He was born in Athens on 23/9/1907. He studied voice at the Hellenic Conservatory of Music and Arts (1925) and the National Conservatory (1928-1929). He made his stage debut in 1930 singing Sparafucile (Rigoletto) and Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia). This was followed by roles in Carmen and The Haunted Bridge [Stoicheiomeno Gefiri] by Sakellaridis. In 1934 he participated in the Egyptian tour of the National Opera Company (Ethnikos Melodramatikos Omilos) under Kalomiris. In 1936 he went to Italy on scholarship from the Athens Municipality for further studies. In an audition there, the director of the Metropolitan Opera of New York heard him perform and offered him a contract. He began his 25-year-long collaboration with the Met in 1937 as Ramfis (Aida) and was established as the successor to the distinguished Italian bass Ezio Pinza. In 1938 he sang Verdi’s Requiem launching a long-term collaboration with Arturo Toscanini. He interpreted a broad repertoire of leading bass roles alongside leading soloists in major opera houses in the USA. At the same time, he sang in Italy: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, La Scala, Teatro Reale Rome, Turin, etc. He participated in concerts with renowned orchestras around the world. In 1945 he acquired the American citizenship. In 1950 he sang with Maria Callas in Mexico in the operas Aida and Il trovatore. He is most famous for his performances in the operas: Otello, La Gioconda, Il trovatore, Lucia di Lamermoor, Faust, La bohème. He worked with the Greek National Opera for four years (1959-1963), performing the roles: Méphistophélès (Faust), Padre Guardiano (La forza del destino) and Fiesco (Simon Boccanegra). He taught at Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts (USA). He was decorated with the Royal Medal of the Order of the Phoenix. He has recorded extensively.