Greek singer and musician Lakis Halkias dies at 82

Lakis Halkias, a prominent figure in Greek folk and popular music, passed away on Saturday, August 2, 2026, at the age of 82. While most sources report his age as 82, one publication noted his age as 83. His family officially confirmed the news, stating that details regarding the date and time of his funeral will be announced in the near future. Reports indicate that he had been hospitalized while battling serious health issues prior to his death.

Born Michalis Halkiopoulos on August 30, 1943, in Ioannina, he was a member of the fourth generation of the renowned Halkias musical dynasty and the son of the celebrated clarinetist Tasos Halkias. A multi-instrumentalist who played guitar, bouzouki, lute, tzouras, and oud, he began his career at age seven. Throughout his career, he collaborated with legendary Greek artists such as Stelios Kazantzidis, Grigoris Bithikotsis, and Vasilis Tsitsanis. He was widely recognized for his work bridging traditional, rebetiko, and modern Greek music, most notably through his project, "2,500 Years of Greek Music: From Homer to Today.