disease.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
singer. She was considered a "total voice" and one of the most renowned performers of the songs of Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
and Thanos Mikroutsikos
Thanos Mikroutsikos
Athanasios Mikroutsikos was born in Patras, Greece and is one of the leading composers of popular and classical music in his home country. He studied music theory and piano at the Patras Philharmonic Society and at the Greek Conservatory and continued under Yiannis A. Papaioannou...
. Dimitiradi primarily connected with political left-wing songs during the Junta and Metapolitefsi
Metapolitefsi
The Metapolitefsi was a period in Greek history after the fall of the Greek military junta of 1967–1974 that includes the transitional period from the fall of the dictatorship to the Greek legislative elections of 1974 and the democratic period immediately after these elections.The long...
era in Greece, but she also experimented with other styles and genres, of a more lyrical tone.
Biography
Maria Dimitriadi was born in 1950 in the AthenianAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
municipality of Tavros
Tavros
Tavros , is a suburb in the southwestern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Moschato-Tavros, of which it is a municipal unit....
, where later she became a member of the municipal council. She was the older sister of the acclaimed Greek singer Aphrodite Manou.
Her career was connected with some of the greatest Greek composers, such as Stavros Xarhakos
Stavros Xarhakos
Stavros Litras is a Greek composer and conductor.Stavros Xarchakos was born in Athens, where he studied at the Athens Conservatoire. He emerged in the Greek music scene around 1963, composing music for the theatre and cinema...
, with whom she recorded her debut single, "Ένα πρωινό", Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
, Thanos Mikroutsikos
Thanos Mikroutsikos
Athanasios Mikroutsikos was born in Patras, Greece and is one of the leading composers of popular and classical music in his home country. He studied music theory and piano at the Patras Philharmonic Society and at the Greek Conservatory and continued under Yiannis A. Papaioannou...
, Kostas Grigoréas, Madra Mandicencio, and later on, Giannis Markopoulos and Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
.
In the early 1970s, during the military dictatorship in Greece, she was in Europe and toured with Theodorakis for four years. She continued to work with him until the early 1990s. In 1974, Dimitriadi returned to Greece and, in the following years, she started working almost exclusively with Mikroutsikos. In these years he became a member of the Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece
Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece
The Revolutionary Communist Movement of Greece is a communist political party in Greece.-Alliances:...
(EKKE) and she was elected counsellor to serve on the Municipal Council of Tavros
Tavros
Tavros , is a suburb in the southwestern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Moschato-Tavros, of which it is a municipal unit....
, a suburb in the south-western part of Athens in Greece.
In 1980, she signed for CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
and started her solo career. From 1991 to 1993 Dimitiradi lived and worked in former Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and strongly opposed the embargo
Embargo
An embargo is the partial or complete prohibition of commerce and trade with a particular country, in order to isolate it. Embargoes are considered strong diplomatic measures imposed in an effort, by the imposing country, to elicit a given national-interest result from the country on which it is...
on Yugoslavia.
She had a son, Stergios, with Greek television presenter Andreas Mikroutsikos
Andreas Mikroutsikos
Andreas Mikroutsikos is a composer, lyricist, singer and TV presenter. He is the brother of Thanos Mikroutsikos and is considered to be Greece's "reality king". His top hits were "the kiklopaki " or "oso girizei i gi "...
. In later years, she had withdrawn from active singing and recording and became a sympathizer of the Communist Party of Greece
Communist Party of Greece
Founded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
(KKE).
On the 6th of January 2009, Maria Dimitriadi died at the age of 58 in the Evangelismos General Hospital in Athens from a rare lung disease.