The great Greek singer Stamatis Kokotas passed away at dawn, Saturday, October 1, at the age of 85.
Stamatis Kokotas was recently hospitalized at the Askplepieion Hospital in Voula and ended up at dawn after a rapid deterioration of his health.
Stamatis Kokotas was born in Athens on March 23, 1937. He had an important record presence during the 1960s and 1970s, when he collaborated with some of the most important Greek composers of the time, such as Stavros Xarchakos, Dimos Moutsis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Giorgos Chatzinasios, Giannis Spanos, Giorgos Zampetas, Antonis Katinaris, Haris Lyberopoulos, Vangelis Pitsiladis, Lykourgos Markeas, Andreas Karagiannopoulos etc.
The great performer left behind an important legacy with his songs. "An illusory dream" and "My Son" - which he had performed for Aristotle Onassis after the death of his son, Alexander - are some of his best known songs that were loved by entire generations of Greeks.
A characteristic feature of Stamatis Kokotas was his long side-whiskers. He has revealed that a company with razors offered him the enormous amount of 50 million drachmas, which was a lot of money then, to shave in front of the camera, for a commercial but he refused.
Stamatis Kokotas was the favorite artist of Aristotle Onassis. The shipping magnate had sent his private helicopter in order to take Kokotas to Scorpios, his private island, to teach syrtaki to Jackie Kennedy.
Stamatis Kokotas married twice and had three children.
