Kalliopi Zina (born March 8, 1975), known professionally as Peggy Zina, is a Greek singer. Peggy Zina made her discographic debut in 1995 with her self-titled album. She has since released ten studio albums and is a prominent figure in the Greek music industry. Her tenth studio album titled To Pathos Einai Aformi (Passion is a motive) was released on May 23, 2009 and was certified platinum.

Biography

Early life

Peggy Zina was born in Athens on March 8, 1975.¹ She began piano lessons at the age of five and studied dancing, particularly the jazz genre. During her teens Zina participated in many artistic school activities, including theater and choir. She graduated from the French academy Jeanne D’ Arc of Athens.²

1995–1999: Debut album and early success

Peggy's self-titled debut album was released in 1995 by BMG Greece. The album includes her first hit with the controversial title and lead lyric "An Pas Me Alli Tha Sou Spaso to Kefali" (If you go with another woman I will break your head).³ She also started working with Lefteris Pantazis at Neraida club in 1995 and then with Notis Sfakianakis at Gazi club in 1996.

Peggy released her second album in 1998 with the title Anevaines (You rose), and recorded a duet with Stelios Rokkos on his single "Eisai O Ilios Mou" (You are my sun). She then worked with Sakis Rouvas at Vios Vios club in 1999. She also performed alongside many famous singers such as Nikos Kourkoulis, Elli Kokkinou, and Dimitris Hrisohoidis at Posidonio club.

2000–2002: Rise in popularity

In 2000 Peggy Zina changed recording companies and signed with Nitro Music and drastically altered her look. On July 4, 2000 she released a four-track CD single titled "Ti Th' Akouso Akoma" (What else will I hear) with the title track being the first single from her third album Ena Hadi (A caress) which was released in 2001.⁴ In winter of the same year she worked alongside Christos Dantis and with Notis Sfakianakis once again at COSMOS club after her solo performances at Maskes club in Thessaloniki.

In January 30, 2002, Peggy was suggested by Thanos Kalliris to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest and she accepted his proposal to sing a song written by him.⁵ On February 26, 2002, Peggy participated in the Greek National Final with the song "Love Is a Wonderful Thing". Despite a great performance, she took second place to Michalis Rakintzis with his song "S.A.G.A.P.O." (I love you) who went on to finish at a disappointing seventieth place.⁶ Nevertheless the single gained a gold certification in just a few weeks.⁷

Peggy released her fourth album Vres Enan Tropo (Find A way) in 2002. For this album she cooperated with many great singers like Giannis Parios who gave her four modern laika songs and he acknowledged Peggy as an incredible laika singer. She continued to perform at Maskes in Thessaloniki for a third year and due to its success she mimicked the same music program in Athens.

2003–2004: Minos EMI and Mazi Sou

Cover of the platinum Mazi Sou

After four years with Nitro Music and due to the company's closure, Peggy signed with Minos EMI, one of the biggest recording companies, with what had been described as a lucrative contract. She released her fifth album titled Mazi Sou (With you) in 2003 which became platinum in just a few weeks, selling over 40,000 copies.⁸ The album included two massive hits: "Eimai Kala" (I’m fine) and "Dystihos" (Unfortunately). Zina broke the record for the most performances at Apollon club by surpassing 100 performances. In the winter of the same year Zina worked alongside Nikos Vertis, Thanos Petrelis, Kostas Karafotis and Apostolia Zoi at Pili Aksiou. Her popular performances helped raise the album Mazi Sou to platinum in January 2004.

2004–2005: Matono and Noima

After finishing her performances in Athens, Peggy Zina went to Thessaloniki and worked with the band Fili Gia Panta and many new singers. Working continuously for a year and a half, Zina released her new album Matono (I’m bleeding) in 2004.⁹ Upon return to Athens, she started performing at Apollon for a fourth year, this time alongside Kostas Karafotis and Nino. Zina received her second platinum certification for Matono and she also won her first Arion Award for the Best Folk Singer of the Year. In Spring 2005, she and Nino performed abroad in Australia and United Kingdom, while in United States and Canada she toured with rising singers Giorgos Lianos and Maro Litra.

In September 2005, Peggy released her seventh album with the title Noima (Meaning) on which she cooperated for the first time with renowned composer Giorgos Theofanous. The album was released with four different covers designed by Konstantinos Rigos. The album became gold from the first day of its release and after a few months it gained platinum certification. Once again she won the Arion Award for Best Folk Singer of the Year.

2006–2007: Ena, Trekse and marriage

On December 8, 2006, Zina released Ena (One) which was recorded at Diogenis Studio and gained a platinum certification.¹⁰ It contained many hits like "Ena" (One), "Ego Ta Spao" (I break them) and the summer hit "Eimai Edo" (I'm here). She was also selected by Christos Dantis to perform a duet with him of the song rebetiko "To Teleftaio Potiraki" at his MAD Secret Concert.

Peggy Zina married to her longtime music manager Giorgos Liras in June 2007 after a ten-year relationship.¹¹ The wedding was attended by 800 wedding spectators, friends, family and others who were short-listed. Approximately 200 sheep had been ordered on the menu in the true sense of traditional Greek weddings. This was Giorgos Lira's third marriage and the best man was popular showbusiness personality Elias Psinakis who was accompanied by Kiki Tsolka.

On December 4 2007, Peggy Zina released the album Trekse (Run).¹² The singles had already been released and gained significant radio airplay as "An Ypirhes Tha Se Horiza" (If you existed I would divorce you) from the hit Mega TV series of the same name and "Trekse" which was presented at the Arion Music Awards. The album achieved gold certification from its first week and made its debut at number 2 on the Greek Albums Chart beaten only by Mihalis Hatzigiannis's live album. Two additional singles off the album were released simulteanously: "Dio Ksenoi" (Two strangers) and "Kai Meta" (And afterwards).¹³ The album certified platinum in its sixth week on the chart and Peggy received the certification on January 22, 2008.¹⁴ At the 5th annual MAD Video Music Awards, she performed the song "2 Hearts" and also won the award for "Fashion Icon of the Year" with the her song "Trekse".¹⁵

2008–present: Best of + and To Pathos Einai Aformi

On June 24, 2008, Peggy Zina released a two-disc greatest hits compilation titled Best of +. In addition to all the previously released material, the album also includes three new songs penned by Giorgos Moukidis, which have all been released as singles as well.¹⁶ The singles "Paradosou" (Surrender) and "To Kalokairi" (The summer) were made into a music videos directed by Konstantinos Rigos, and the album was certified gold, with Zina receiving the award on December 3, 2008 during a certification party at Vox nightclub.¹⁷

Peggy Zina appeared at VOX music hall for the winter season alongside Kostas Korafotis and Nino, the three reuniting as they appeared together in 2004.¹⁸¹⁹

Peggy Zina went into the studio in September 2008 to record her tenth studio album.²⁰²¹ Originally, Giorgos Moukidis was commissioned to compose and write the entire album, but instead twp of his tracks made the final release titled To Pathos Einai Aformi (Passion is a motive) released in May 2009. Nine of the twelve tracks are composed by rising singer-songwriter Giorgos Sampanis, with lyrics by either Giannis Doxas, Niki Papatheohari, Manos Eleftheriou or Eleana Vrahali, one track is composed by Dimitris Korgialas with lyrics by Vicky Gerothodorou. The track titled "Otan Sopainei Ena Kormi" (When a body becomes silenced) features the line to pathos einai aformi. The leading single "Anatheorisa" (I revised) was released to radio stations a month earlier and a music video directed by Konstantinos Rigos premiered on MAD TV. On July 21, the second single "Ela Nihta" (Come Night) was released.

Discography

References

External links

• Unofficial Website
• Official Fansite
• German Fan Club