Greek Singer Vasilis Karras Dies at 70

Popular Greek singer Vasilis Karras, one of the most authentic voices of the Greek contemporary folk music scene, died on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) of 2023 at the age of seventy.

In recent days, the beloved artist was being treated in intensive care for Covid-19 at a hospital in Thessaloniki, where he expired in the early morning hours of Sunday with his wife and daughter by his side. During the past two years, he had also been battling with cancer, local media report.

Vasilis Karras was regarded as one of Greece’s most talented singers, focusing mainly on songs about lost loves and reminiscing about them.

Many of his songs were inspired by his love for Thessaloniki, the city where he grew up. Through his songs, he communicated nostalgia over his childhood and early loves, as is the case in his 1987 album Apo ti Thessaloniki me agapi and his 1988 work Mia bradia sti Thessaloniki.

Vasilis Karras had a singing career spanning over 50 years

Vasilis Karras first appeared on stage in 1969 at the age of sixteen, and his reputation began to grow on a national level starting with his discography debut in 1980. It was at that point he decided to leave his job as a car engineer to pursue his rapidly evolving singing career.

He recorded more than forty music albums since then, many of which received gold and platinum status, while he enjoyed tremendous success at his live performances in Greece and abroad, particularly beginning in the nineties era.

Throughout his career, Karras sang at nightclubs throughout Athens and Thessaloniki. He also traveled for concerts around the globe to centers of the Greek diaspora, including the United States, Australia, and Canada. He gained an ever-increasing loyal fan base.

As his fame and commercial success skyrocketed, Karras teamed up with both established singers and songwriters, as well as new talent, writing and performing duets in their albums. He wrote his own songs and lyrics.

His 1997 album, M’ Echeis Kanei Aliti, written by Michalis Rakintzis, was among his greatest hits, reaching 180,000 sales.

Also in the nineties, his first collaboration with acclaimed songwriter Phoebus generated the hit album Tilefonise Mou, which went twice platinum and became Karras’ all-time best-seller. Since this album, Karras has also introduced a modern, western upbeat style to his discography, which complemented his bouzouki-based folk dance songs.

His latest album was released in early 2020, titled Rotas An Se Eho Erotefthi.

In a few public and TV appearances in recent months, the singer thanked his fans for their love and interest in his health.

All in all, Vasilis Karras will live on in the collective memory as a real phenomenon of Greek contemporary folk music, as he was symbolically branded in his hit song of the same title.