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History 285 Chapter 7 Presentation

Stelios Kazantzidis was a prominent Greek singer known for his contributions to Laïkó music and collaborations with major composers. Born in 1931, he faced hardships early in life but rose to fame with hit songs and a unique musical style that influenced Greek popular music. After a successful career, he took a hiatus from recording in the 1970s, returning in 1987 after a 12-year break.

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36 views4 pages

History 285 Chapter 7 Presentation

Stelios Kazantzidis was a prominent Greek singer known for his contributions to Laïkó music and collaborations with major composers. Born in 1931, he faced hardships early in life but rose to fame with hit songs and a unique musical style that influenced Greek popular music. After a successful career, he took a hiatus from recording in the 1970s, returning in 1987 after a 12-year break.

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University of Minnesota - Fall 2022

History 285, Chapter 7 Presentation

Professor Green, Section 9

May 24, 2022

Stelios Kazantzidis (Greek: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης; 29 August 1931 – 14 September 2001)

was one of the most prominent Greek singers. For instance, He was of Pontian and Asia

Minor roots. (Johnson, 2020)

Professor’s Remark: Add more statistical evidence to strengthen your points.

PRESENTATION SLIDES:

Slide 1 Title: Key Points

A top artist of Greek music, or Laïkó, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost

composers. == Biography ==

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) (Greek Κοτύωρα Kotyora) and

Gesthimani Kazantzidi, 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 16

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. It did not do well but he tried again,

recording Giannis Papaioannou's "The suitcases" (Οι βαλίτσες) soon after.

Slide 2 Title: Key Points

The song became the first of many hits and with his newfound popularity he began to make

appearances in some of the biggest clubs of the time, like "Theios", "Mpertzeletos" and

"Rosignol". With his career in full swing, Kazantzidis began to collaborate with some of the

biggest names in Greek music, among them Manolis Chiotis, Manos Hadjidakis, Mikis

Theodorakis, and Stavros Xarhakos. A hallmark in his career – and an event of great

importance for the musical scene of post-war Greece – was his cooperation with composer

Vassilis Tsitsanis. Starting in 1956 it resulted in several new songs as well as

reinterpretions of Tsitsanis older songs. Kazantzidis, thus, sung and popularized such

rebetiko classics as "Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki", "Bakse tsifliki" and "Ta Kavourakia". These

songs, and many others, previously unknown to the wide public suddenly became cherished

and sought-after. A few years later Kazantzidis started to develop his own musical style, a

style with influences ranging from rebetika to Indian music. This new turn met with

considerable success and became a template for later developments in Greek popular music.

"Mantoubala" for example, a Kazantzidis original, was inspired by Madhubala, an Indian

actress he saw.

Slide 3 Title: Important Facts


This was the first record in Greece to sell over 100,000 copies, an amazing fact since the

total population of the country (at the time) was about 7.5 million. Stelios Kazantzidis

married Marinella on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United

States. The two of them became a legendary duo. In 1965, Kazantzidis, whilst at the peak of

his career, decided to stop appearing in nightclubs. For the next ten years, he only released

studio albums. In September 1966 he divorced Marinella, and they recorded their last duets

("Mi Mou Lete Gia Aftin", "Apopse Se Eho Stin Agalia Mou" and "I Kardia Tis Manas") for

Philips the following year. Following Marinella's departure Litsa Diamandi became his

primary female harmony vocalist in 1968. The album simply titled Stelios Kazantzidis (often

referred to as the "balloon album", due to its cover artwork), was a transitional album.

Marinella sang on some songs (including "Pame Tsarka"-an updated version of Tsitsanis'

"Bakse Tsifliki") and Diamandi on others (e.g.

Slide 4 Title: Overview

the big hit "Efiye Efiye"). In 1968, Kazantzidis recorded "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes", written by

newcomer Christos Nikolopoulos; the song became an immediate success. The follow-up to

this album, Ena Gramma had a number of hits, which included "Sto Trapezi Pou Tha Pino",

"Pare T' Ahnaria", "Tha Kopso to Telefono" and "Kai Oi Andres Klene". Marinella had an

"answer back" to that latter song, by releasing "Oi Andres Den Klene" (men don't cry). In

1973 he collaborated with songwriter Akis Panou and released an album with six songs,

including one of his biggest hits, "I zoi mou oli", and in 1974 he recorded "Stin Anatoli",

composed by Mikis Theodorakis. The next year he recorded another one of his biggest hits,

"Iparho", penned by Pythagoras. Suddenly Kazantzidis rocked the Greek music industry

again, when he announced his decision to stop recording. He accused his label of "colonial-

like" contracts and took a leave from recording. In 1987 he recorded again for the first time
after 12 years.

References:

1. Wikipedia (n.d.)

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