Giorgos Mazonakis, iconic Greek musician, passed away on Wednesday in Athens, Greece. According to Greek public broadcaster ERT and Kathimerini, the singer was rushed to Elpis Hospital in Athens after the cardiac arrest where doctor pronounced him dead. He was 54.
According to the Greek Reporter, the singer is believed to have died from a cardiac arrest episode. However, an official cause of death has not been announced by the family, even as the entire Greek entertainment industry mourns one of their most recognizable voices.
Giorgos Mazonakis is credited with reinventing the Greek folk tradition to turn them into bouzoukia and emotionally intense songs. Real name Georgios Apostolou, his family came from Sitia, Crete, although he grew up in the Piraeus area.
Mazonakis wasn’t simply a conventional bouzouki singer. His appeal came partly from combining traditional Greek laïkó singing with pop, dance and electronic sounds.
Laïko is a popular Greek music genre rooted in traditional Greek folk music. The word laïko essentially means “of the people” or “popular.”
This story is being updated.