Biography
Who is Vicky Leandros?
Early life and real name
Vicky Leandros was born as Vasiliki Papathanasiou on August 23, 1949, in the Greek town of Palaiokastritsa. Her father was the singer and musician Leandros Papathanasiou, who later became widely known under the professional name Leo Leandros.
In 1958, she moved to West Germany with her parents. Following their divorce, she remained there with her father permanently. This move marked the beginning of her path in the European music industry, where she eventually adopted her father's first name as her professional stage surname.
Eurovision success and early career
Vicky Leandros gained international recognition in 1967 when she represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest. She performed the song L'amour est bleu and achieved fourth place, turning the track into a global success.
She returned to the Eurovision stage in 1972 representing Luxembourg again. This time, she won the contest with the song Après toi. This track became a big hit, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart and selling over six million copies globally. She recorded this song in seven different languages, showing her ability to reach diverse international audiences.
International music projects
Throughout her career, Vicky Leandros recorded music in many languages, including Japanese, where she found success with her single Watashi no Sukina Chocolate. She also explored different genres, such as the 1975 album Across the Water, which was recorded in Nashville and Miami. This project blended country, rock, and soul influences.
She later worked on various television projects, including hosting a series for the BBC titled Music My Way. In the 1980s, she continued to release albums such as Love is Alive and Vicky, the latter of which featured the popular single Grüße an Sarah. She also collaborated with artists like Demis Roussos and Johnny Hallyday.
Political career in Greece
In 2006, Vicky Leandros entered local politics in Greece. She was elected as a town councillor for the harbour town of Piraeus on the PASOK list. Her responsibilities focused on the international and cultural development of the area.
She also served as the Deputy Mayor of Piraeus during this period. However, she resigned from her political roles in 2008. She stated that balancing her political duties with her music career was impossible and that she had underestimated the time required for her public service obligations.
Birthday and age
Vicky Leandros was born on August 23, 1949, which makes Vicky 77 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Vicky shares the date with 31 other famous people.
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