Vasilis Karras
- December 24, 2023
- 70 years
About Vasilis Karras
Vasilis Karras, 70, Greek laïko singer, complications from cancer and COVID-19.
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Full Biography
|Vasilis Karras (Greek: Βασίλης Καρράς; born Vasilis Kesoglidis, 12 November 1953 – 24 December 2023) was a Greek laïko singer.
Early life
Karras was born on 12 November 1953 in Kokkinochori, to Pontian parents. At the age of 10, his family moved to Thessaloniki, where his brother and sister were born.
Career
In the 1970s, Karras gained a reputation on the Greek laiko (folk songs) stage singing throughout Northern Greece, and towards the end of the decade had begun to develop his own repertoire, working with song writers and also creating his own work. His first album Alismonites ores was released in 1980 and around this time he decided to devote his life and career to folk music and sing professionally. Partnerships with Michalis Rakintzis, Zafeiris Melas and Konstantina also furthered his reputation in Greece. In 1996, Karras contacted songwriter Phoebus with the prospect of creating an album based on his songs. The result was the hit album Tilefonise mou which went two time platinum and is Karras' all time best-seller. This album also started a new era for Karras: the introduction of a modern, western upbeat style to his music, which complemented his bouzouki-based folk/dance songs. Karras and Phoebus also partnered for the 1999 album Epistrefo, a perennial mainstay in his club repertoire, with many hit singles.
Latterly he partnered with other mainstays of the Greek music scene such as Tolis Voskopoulos, Christos Dantis, Eirini Merkouri, Konstantina Konstantinou, Kostas Karafotis, Despina Vandi, Pantelis Pantelidis, Paola and others, writing and performing many duets in their respective albums.
His last album was released in early 2020, titled Rotas An Se Eho Erotefthi. Throughout his career he emphasized his love for his hometown and wrote and sang many songs about Thessaloniki reminiscing about his childhood and early loves including "Den Pao Pouthena", "Nychta Kselogiastra", "Erhomai" and "Gia Afto Stasou".
Personal life and death
He was married to Christina Kesoglides and together they had a daughter, Irene. Karras, who was battling terminal cancer, contracted COVID-19 and later died from cardiac arrest due to COVID at Interbalkan Medical Center, on 24 December 2023, at age 70.
Discography
- Alismonites ores (1980)
- Ti les kale (1982)
- Giati na horisoume (1984)
- Mi hathis (1985)
- Apo ti Thessaloniki me agapi (1987)
- Apoklistika gia sena (1988)
- Afti h nyxta (1989)
- Eisai pantou (1990)
- Lege oti thes (1991)
- Asteria tou Borra (1991)
- Den pao pouthena (1992)
- Tragoudia ap'to sirtari (1992)
- Nichta xelogiastra (1993)
- Pos tolmas (1993)
- O ilios tou himona me melagholi (1993)
- Sti Saliniki mia fora (1994)
- Hreose to se mena (1994)
- Mia bradia sta nea dilina (1995)
- 10 xronia (1995)
- Ftes esi (1995)
- Tilefonise mou (1996)
- Erhome (1996) (Song: "To dilitirio")
- M'echis kani aliti (1997)
- S'ena bradi oti zisoume (1997)
- Brechi sti Thessaloniki (1997)
- Fenomeno (1998)-CD Single
- Astin na leei (1999)
- Epistrefo (1999)
- 20 xronia (1999)
- I megaliteres epitichies (2000)
- Mabri lista (2000)
- Girise (2001)
- Ta dika mou tragoudia (2002)
- Logia tis nichtas (2002)
- Pare to dromo ke ela (2003)
- Basilis Karras DVD (2004)
- Telos (2004)
- Ola ena psema (2005)
- Oneira (2007)
- Ola mou ta hronia live (2008)
- Opos palia (2009)
- Έτσι Λαϊκά (Etsi Laika) (2012)
- Kirios ma ke alitis (Κύριος μα και...αλήτης) (2013)
- Ta Kalutera Taxidia (2016)
- Alhth me lene (2017)
- Rotas an s'eho erotefti (2020)
- Ime edo (2023)
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasilis_Karras
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Vasilis Karras's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was Vasilis Karras' birth name?
- A.Vasilis Kesoglidiscorrect
- B.Vasilis Karafotis
- C.Vasilis Voskopoulos
- D.Vasilis Rakintzis
The biography explicitly states that Vasilis Karras was born Vasilis Kesoglidis.
Source: Biography introduction
2.In which year was Vasilis Karras born?
- A.1943
- B.1963
- C.1953correct
- D.1973
Vasilis Karras was born on 12 November 1953.
Source: Biography introduction
3.Where was Vasilis Karras born?
- A.Patras
- B.Kokkinochoricorrect
- C.Thessaloniki
- D.Athens
Vasilis Karras was born on 12 November 1953 in the town of Kokkinochori.
Source: Early life section
4.At what age did Vasilis Karras' family move to Thessaloniki?
- A.5
- B.8
- C.10correct
- D.12
At the age of 10, the family of Vasilis Karras moved to Thessaloniki.
Source: Early life section
5.What was the title of Vasilis Karras' first album released in 1980?
- A.Alismonites orescorrect
- B.Epistrefo
- C.Ti les kale
- D.Tilefonise mou
Vasilis Karras' first album, titled Alismonites ores, was released in 1980.
Source: Career section
6.Which songwriter did Vasilis Karras contact in 1996 to create a new album?
- A.Michalis Rakintzis
- B.Phoebuscorrect
- C.Tolis Voskopoulos
- D.Pantelis Pantelidis
In 1996, Vasilis Karras contacted the songwriter Phoebus to create an album based on his songs.
Source: Career section
7.Which album is considered Vasilis Karras' all-time best-seller?
- A.Alismonites ores
- B.Tilefonise moucorrect
- C.Epistrefo
- D.Rotas An Se Eho Erotefthi
The album Tilefonise mou went two time platinum and stands as Vasilis Karras' all-time best-seller.
Source: Career section
8.What was the title of Vasilis Karras' final album released in early 2020?
- A.Rotas An Se Eho Erotefthicorrect
- B.Ta Kalutera Taxidia
- C.Kirios ma ke alitis
- D.Ime edo
Vasilis Karras' last album was released in early 2020 and titled Rotas An Se Eho Erotefthi.
Source: Career section
9.What is the name of Vasilis Karras' daughter?
- A.Konstantina
- B.Paola
- C.Christina
- D.Eirinicorrect
Vasilis Karras was married to Christina Kesoglides and they had a daughter named Irene.
Source: Personal life and death section
10.At which medical facility did Vasilis Karras pass away?
- A.Interbalkan Medical Centercorrect
- B.Thessaloniki General Hospital
- C.Athens Oncology Center
- D.Kokkinochori Health Clinic
Vasilis Karras died at the Interbalkan Medical Center on 24 December 2023.
Source: Personal life and death section
11.What was the official cause of Vasilis Karras' death?
- A.Old age
- B.Cardiac arrest due to COVID-19correct
- C.Terminal cancer
- D.Respiratory failure
Vasilis Karras died from cardiac arrest due to COVID-19 while battling terminal cancer.
Source: Personal life and death section
12.Which of the following songs is explicitly mentioned as being about Thessaloniki?
- A.Alismonites ores
- B.Tilefonise mou
- C.Den Pao Pouthenacorrect
- D.Epistrefo
The biography lists "Den Pao Pouthena" as a song written by Vasilis Karras about his hometown, Thessaloniki.
Source: Career section
13.What was the age of Vasilis Karras at the time of his death?
- A.70correct
- B.75
- C.68
- D.72
Vasilis Karras died on 24 December 2023 at the age of 70.
Source: Biography introduction
14.Which musical style was introduced to Vasilis Karras' music following his partnership with Phoebus?
- A.Classical orchestral
- B.Modern western upbeat stylecorrect
- C.Electronic dance music
- D.Traditional Pontian folk
The partnership with Phoebus led to a modern, western upbeat style that complemented his bouzouki-based music.
Source: Career section
15.On what date in 2023 did Vasilis Karras die?
- A.25 December
- B.1 January
- C.24 Decembercorrect
- D.12 November
Vasilis Karras died on 24 December 2023.
Source: Personal life and death section
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