Greek singer Kaiti Grey dies at the age of 100

Grey was born in the village of Mytilinioi in Samos and has three siblings. She was adopted by the Kalaitzis family and grew up in Piraeus. Her first song, ‘To Marazi’, was recorded in 1952.

After the success she achieved, she managed to become the first name in the biggest nightclubs of the time and also to sing with all the great composers of her time. She recorded more than 1,500 songs, until 1996, when she retired from recording and nightclubs.

Grey was engaged for five years to Stelios Kazantzidis, and then to Andreas Barkoulis. She was married twice, first to Nikos Iliadis with whom she had two sons, one of them who died in 2021, and to Michalis Papanastasopoulos. 

Legendary Greek singer Kaiti Grey, a key figure in folk music, has died at 100.

Renowned for her distinctive voice and timeless hits like “To Marazi” and “To Vouno,” Grey passed away at home after battling health issues, including a stroke in October.

Born Athanasia Gizili on the island of Samos in 1924, she began her career as an actress before achieving success in music. Over her decades-long career, Grey recorded more than 1,500 songs, performed internationally and collaborated with Greece’s top composers and legendary artists.

Known for her authenticity and deep connection with her audience, Grey remains one of Greece’s most influential singers.

Source: AMNA