OTE SPOT 2008Michalis Hatzigiannis was born in Nicosia, Cyprus, although his parents originate from Keryneia. He is a graduate of the Cyprus Music Academy (Royal College of London) with a degree in piano, guitar and music theory.
When he was 15, he participated in a song contest in Cyprus, "Afetiries" where he won the first prize. He started his career in Cyprus with three records that all went platinum: "Senario", "O Michalis Hatzigiannis Traguda Doro Georgiadi" and "Epafi". He also participated in a musical production in Cyprus called "Pygmalion".
In May 1998 he represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest. He performed the song "Yenesis"- Genesis, a composition of his own and took the 11th position.
Career in Greece
Later in Athens, Greece he collaborated with the composer Yiorgos Hadjinassios and the lyricist poet Michales Bourboulis to create the album "Angigma Psychis"- Touch of Soul, which was released in December 1998. The album had music pieces and songs for the TV series bearing the same title. The album went platinum. The two songs main songs are "Angigma Psychis"- Touch of Soul and "To Soma pou Zitas"- The Body You Seek.
In March of 2000 Hatzigiannis released his first solo album, "Paraxeni Giorti"-Strange Celebration. Other composers and lyricists contributed to the making of this album, which was to produce some of the biggest hits of that year. The song "Mono Sta Onira"- Only in Dreams stayed at number one in the Greek radio airplay for several weeks. And two other songs from the album, "Paraxeni Giorti"- Strange Celebration and "Ke tha Hatho"- I’ll disappear had similar successes. The album went double-platinum and was a career landmark for the young singer-songwriter in the Greek music scene. In November of the same year, he started to perform live shows in Athens.
Early in 2001 he released the CD single "Den Eho Hrono"- I Have No Time. It soon reached the top of the charts and went platinum. Later that year, he appeared live with the great Greek singer Haris Alexiou to great reviews. That summer, he toured Greece for the first time.
In the spring of 2002 he released his second solo album "Kryfo Fili"- Secret Kiss, which has since gone triple-platinum. This album contains a series of big hits such as "Ise Edo"- You Are Here, "To S’ Agapo"- I Love You, "Horis Anapnoi"- Breathless, "I Ekdromi"- Excursion, "Kapnos"- Smoke and others. This album established him as one of the most successful singer-songwriters and promising performers in the Greek music scene. In the summer of 2002 he toured Greece again with even greater success. And in winter he shared the same stage with another Greek icon, singer Dimitra Galani.
In 2003 he released "Monos Mou"- All Alone, an E.P. containing five songs, which went triple platinum. One of the songs, "An Mou Tilephonouses"- If You Called, became a hit and the demand for strong airplay kept growing for months. And it still remains one of the most popular ballads in Greece. In the summer of 2003 he toured Greece with 63 sold out shows.
He received three awards in the official Greek music awards in 2003 and four in 2004, including the award for the best male performer of the year.
In April 2004 , he released his third solo record, "Akatalili Skini"- X Rated Scene, which increased his popularity in the Greek music scene. On 30th April 2004, he represented Cyprus at the official enlargement ceremony which took place in Warsaw, to mark the accession of ten new countries into the European Union.
In the summer of 2004 he toured Greece and sang at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens. In winter he made about 100 appearances in Athens and Salonika with the hugely popular singer, Paschalis Terzis.
In the summer of 2005 he toured Greece once again ending in September at Lycabettus Theatre, Mount Lycabettus, Athens with two sold out, recorded, concerts. In October he travelled to Australia for the first time and had three concerts. In November he started performing with Antonis Remos, in Athens until April 2006.
In March 2006 he released his first live album taken from the recorded concerts in Lycabettus with three new songs, "De fevgo"- I'm not Leaving, "Den ime edo gia kanena"- I'm Not Here For Anyone and "Miazoume"- We're Alike all becoming hits. The live album also contained a DVD with photographs of scenes from the concerts and backstage.
Later in April, he toured Canada and the U.S. with George Dalaras. And in May he went to Salonika where he appeared with Natasa Theodoridou. In summer he toured Greece performing 50 sold out concerts. In August he released a single, "Ola i tipota"- All or nothing.
In December 2006 he released his fourth studio album, "Fili ke ehthri" -Friends and Foes with some songs becoming big hits - "Na ise eki"- Be There, "Esthimata"- Feelings, "Heria psila"- Hands High and other. On 15th December, 2006 he began performing in Vox in Athens.
In March 2007 he collaborated with German Rock band, Reamonn and released the hit "Tonight" with Greek lyrics by Eleana Vrahali. The song is included in the re-release of "Wish" by Reamonn and "Fili ke ehthri"- Friends and Foes of Michalis Hatzigiannis.
In June 2007 he released the single "Pio Poly"- More, with four songs: the new song "Pio poly", a Passion remix of "Pio poly", the duet "Tonight" with Reamonn and a Moscow electro mix of "Heria psila" which also re-released the album of Fili ke ehthri - Friends and Foes along with the new 4 songs which became 3 times platinum making Michalis the only greek artist with the highest sales in every album. He also started his summer tour in Greece, after his appearances in Vox which ended in May.
In October and November he toured in Germany,the Netherlands,Switzerland and Belgium.
On December 2007 he released his second live album, "Zontana Sto Likavitto" which went platinum from the first week of release. At the moment, he is appearing in Vox with Glykeria.
