Giannis Poulopoulos

Giannis Poulopoulos (Greek: Γιάννης Πουλόπουλος, a.k.a. John Poulopoulos; born 29 June 1941 in Mani, Greece) is a Greek singer-songwriter who had many prominent hits in the Greek music world during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s . He has sold the fourth-highest number of albums of all Greek singers.

Shortly after his birth, his parents, originally from Messenia, moved to the Saint Ierotheos region of Peristeri, near Athens. From an early age Poulopoulos liked singing, but in the region of his home there was no one who was able to promote his talent. Prompted by friends, he sought but could not obtain an audition with Columbia Records. He was not discouraged and continued with almost-daily requests for an audition. Meanwhile he worked as a builder, playing football in Saint Ierotheos for the Courageous team and developed a skill for oil painting.

Eventually his persistence paid off for him. Still only 19, Poulopoulos secured auditions with the so-called megatheria of Greek music - Mikis Theodorakis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Vassilis Tsitsanis, and Giannis Papaioannou. Poulopoulos chose two somewhat difficult songs, Mana mou kai panagia ("My Mother and the Madonna") and Parapono ("Complaint").

After one audition, Mikis Theodorakis approached Poulopoulos, declaring: "I will make this one a singer." Recognizing his great talent, Theodorakis took Poulopoulos under his wing and arranged for him to sing three songs in a theatrical production by Nikos Kourkoulos and Tzeni Karezi of Iakovos Kambanellis's play "The Neighbourhood of Angels". Grigoris Bithikotsis later made cover versions of the first three songs ("Set a table for two," "Glory to God" and "Bread is on the Table") that Poulopoulos recorded.

Poulopoulos would regularly sing in a music hall in Plaka. He recorded four or five 45rpm disks for Columbia Records which are now difficult to find, as the singer soon agreed to record for Lyra, for whom he recorded three songs by Mikis Theodorakis. In 1965 he was the first performer of four songs written by Manos Loïzos. Nearly at the same time he also had a great success with Mi mu thymonis matia mou (Don't be angry with me, my love) composed by Stavros Koujioumtzis.

By 1966, his records were being distributed more widely, and his songs were featured in movies. In Oi Stigmatismenoi ("The Stigmatized"), which starred Giorgos Foundas and Maro Kodou, he sang "Very late" and "I love you" with Helen Kladi. In O Tetraperatos ("The Cunning") with Kostas Chatzichristos he sang "In Piraeus, in Piraeus" by Giorgos Katsaros, and in the romantic comedy Tzeni-Tzeni he and Tzeni Karezi performed a song by Giannis Markopoulos.