Stelios Kazantzidis

Stelios Kazantzidis was a one of the most prominent Greek singer of Pontian and Asia Minor roots. A leading singer of Greek popular music, or Laïkó, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost composers. He was recognized as the voice of the working class, since many of his songs talked about their problems and complaints. He also had a special bond with the Greek migrants across the world, who found comfort and nostalgia in his songs. Kazantzidis was born in Nea Ionia, in Athens, Greece. He was the first of two brothers born to Haralambos Kazantzidis (of Pontian roots from Ordu) and Gesthimani Kazantzidis, who was a Greek who came from the town of Alanya (known as Alaiya) (Greek Κορακήσιον Korakesion) in what is now southern Turkey and migrated to Greece as a result of the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922). He was orphaned at the age of 13 when his father, a member of the Greek Resistance, was beaten to death by right-wing guerillas in 1947, during the Greek Civil War. This forced Kazantzidis into employment, working as a baggage-carrier at Omonia Square and then for an interstate bus company, as a seller of roasted chestnuts at open markets, and as a labourer at the Nea Ionia textile mills. His life changed when the owner of a factory, which was located in the Perissos working district, gave him a guitar. He spent long hours playing music. He made his first public appearance at a Kifissia night club in the early 1950s and soon after, in July 1952, made his first studio recording at Columbia studios with a song entitled "I'm going for a swim" (Για μπάνιο πάω), written by Apostolos Kaldaras. His second song, "Oi Valitses" (The Suitcases), composed by Giannis Papaioannou, became the first of many hits and he emerged as a first-class singer. He started to sing in the biggest nightclubs of Athens, like Theios, Mpertzeletos, and Rosiniol. During this period he met, engaged, and worked with Kaiti Grey until 1957. Their biggest hit together was Xiotis's "Apopse Fila Me" (Kiss me tonight). The late '50s to mid-'60s were the most creative years for Kazantzidis. He met and started to work with Marinella in Thessaloniki and later married her. He worked and made many hits with the best Greek songwriters of the time, like Vasilis Tsitsanis, Giannis Papaioannou, Manolis Xiotis, Apostolos Kaldaras, Kostas Virvos, Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Xristos Leontis, Stauros Xarhakos, Manos Loizos, and Giannis Markopoulos. He appeared in the biggest nightclubs and also participated in many movies for the emerging Greek cinema. Besides his work as a singer, he also composed his own songs that became big hits, like "Ziguala" and "Mantuvala". In 1965 Kazantzidis, while in the peak of his career, decided to stop appearing in nightclubs. He didn't sing in public again for the rest of his life. For the next ten years, he only released studio albums. The next year he divorced Marinella, and they recorded their last duets ("Mh Mou Lete Gia Authn", "Apopse Se Exo Stin Agalia Mou", "H Kardia Ths Manas") for Philips the following year. In 1975 he married Vaso Kazantzidi, who remained his wife until his death. In the late '70s and early '80s, he recorded some of his most successful albums, such as "Stelios Kazantzidis" (1979), "Otan Simani Esperinos" (1980), "O Dromos" (1981), and "O Anthropos Mou" (1982). He also collaborated with younger composers, such as Akis Panou, Lefteris Papadopoulos, and Pythagoras Papastamatiou. In the mid-'80s, he started to withdraw from the music scene, releasing only a few albums until 2000. His last album was "Erhontai Chronia Dyskola" (Difficult Years Are Coming), which was a prophetic title for his impending death. Kazantzidis died of a brain tumor on 14 September 2001. His death was an emotional event for Greece, as attested to by the many obituaries in appreciation of his life and work. Kazantzidis was given a state funeral through the streets of Elefsina (26 km from Athens) which was broadcast live on Greek television. He was buried at the Elefsina Cemetery, next to his mother. He left behind a legacy of more than 1,500 songs that are still cherished by millions of Greeks and people of Greek descent around the world.