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Every week, Star Radio presents to you an artist you are eager to meet.
Please check the FULL Alphabetical List on the main bio/dicography page;
click on the Alphabetical letters to read the bio.
Below is the List so far from Letter "U" to Letter "Z":
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FULL Alphabetical List: Click Here
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ARTISTS BIOGRAPHY/DISCOGRAPHY: U, V, W, X, Y, Z
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Anna Vissi |
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Anna Vissi began her career at the early age of 6. Anna was born in 20 December 1957 in the island of Cyprus. She attended the Cyprus Conservatory,
and won the first prize at a singing contest, "Best Voice", when she was 12. That's when Anna's mother saw the potential in her daughter's career
and relocated the Vissi family to Greece which offered more opportunities than her native Cyprus.
Once in Greece, she signed a contract with the Greek discography company Minos and started working with some of the most famous Greek composers
and singers such as Charis Alexiou, George Dalaras and later with Nicos Karvelas who is now her ex-husband (from which she had a daughter, Sofia).
Anna participated twice in the Eurovision Song Contest and won the 5th place for Cyprus with a song of her composition. In 1977 Anna won the first
prize at the Music Festival in Thessaloniki. Since 1983, she started working with the famous producers Nicos Karvelas. Karvelas wrote the majority
of Anna's songs, most notably a rock opera entitled "Demons", the first ever of its kind in Greece. 3 years later, Anna starred in Stavros Sideras'
opera, "Ode to the Gods" in 1996. She also released her album Klima Tropiko (Tropical Climate) in '96, and became a sensation in Greece. Her album
went platinum, and to show her appreciation to her Greek fans, she toured Greece and put on a 3-hour show at a club in Greece built specifically
for her. After consecutive nights of selling out, it was clear Anna was the hottest act that side of the Mediterranean. In 1997, Anna won the Greek
Music Awards for Best Female Singer, Best Interpretation and Biggest Airplay Song. The album, which spawned the hit "Forgive Me This" (produced by
Celine Dion producer Ric Wake), went gold within 12 days, and went on to achieve triple-platinum status. In 1998, she was awarded with a plaque for
the success of her album Travma, on behalf on Sony Music Europe. The same year, Anna experienced won/ nominated at the Pop Corn Music Awards, for
Best Female Singer, Best Interpretation, Best Album, Best Album Cover, Best Song, Most Played Song on the Radio ("Travma"), Best Live Appearance,
and longtime collaborator Nicos Karvelas took home the award for Best Composition for Anna's "Mavra Yalia".
By the end of the '90s, Anna was set to tour Europe (not to mention the fact that she performed at sold-out shows at the Palladium Theatre and the
Forum Music Theater in London), as well as select cities in the United States such as Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Anna Vissi is Greece's major singing sensation. She is considered the Greek version of Madonna. She is adored in Greece, and had set her sights on
international acclaim with her single "Everything I Am", a catchy dance tune suited for the discotheques of London and Ibiza.
All her records have become best sellers, turning gold or platinum. She was continuously changing her look, and every song she performed, was a new
proposition towards Greek music.
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Despina Vandi |
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Despina Vandi (its true surname is Malea) was born on July 22, 1969 in
Tipigen, a small town of Germany close to Stuttgart by Greek immigrant
parents. She is the only one of her family who hasn’t learned German,
she didn't have time for it and did not like it so much. She returned
with her family to Greece (in Kavala more precisely from where she is
originating) when she was 6 years old. She finished school in the beautiful town
of Kavala and made studies of philology at the University of
Thessaloniki. During her second year of studies she started to sing with one of
her friends who played the piano in a piano bar. In the same time, she
followed courses of singing and phonetics. Despina, who listened and had grown with American music, sang
songs in Greek in the largest tracks of the capital with famous artists
of the Greek music. She still listens to much foreign music and always
sings foreign songs. Her first disc "Gela mou" became reality in 1994.
From her beginning until now she gained the appreciation of the public
and today Despina is one of best and most beautiful singers in Greece.
She also has a splendid voice; just by listening to her interpretations, you can get convinced.
Discopgraphy: (some of her albums at the time of writing this bio)
1994: her first album by MINOS EMI was "Smile at me (Gela mou)"
including her duet with Giannis Parios in the song "impasse (Adiexodo)" as
well as the " There's nothing (Den yparxei tipota)".
1996: Her second album, entitled ¨I am waiting for you (Esena
Perimeno)" with the lyrics of Tonis's Kontaksakis Natalia's Germanou Charis's
Varthakouris.
1997: Deka Entoles
1998: CD single Spania
1999: Profities
2000: CD Single "Ypofero"
2001: Best of
2003: Gia
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Shayne Ward |
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Singing is Shayne’s main passion, but his second love is dancing. He’s
self-taught and believes that he could hold his own on most dance floors.
Shayne Ward (born 15 October 1984 in Manchester) is a British pop
singer and winner of the 2005 series of the talent show The X Factor
(similar to Pop Idol).
Shayne reckons that a career in music is 100 per cent for him. Shayne
is the youngest son of a very large family and is also a twin! He has 3 brothers,
Mark 29, Martin 28 and Michael 27, and 3 sisters, Lisa 24, his twin
Emma 20 and Leona 16. Prior to his participation in The X Factor, Ward was
in a band called Destiny with two women named Tracy Murphy and Tracey Lyle. They
performed at pubs, clubs and weddings.
Ward also reached the final thirty of Popstars: The Rivals.
His first single, "That's My Goal", was released in the UK on December
21, 2005 and became the Christmas number one in 2005. It sold 313,000 copies on its
first day of sales, making it the third fastest selling single of all time
(behind Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" and Will Young's "Evergreen", which sold
685,000 and 400,000 copies in their first days of sale respectively).
More on Shayne Ward: www.shayne-ward.com
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Within Temptation |
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Within Temptation got founded in 1996. Robert Westerholt, who had
already found a singer (his girlfriend Sharon den Adel), started the band.
In less than two months, they had been offered various contracts for a
record deal. The group decided to sign with DSFA Records and things got
started.
After signing to DSFA, things got rolling. The first album, 'Enter',
was released in April 1997. In 1998, they released an EP called 'The
Dance'. This was supposed to serve as a small treat to span the gap between
'Enter' and a new record.
In 1999 Within Temptation decided to take things slow. After two years
of performing and far too less breaks, they needed some time for
themselves. So nothing really exciting happened except they finished their
studies and their own studio became reality.
2000 turned out to be the year of major changes. The band received
invitations to play at the major festivals in the Benelux countries. In
December of this year the CD Mother Earth was released. Many Dutch
professional music magazines voted this CD as their CD-of-the-month. Various
album charts were topped and the number of fans increased heavily.
In 2001 Within Temptation did a lot of touring, both inside- and
outside of The Netherlands. Besides a club tour of 40 'sold-out' concert
halls, many festivals concerts were done. One of the highlights was a
concert at the famous Pinkpop festival (100.000 visitors). Also concerts in
Paris, Mexico-City and at Belgium Festivals were given. 2 cd-singles
were released, Our Farewell and Ice Queen.
2002 became the year of the mass-breakthrough. The single Ice Queen
reached the number 1 position in may charts, both in The Netherlands and
in Belgium. The Album Mother Earth reached the Platinum status in The
Netherlands and the Gold status in Belgium. In both countries TMF/MTV
Awards were achieved. The band played at the major Festivals in the
Benelux (Ozzfest, Lowlands, Dynamo, Rock Werchter, Pukkelpop, Parkpop), as
well as in Germany (Rock im Park, Bizarre, Summerbreeze). In France
Within Temptation toured the major cities (Paris, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux,
Toulon) with sold-out venues.
2004 was great year for the group because they got
international and the single "Stand my ground" topped most of the European charts
(stayed 4 weeks number 1 on Star Radio’s Top 40). Their latest release (at the time of this writing)
is "Memories" taken from 2004 album "The Silent Force".
Besides Robert Westerholt (guitar) and Sharon den Adel (singer), Within
Temptation consists of: Jeroen van Veen (bass guitar), Martijn
Spierenburg (keyboards), Stephen van Haestregt (drums) and Ruud Jolie (guitar).
Discography:
1997: Enter
1997: Restless (Promo – 3 singles)
1998: The Dance (EP)
2000: Mother Earth
2004: The Silent Force
www.within-temptation.com/
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Bertine Zetlitz |
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Bertine Zetlitz comes from the capital of Norway, Oslo. Bertine has
created her own unique sound that showcases her songwriting expertise,
amidst a backdrop of electronic expansiveness and pop hits-to-be's, that
is neither far away from the blissful brooding Downtempo of Royksopp or
the complex melodies and lyrical exploration of A-ha. Now with three
native Grammy's already under her belt, and the release of her third
album 'Sweet Injections' imminent, Bertine looks set to be the next Nordic
export to cross over on a global scale.
Bertine started on her musical journey at a young age, penning her
first numbers aged just 12. After emerging from a more classical route and
music college, she began to concentrate on her long-term fantasy to
become a singer songwriter. Turned on by the music of Tracy Chapman, her
tastes had broadened and developed with her years, into wider pop
spheres, particularly the work of Annie Lennox, who still remains a notable
influence on Bertine's music. Her debut album 'Morbid Late Night Show'
was released in 1998, followed by the Tore Johansson (Cardigans)
produced 'Beautiful So Far' in 2000, both to critical acclaim and commercial success.
Despite her tender years, Bertine has already been invited to and
performed at the 2000 Lileth Fair Tour alongside such female musical
luminaries as Sarah McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde, Suzanne Vega and Sheryl Crow.
"It was an amazing experience, that has really helped me develop as an
artist, seeing and performing alongside people that I have admired for
years is a tremendous boost, as well as being onstage in front of 60,000 people."
Her latest album 'Sweet Injections' was recorded entirely over the
space of one month with world-renowned producers Howie B, Magnus Fiennes
(All Saints, Morcheeba), and recent bootleg bandit turned electronic
master-brain Richard X (Sugababes). Created far away from tranquillity of
Norway, but instead amidst the bustling streets of London, where thanks
to the "amazingly well organized" tube system, which gets a nod in the
albums credits, Bertine was able to shape what is surely her finest
body of work to date.
Her plans to tour 'Sweet Injections' begin with a huge extended jaunt
around Norway, followed by a quest to conquer the unknown. She will be
joined by amongst others, three members of nu-jazz revolutionaries Jaga
Jazzist…and as always with Bertine- be prepared for the unexpected. A
soupcon of sugar, spice and a touch of Clockwork Orange thrown in for
good measure.
'Sweet Injections' is the sound of a new, more confident and worldwise
Bertine, coming to terms with her own desires for sonic exploration,
and musical evolvement…"It is possible to mix pop music with mysterious
content. It makes it so much harder to categorize and so much more
interesting. For now my plan is to continue to explore electronics and my
own world through music."
www.bertine.com/
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