Stellios Kazantzidis

By Dora Kaltakis

Stelios Kazantzidis, one of Greece's most loved 'laika' singers, died Friday in hospital at the age of 72 after a months-long bout with cancer.

Kazantzidis, who was immensely popular in the country and with expatriate Greeks and considered by many as the most prolific and stirring singer of Greek popular music, or 'laika', had worked with most of Greece's renowned composers, and one of the first composers he ever worked with described Kazandzidis' voice as "made for expressing anquish".

His career was marked by collaborations with most of the best-loved and renowned composers, including Manolis Hiotis, Yorgos Mitsakis, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Manos Loizos, Manos Hatzidakis, Miki Theodorakis and Stavros Xarchakos.