Mary Linda, the legendary Greek singer, dies at 90

Mary Linda, one of the most celebrated figures in Greek popular music, has died at the age of 90.

The acclaimed singer passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, 22 July, at the Athens Nursing Home, where she had lived in recent years. According to reports, she had expressed the wish that, when she died, her funeral service be held in the nursing home’s chapel.

Mary Linda, born Maria Dimitropoulou in Pyrgos, Elis, on 9 November 1935, was one of the most important interpreters of Greek folk music.

She took her first artistic steps at a young age in the talent showcases organized by Orestis Laskos, before going on to perform in the variety theatres and cabarets of the era. Her career changed dramatically when she met Manolis Chiotis, with whom she formed one of the most successful musical duos of the 1960s. The two were married for approximately ten years and collaborated extensively, both in recording studios and in several films of the Greek cinema.

In one interview, she said: “Chiotis is the man of my life. My greatest mistake was divorcing Chiotis. Unfortunately, I can’t turn back the years. Even today, it still hurts.”

She later married Alexandros Theocharis, with whom she had a daughter. In later interviews, she revealed that her second marriage had been abusive, stating in 2012: “I couldn’t endure the terrible treatment and the beatings any longer. I left. I had the strength to do so because I had a golden bracelet on my wrist—my voice.”

In 1961, she won First Prize at the Thessaloniki Song Festival with the song “Apagogi” (“Kidnapping”), while her first recording had been “Pikro Potiri” (“Bitter Cup”), composed by Kostas Kaplanis.

In 1964, during a concert tour of the United States with Manolis Chiotis, she performed at the White House in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Her final major nightclub appearances were during the 1995–1996 season with Haris Alexiou at “Nefeli”, during the 2002–2003 season with Glykeria at “Harama”, and during the 2011–2012 season with Anna Vissi at “Rex.”