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Elli grew up in a family with a love of music. From a young age, Elli showed interest in music, and was also part of the Dance group at her school. Her father encouraged her to listen to music, mostly Jazz, while her mother encouraged her to listen to more modern music, such as disco. At age 5, she started ballet, while at home she sang and danced for her parents at night. She soon began courses for classic guitar at the "Attiko Conservatory", and after that, acoustic and electric guitar lessons for another three years. Elli was also very interested in sports, and for six years before she finished school, she was on a Water Ski team. On the team, she won third place in a Pan-Hellenic championship as well as many gold medals. When she finished school, Elli made her first band called "Anonimi" (Anonymous). At the same time, she completed examinations and was accepted to the school "Vakalo" where she studied graphic, free and architectural drawing and history of art.

Elli first professionally dealt with music in 1990 with the request of the famous Kostas Tournas. After that, Elli collaborated with many big names at the clubs such as Antonis Vardis, Tolis Voskopoulos, Anna Vissi, Pashalis Terzis, Glykeria, Eleni Dimou and more. At the same time, Elli also recorded backing vocals for a number of albums.

In 1992, Elli moved to Los Angeles, California where she studied voice and piano at the "Musicians Institute of Technology" for two years until 1994. In the United States, she got the chance to be taught by strong names in the music industry such as Carl Schroeder (Pianist for Sarah Voaghn) and Scott Henderson. In 1994, she graduated and returned to Greece.

In 1996, Elli singed a contract with Sony Music Greece and in 1998 she released her first CD single titled Kapia Mera (Some Day). The music was by Antonis Vardis with lyrics by Manou Tsilimidis and Gioula Gerorgiou.

In 1999, Elli released her debut album titled "Epikindyna Paihnidia" (Dangerous Games). The song "Pao Pao" became a big hit from the album. In 2000, she released her sophomore album titled "Andriki Kolonia" (Male Cologne).

In 2002, she signed with Heaven Music, and the next year started collaborating with popular song writer Phivos. In May 2003 she released the album "Sto Kokkino" (In red) which was one of the most successful releases in Greece for that year, reaching double-platinum status. The album reached 1x Platinum within 2 months and was also a great success in neighboring Turkey. Elli Kokkinou performed with Giorgos Mazonakis in the song "To Gucci Ton Masai" which made it into the Greek top ten. Following the success of Sto Kokkino, Sony Music released a best of album titled "Paradinomai".

Following the platinum status, "Sto Kokkino" was released as "Sto Kokkino Platinum Edition" in 2004 with four bonus songs and a DVD including a duet with Giorgos Tsalikis. The four new songs became instant hits, while the re-released pushed the certification up to 2x platinum. On April 14, 2005, Elli won the international award for "Best New International Artist" by the "Union of Journalists of Turkey" (MGD), as her songs from "Sto Kokkino" were big hits in Turkey too besides Greece and Cyprus.

Following a string of concerts in the United States and Australia with Christos Dantis, Elli returned in the summer of 2005 and began recording songs for her next studio album with Phivos. On November 10, 2005, Elli released her fourth studio album titled "SEX" which was certified Gold the same day of its release. The album shortly reached platinum status, and was repackaged and released on November 13, 2006 as "Ki' Allo Platinum Edition" (More). "Ki' Allo" featured 4 new songs and a bonus DVD, including a duet with Thanos Petrelis and the French version of "SEX" as preformed at the "MAD Music Video Awards" in 2006. For the winter season of 2006-2007, Elli performed with Thanos Petrelis at club "Apollon".

On April 1, 2007, Elli announced on her official website and Myspace that she had left Heaven Music and Phivos stating she would like more creative input as one of her reasons. She also stated that Heaven Music had offered her to resign, which she decided not to do. Following a couple months without a label, Elli announced in July 2007, that she has signed with her original label Sony BMG Greece.

In September 2007, Elli married her long time fiancé Panagiotis Vasilliadi. Later that month, she started appearances with Nikos Kourkoulis and Natassa Theodoridou at club "Votanikos". In November 2007, she released her fifth studio album titled "Eilikrina" (Honestly). The album peaked at number 2 on the Greek IFPI charts, while her lead single "Lypamai Eilikrina" peaked at number 2 on the Nielsen's Greece Radio Airplay Chart. The album quickly certified gold.

In December 2007, Elli announced that she was pregnant with her first child. Due to her pregnancy, she stopped singing at Votanikos club on January 5, 2008 and Sarbel replaced her. In June 2008, Elli gave birth to a baby boy.

In September 2008, Elli will be heading back to the studio to record her next album which is planned for release in late 2008.

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