Mariza Koch / Μαρίζα Κωχ

Mariza Koch (Greek: Μαρίζα Κωχ; born March 14, 1944) is a Greek folk music singer who has recorded many albums since starting her career in 1971. On the wider stage she is best remembered for representing her homeland at the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 with the song Panayia Mou, Panayia Mou. Mariza Koch was born in Athens in 1944 but lived in her mother's hometown in Santorini from a young age. Her father was German.

In an off-beat but original way Mariza Koch began her musical career in 1971 with an album titled "Arabas". It consisted of a collection of traditional Greek folk songs blended with unusual beats from traditional and modern electronic instrumental sounds. One could even term the sound as folk rock. On the other hand, Mariza's unique vocals became the center piece of the music which on more than one occasion needed no accompaniment. No matter what one called it, the album was a resounding success. More albums followed with the sound eventually mellowing back into the original folk sounds of the past, where traditional instruments are used in there entirety. Koch's most recent album included elements of traditional Greek music and Jazz Fusion. On 14 March 2010, Alpha TV ranked Koch the 29th top-certified female artist in the nation's phonographic era (since 1960).

(en.wikipedia)