Peggy Zina

Infobox musical artist
Name = Peggy Zina
Πέγκυ Ζήνα


Img_capt = Peggy Zina live in Thessaloniki at "Politia" in May 2008
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Kalliopi Zina
Alias = Peggy Zina (Stage Name)
Born = birth date and age|1975|3|8
Athens, Greece
Died =
Origin = Ioannina, Greece
Instrument =
Genre = Modern laika, Pop, Rock, Dance
Occupation = Musician, songwriter, actress
Years_active = 1995-present
Label = BMG Greece (1995-1999)
Nitro Music (2000-2003)
Minos EMI (2003-present)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.peggyzina.com/ www.peggyzina.com]
Current_members =
Past_members =
Notable_instruments =

Kalliopi Zina (born March 8 1975), cite web | title = Πέγκυ Ζήνα - ΒΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΚΟ| url = http://www.mad.tv/artists/?id=299&m=bioel icon MAD TV. Retrieved on April 4, 2008 ] known professionally as Peggy Zina, is a Greek singer-songwriter who gained prominence in 1995. Peggy Zina made her debut in 1995 with the self-titled album "Peggy Zina." She has released 9 very commercial albums and her tenth album was released on December 4, 2007 with the title "Trekse" (Run) which certified Platinum in only six weeks after its release.

Biography

Early life

Peggy Zina was born in Athens. She began piano lessons at the age of five and studied dancing, especially jazz. During her teens, Peggy participated in many artistic school activities, theater performances and in her school’s chorus. She graduated from Jeanne D’ Arc which is a French and Greek school in Athens. [ cite web | title = ΒΙΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ | url = http://www.peggyzina.com/el icon Peggyzina.com. Retrieved on February 17, 2008]

1995–1999: Debut album and early success

Peggy's debut album, which was self-titled, was released in 1995 by BMG Greece. The album includes her first hit which created controversy with the title: "An Pas Me Alli Tha Sou Spaso To Kefali" (If You Go with Another Woman I Will Break Your Head). She also started working with Lefteris Pantazis at Neraida (1995) and then with Notis Sfakianakis at Gazi (1996).

Peggy released her second album in 1998 with the title "Anevaines" (You Go Up), and she made a duet with Stelios Rokkos on his single "Eisai O Ilios Mou" (You Are My Sun). She then worked with Sakis Rouvas at Vios Vios (1999). She also worked with many famous singers such as Nikos Kourkoulis, Elli Kokkinou, D. Hrisohoidis at Poseidonio.

2000–2002: Zina Gains Popularity

In 2000 Peggy Zina changed recording companies and signed with Nitro Music and altered her look. On July 4, 2000, she released a four track CD single titled "Ti Th' Akouso Akoma" (What Else Will I Hear) with the title track being the first single from her third album "Ena Hadi" (One Caress) which was released in 2001. [cite web|url=http://beta.mad.tv/news/new.php?id=695|title=H νέα Πέγκυ Ζήνα κυκλοφορεί!|date=2000-07-05|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-09-13] In winter of the same year she worked with Notis Sfakianakis and Christos Dantis at COSMOS after her solo performances at Maskes in Thessaloniki.

In January 30 2002, Peggy was suggested by Thanos Kalliris to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest and she accepted his proposal to sing a song written by him. [cite web|url=http://beta.mad.tv/news/new.php?id=6074|title=Η Πέγκυ Ζήνα στην Eurovision!|date=2002-01-30|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-09-13] On February 26 2002, Peggy participated in the Greek national final with the song "Love Is a Wonderful Thing". Despite a great performance, she took second place to Michalis Rakintzis with his song "S.A.G.A.P.O." (I Love You). [cite web|url=http://beta.mad.tv/news/new.php?id=6379|title=Ο Μιχάλης Ρακιντζής στη Eurovision!!!|date=2002-02-26|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-09-13] He limped to a disappointing 17th place at the contest. Even though she did not make it, the single gained a gold certification in just a few weeks. [cite web|url=http://beta.mad.tv/news/new.php?id=6824|title=Νέα επιτυχία και νέο video clip στο Μεξικό!|date=2002-04-10|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Peggy released her fourth album "Vres Enan Tropo" (Find The Way) in 2002. For this album she cooperated with many great singers like Giannis Parios who gave her four amazing modern folk songs and he acknowledged Peggy as an incredible folk singer. She continued to perform at Maskes for a third year and because of the success she performed the same music program in Athens.

2003–2004: Minos EMI and "Mazi Sou"

After 5 years with Nitro Music, Peggy moved to Minos EMI, one of the biggest recording companies in Greece. She released her fifth album with the title "Mazi Sou" (With You) in 2003 which became platinum in just a few weeks, selling over 40,000 copies. [ cite web | title = Πλατινένια η Πέγκυ Ζήνα| url = http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=14572el icon MAD TV. Retrieved on April 4, 2008 ] The album included 2 huge summer hits, the songs "Eimai Kala" (I’m fine) and "Dystihos" (Unfortunately). Peggy broke the record for the most performances at APOLLON surpassing the unbelievable number of 100 performances. In the winter of the same year Peggy worked alongside Nikos Vertis, Thanos Petrelis, Kostas Karafotis and Apostolia Zoi at Pili Aksiou. Her popular performances raised the album Mazi Sou to platinum in January 2004.

2004–2005: "Matono" and "Noima"

After finishing her performances in Athens, Peggy went to Thessaloniki and worked with the band Filoi Gia Panta and many new singers. Working continuously for a year and a half, Peggy released her new album "Matono" (I’m Bleeding) in 2004. [ cite web | title = Xρυσή η Πέγκυ Ζήνα| url = http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=16161el icon MAD TV. Retrieved on April 4, 2008 ] Upon return to Athens, she started performing at APOLLON for a fourth year. She worked with Kostas Karafotis and Nino. Peggy received her second platinum certification for "Matono" and she also won her first Arion Award for the Best Folk Singer Of The Year. In Spring 2005, Peggy Zina and Nino visited Australia and London, while in United States and Canada she toured with rising singers Giorgos Lianos and Maro Litra.

In September 2005 Peggy released her seventh album with the title "Noima" (The Meaning) on which she cooperated for the first time with famed composer Giorgos Theofanous. The album was released with four different covers which were designed by Konstantinos Rigas. The album became gold from the first day of its release and after a few months it gained a platinum certification. And once again she won the Arion Award for Best Folk Singer Of The Year.

2006–Present: "Ena", "Trekse" and Marriage

On December 8, 2006, Zina released "Ena" (One) which was recorded at Diogenis Studio and gained a platinum certification. [cite web|url=http://beta.mad.tv/news/new.php?id=22980|title=Τρία...Δύο...ΕΝΑ: Πέγκυ is back!|date=2006-10-26|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greece|accessdate=2008-09-14] It contained many hits like the songs "Ena" (One), "Ego Ta Spao" (I Break Them) and the summer hit "Eimai Edo" (I Am Here). She was also personally selected by Christos Dantis to perform a duet of the song "To Teleftaio Potiraki" with him at his MAD Secret Concert.

Peggy Zina was married in June 2007 to her longtime music manager, Giorgos Liras. [ cite web | title = 11 Ιουνίου ο Γάμος της Πέγκυ Ζήνα με τον Γιώργο Λύρα| url = http://www.loveradio.gr/showbiz/index.php?year=2007&month=2&id=595#ndtGr icon "Love Radio Broadcasting". Retrieved on April 1, 2008] The pair have been together for 10 years. The wedding was attended by 800 wedding spectators, friends, family and others who were short-listed. Approximately 200 sheep had been ordered on the menu in the true sense of traditional Greek weddings. This was Giorgos Lira third marriage and the best man was showbiz manager Ilias Psinakis who was accompanied by Kiki Tsolka.

On December 4 2007, Peggy Zina released the album "Trekse" (Run). [ cite web | title = Σε ένα μήνα η νέα Πέγκυ| url = http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=27324el icon MAD TV. Retrieved on April 4, 2008] Already the singles "An Ypirhes Tha Se Horiza" from the Mega TV series and "Trekse" first presented at the Arion Music Awards-have become huge hits on the radio. The album achieved Gold Certification from its first week and made its debut at number 2 on the Greek Album Chart beaten only by Mihalis Hatzigiannis, whose live album debuted at number one. Peggy released two additional singles at the same time: the songs "Dio Ksenoi" and "Kai Meta." cite web | title = 2 νέα singles για την Πέγκυ| url = http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=28383&c=el icon MAD TV. Retrieved on January 20, 2008] The album certified platinum in its sixth week on the chart and Peggy received the platinum certification on January 22. cite web | title = Απονομή Πλατινιένου Δίσκου| url = http://www.mad.tv/news/?id=28470&c=el icon MAD TV. Retrieved on January 24, 2008] At the 5th annual "MAD Video Music Awards", she performed the song "2 Hearts" and also won the award for "Fashion Icon of the Year" with the her song "Trekse". [ cite web | title = Winners| url = http://www.videomusicawards.gr/2008/winners/Gr icon "MAD TV", June 17 2008. Retrieved on July 18 2008.]

On June 24 2008, Peggy Zina released a two disc greatest hits compilation featuring her successful songs to date titled "Peggy Zina - Best of". In addition the album also includes three new songs penned by Giorgos Moukidis. [ cite web | title = Έτοιμη να επιστρέψει η Πέγκυ...| url = http://music.net.cy/mousika_nea/june2008/4-6/pegku_zina.htmGr icon "Music.net.cy", June 4 2008. Retrieved on June 4, 2008] The new song "Paradosou" was made into a music video.

In early September 2008, Peggy Zina went back to the studio to record her eleventh studio album which is due out in November 2008.cite web|url=http://www.music.net.cy/mousika_nea/august2008/26-8/pegku_zina.htm|title=Στο στούντιο μπαίνει στις αρχές Σεπτεμβρίου η Πέγκυ Ζήνα...|date=2008-08-26|publisher="Music.net.cy"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-08-27] [cite web|url=http://music.net.cy/mousika_nea/september2008/5-9/pegku_zina.htm|title=Η Πέγκυ Ζήνα κυκλοφορεί νέο δίσκο το Νοέμβριο...|date=2008-09-05|publisher="Music.net.cy"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-09-06] Giorgos Moukidis will most likely write the entire album, while it is rumored that she will appear at "VOX" music hall for the winter season.

Discography

Albums

*1995: "Peggy Zina"
*1998: "Anevaines"
*2001: "Ena Hadi"
*2002: "Vres Enan Tropo"
*2003: "Mazi Sou"
*2004: "Matono"
*2005: "Noima"
*2005: "Ta Prota Chronia"
*2006: "Ena"
*2007: "Trekse"
*2008: "Peggy Zina - Best of"

CD Singles

*2000: "Ti Th' Akouso Akoma"
*2002: "Love Is a Wonderful Thing"
*2007: "To Mystiko"

References

External links

* [http://www.peggyzina.com/ Unofficial Website]
* [http://club.peggyzina.com/ Official Fansite]
* [http://www.zina-peggy.tk/ German Fan Club]