Vicky Moscholiou(1943-2005)

Vicky Moscholiou was a Greek folk singer widely regarded as one of the finest interpreters of modern Greek song. She grew up in Agia Varvara and began working in a factory as a teenager before first drawing attention through Giorgos Oikonomidis' talent show "Haroumena Talenta". Her professional breakthrough came in the early 1960s after appearances at Triana tou Heila, where Grigoris Bithikotsis recognized her talent, while her association with Giorgos Zambetas helped launch her recording career. She became nationally established in 1964 with "Hathike to feggari" from the film Lola (1964), followed by major successes such as "Ena asteri peftei-peftei", "Aliti", "Anthropoi monahoi", "Milo gia ta paidia mou" and "Aspra, kokkina, kitrina, ble". Known for her deep contralto voice, emotional phrasing and distinctive rough timbre, Moscholiou collaborated with many of the leading composers and lyricists of Greek music, including Mikis Theodorakis, Stavros Xarhakos, Akis Panou, Mimis Plessas, Giannis Spanos, Apostolos Kaldaras and Loukianos Kilaidonis. During the 1970s she moved away from the large bouzoukia venues and became closely identified with the Plaka music scene through long-running appearances at the boites "Zygos" and "Zoom", shaping a more intimate style of live performance. She also appeared internationally at venues including Carnegie Hall in New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London. In 1985 she joined Marinella and Anna Vissi in a highly successful live program in Thessaloniki that became one of the city's most discussed musical collaborations of the decade.