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Sakis Rouvas
Σάκης Ρουβάς
Sakis-rouvas
Rouvas in 2016 photoshoot.
Background information
Birth name Anastasios Rouvas
Also known as Sakis
Born (1972-01-05) 5 January 1972 (age 52)
Mantouki, Corfu, Greece
Genres Pop, rock, R&B, dance
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, actor, television presenter, film producer, model, fashion designer, businessman, athlete
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 1987–1990 (athlete)
1991–present (performer)
Labels PolyGram Greece, Minos EMI, Universal Music France
Associated acts Corfu Band
Website http://www.sakisrouvas.com/


Anastasios "Sakis" Rouvas (Greek: Αναστάσιος "Σάκης" Ρουβάς, (born 5 January 1972), known mononymously as Sakis, is a Greek recording, film and television artist; model; businessman and former pole vaulter. Born in Corfu, he won medals on the national athletics team during the 1980s. Rouvas began a musical career in 1991 as one of Greece's first pop performers, popularizing Western music. His tenor vocals, complex choreography, costumes, and technological advancements have been credited with transforming music videos and live performances. Rouvas is noted for avoiding domestic music, attaining success for a non-laïko or -éntekhno artist, and for breaking cultural, social, artistic, and generational barriers in Greece and Cyprus.


Early life[]

Rouvas was born on January 5, 1972 in the village of Mandoukion, near Corfu City on the island of Corfu, the eldest of four sons of Konstantinos "Kostas" Rouvas (an ambulance driver) and the teenaged Anna-Maria Panaretou (a duty-free shop clerk at the local airport). He has three brothers: Billy (b. Vasilios), Tolis (b. Apostolos, 1975) The family was poor, and Rouvas began taking care of his brothers at age five. At age four, he exhibited athletic ability and took ballet classes as a child. His parents had a theatrical background, and at age ten Rouvas starred in his first theatrical production (An I Karharies Itan Anthropi; If Sharks Were People). His older co-stars were impressed with his talent.

Career[]

Early commercial success (1991–93)[]

After moving to Patras, Rouvas continued to look for performance opportunities until he met Dakis (a popular Greek artist who was the first person to help him professionally). Rouvas moved to Athens, and made his first professional appearance in 1991 at the Show Centre. His showmanship attracted the attention of music executives such as Nikos Mouratidis, who encouraged songwriter Giorgos Pavrianos to produce him. Rouvas, singing Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" was discovered by PolyGram executives who signed him to his first recording contract. After moving to Athens he lived with an older English woman named Sally, with whom he had begun a relationship on Corfu. Their relationship ended when Psinakis became Rouvas' manager, and the singer became more career-oriented. The media has speculated about Rouvas' personal life and relationships with model Zeta Logotheti, Sofi Kantarou (a Corfu bar manager) and singer Elli Kokkinou. Several months later he debuted at the Thessaloniki Song Festival, losing Best Vocal Performance to Giorgos Alkaios but singing the Best Composition ("Par'ta"; "Take Them", with music by Nikos Terzis and lyrics by Giorgos Pavrianos). There was a brief earthquake during the festival.

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