He was born in Athens and started his career in 1990 singing “rebetika” and “laika” at the historical “Perivoli t’ouranou”.

His first personal album “Athoos Enochos” (Innocent Guilty) was released in 1996 with music by Panayiotis Kalantzopoulos and Evanthia Reboutsika and Aris Davarakis’ lyrics.

He has worked with Haris Alexiou, Dimitris Mitropanos, Giorgos Dalaras, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Lavrentis Machairitsas, Nikos Portokaloglou, Eleni Tsaligopoulou, Nikos Antypas, Dimitris Papadimitriou, Dimitris Basis, Kostas Makedonas and others.

He wrote songs for Dimitris Mitropanos, Yiannis Koutras, Dimitris Mpasis, Rallia Christidou, Salina and Sofia Strati.

He took part in concerts and Cds of Mikis Theodorakis, Yiannis Markopoulos, Thanos Mikroutsikos and Mimis Plessas.

Since 2010 he started his collaboration with the world famous Yasmin Levi.

In October 2003 he was honoured with the “Best Selling Greek Artist” award within the framework of the World Music Awards held every year in Monaco, a prize covering two years of top sales (2002 and 2003).

In March 2004, just a few days after the Flame-Lighting Ceremony in Ancient Olympia, his CD single “Pass the flame”, containing the song of the Athens 2004 Torch Relay, was released globaly. The CD single contained three versions of the song (English lyrics, Greek lyrics, and instrumental). Yiannis Kotsiras performed the song in both languages. “Pass the flame” was written by Trevor Horn, a Grammy awarded composer and producer who has connected his name with great artists internationally (Paul Mc Cartney, Bryan Ferry, Pet Shop Boys, Art of Noise etc), in collaboration with Lol Creme. The Greek lyrics were written by Lina Nikolakopoulou. The CD was recorded in Sarmwest Studios, the studios Trevor Horn uses in London. The vocals are supported by famous singers from all over the world reflecting the global spirit of the torch relay.

In June of 2007 Yiannis gave a great concert at Lycabettus Theater, celebrating his 10 years of live performing, with the participation of many friends. The result was a total success in a sold out night, with more than 7.500 people in the theater.

His latest CD has been released at October of 2014 under the title of “Oti thimase den petheni” (Whatever you remember never dies) with the music made by Thanos Mikroutsikos, Lyrics by Odysseas Ioannou and also a song with lyrics by Alkis Alkaios.

In 2015 he wrote for a very first time theatrical music for the show “Penelope Delta” that took place for the period of 2014-2015 at the “Daily Theater”. Director: Andromachi Motzoli”.

Totally he has released 14 personal albums with more that 1 million sales and he has given more than 1000 concerts in Greece and all over the world.

Discography

1996 “Athoos Enochos” (Innocent Guilty)

1997 “Mono ena fili” (Just a kiss)

1999 “Filakas Aggelos” (Guadrian Angel)

2000 “Eine diki mas i zoi mas” (Our life is ours)

2001 CD Single “Efapaks” (In one go)

2002 “Yiannis Kotsiras LIVE” which has sold over 400.000 copies

2002 “Axion esti, Pnevmatiko Emvatirio”

2003 “Ksilino alogaki” (Wooden horse)

2003 “Ti tragoudi na sou po” (What song can I sing you) DVD

2004 “Trianta kai kati” (30something)

2006 “Taksidia filia” (Travels Kisses)

2006 “O dromos” (The road)

2008 “Kai pali paidi” (Child again)

2010 “Yannis Kotsiras Live 2010”

2012 “I Smirni tou erota” (The Smyrne of love)

2013 “Mousiko kouti” (Music box)

2014 “Oti thimase den petheni” (Whatever you remember never dies)

2015 “Penelope Delta”