Litsa Diamandi (Λίτσα Διαμάντη)

The 3 ladies that we have presented so far represent 3 different genres: the traditional (Δημοτικό), the people's music (Λαϊκό) and the New Wave/Nouvelle Vague (Νέο Κύμα). Today's artist represents yet another genre, the Elafrolaiko (Ελαφρολαϊκό), the combination of the eastern sounding urban music of the working class and of the more westernized music of the middle and upper class.

Litsa Diamandi (Λίτσα Διαμάντη) was born Evangelia Kosmidou in 1949 in Kolonos, a suburb of Athens. At the age of 8 she learned to play the accordion and at 12 she was a member of a music group singing traditional songs. At that time, she released her first single with a small record company. Here's that first single that she recorded at 12, called An April evening (Ένα δειλινό του Απρίλη):

She also spent 2 years singing along a great lady of Laiko, Polly Panou (Πόλυ Πάνου). There was mutual love and respect between the 2 ladies and Diamandi would later describe her time with Panou as a defining period of her life. This is Panou, in two of her most famous songs. Here she is in What Have I Done To You That You Keep Smoking (Τι Σου 'Κανα Και Πίνεις):

Here she is in The Net (Το Δίχτυ). Dedicated to Angelo, with huge amounts of love:

At the age of 13 she had already signed her first record contract with a major label. In her early career with Minos (her record label) she performed as a backup singer for the stars of the company. She was excellent at it and as she later stated, her years as a backup singer helped her make a much better use of her voice. It also inspired her to creatively use backup singers in her own solo recordings when she became a star.

Here she is, doing backup on Δελφίνι, Δελφινάκι (Little Dolphin) by Yiannis Kalatzis (Γιάννης Καλατζής):

Famous composer Giorgos Mitsakis (Γιώργος Μητσάκης) gave her her first hit when she was 15, called Synnefies (Cloudy Day). It was 1965.

She would keep on singing this song in all of her live appearances in the years to come. It was a particular favorite of Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, who would frequent the club that Diamandi was performing with husband Aristotle Onassis, also a big fan. Other VIPs who were fans included Richard Burton and Omar Sharif.

Her first album came out in 1970 and it included the song Whoever Sees The Young Lad (Όποιος Δει Το Παλληκάρι):

Her next big hit came in 1971. It was called There Is No Happiness (Δεν Υπάρχει Ευτυχία):

Her follow-up, in 1972, was called Night, Stop Moving (Νύχτα Στάσου):

Another big hit, from 1975, is No, I'm Not Going To Fret Over It (Όχι Θα Κάτσω Να Σκάσω):

From her 1977 album, Let Me Love You (Άσε Με Να Σ' Αγαπώ), here's the title track:

From 1986, here's My Past (Το Παρελθόν Μου):

From 1988, here's Fever (Πυρετός):

From 1990, here's He Says... He Says... (Λέει... Λέει...):

Finally, from 1993, here's Tango (Τανγκό [Η Νύχτα Πίστα]):

In 2001 she spent two years as a judge on Greek TV's talent show Opportunity Knocks (Να Η Ευκαιρία) a precursor to The Voice and The X Factor. Her presence in the show was very low-key and yet substantial.

It's been a few years that she decided not to make any more records or live shows. She wants people to remember her as she was. She has always led a very private life anyway. For that, we respect her desire for privacy and say no more.