Stelios Kazantzidis
Encyclopedia
Stylianos Kazantzidis (August 29, 1931 – September 14, 2001) (Greek
: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης) was a prominent Greek singer. A leading singer of Greek popular music, or Laïkó
, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost composers.
, in Athens
, Greece
. He was the first of two brothers born to Haralambos Kazantzidis (of Pontian
roots from Ordu
) and Gesthimani Kazantzidis, who came from the Town of Alanya (known as Alaiya) in Southern Turkey
and
migrated to Greece as a result of the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922). Kazantzidis derives from Turkish
word Kazancı. Kazan means a cauldron
in Turkish and -cı is an agent suffix similar to "-er" in English. Thus, Kazancı means someone who produces, repairs, and/or sells cauldron
s. See also Elia Kazan
.
He was orphaned at the age of 13 when his father, a member of the Greek Resistance
, was tortured to death by the rightists. 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 Gianni Papaioannou's "The suitcases" (Οι βαλίτσες) soon after. 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
. He and Marinella
became a legendary duo.
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
. It started in 1956 and resulted in Kazantzidis reinterpreting some of Tsitsanis old songs. Kazantzidis, thus, sung and popularized such rebetiko
classics as "Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki", "Mpakse tsifliki" and "Ta Kavourakia". These songs, and many others, previously unknown to the wide public suddenly became cherished and sought-after.
Stelios Kazantzidis married Marinella
on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States.
In 1965 Kazantzidis, whilst at 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. In September 1966 he divorced Marinella
, and they recorded their last duets ("Mh Mou Lete Gia Authn", "Apopse Se Eho Stin Agalia Mou," "I Kardia Tis Manas") for Philips the following year. In 1968 Kazantzidis recorded "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes", written by newcomer Hristos Nikolopoulos; the song became an immediate success. 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 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. "Ο Dromos Tis Epistrofis" (Ο Δρόμος της Επιστροφής) sold 200,000 copies and became a commercial success. He continued to release records occasionally for the rest of his life. Kazantidis, besides his work on folk music, also recorded four records with Pontic alongside Chrysanthos Theodoridis, the greatest Pontic singer, songwriter, and lyricist.
, he was a musical icon. Many of his songs were translated into Hebrew and performed by the country's leading singers. Yaron Enosh, an Israel Radio broadcaster who often plays Greek music on his programs, described the singer's ability to combine joy with sorrow: "This is the task of music: to touch the entire range of feelings...Kazantzidis could do this; he played on all the strings." To the Greek Jews who immigrated to Israel, Kazantzidis was "the voice of the world they left behind, for good or for bad." According to the operator of Radio Agapi, a station that plays Greek music 24 hours a day, "Kazantzidis was the voice of the people, of the weary, the exploited, the betrayed. And the voice of the refugee and the emigre, too."
Kazantzidis also sang in Turkish
.
One of his songs (Efige Efige) featured in the end scene of Season 2 of the hit HBO TV series The Wire
.
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
: Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης) was a prominent Greek singer. A leading singer of Greek popular music, or Laïkó
Laïkó
Laïkó ), is a Greek music genre. Also called folk song or urban folk music , in its plural form is a Greek music genre which has taken many forms over the years...
, he collaborated with many of Greece's foremost composers.
Biography
Kazantzidis was born in Nea IoniaNea Ionia
Nea Ionia is a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, and a municipality of the Attica region. It has a surface train station . The suburb was named after Ionia, the region in Anatolia from which many Greeks migrated in the 1920s following the Population exchange between Greece and Turkey. It is...
, in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. He was the first of two brothers born to Haralambos Kazantzidis (of Pontian
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
roots from Ordu
Ordu
Ordu 'army') is a port city on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, and the capital of Ordu Province. Estimated population c. 2010: 141,341.-Etymology:...
) and Gesthimani Kazantzidis, who came from the Town of Alanya (known as Alaiya) in Southern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and
migrated to Greece as a result of the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922). Kazantzidis derives from Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
word Kazancı. Kazan means a cauldron
Cauldron
A cauldron or caldron is a large metal pot for cooking and/or boiling over an open fire, with a large mouth and frequently with an arc-shaped hanger.- Etymology :...
in Turkish and -cı is an agent suffix similar to "-er" in English. Thus, Kazancı means someone who produces, repairs, and/or sells cauldron
Cauldron
A cauldron or caldron is a large metal pot for cooking and/or boiling over an open fire, with a large mouth and frequently with an arc-shaped hanger.- Etymology :...
s. See also Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan
Elia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
.
He was orphaned at the age of 13 when his father, a member of the Greek Resistance
Greek Resistance
The Greek Resistance is the blanket term for a number of armed and unarmed groups from across the political spectrum that resisted the Axis Occupation of Greece in the period 1941–1944, during World War II.-Origins:...
, was tortured to death by the rightists. 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
Kifissia
Kifissia or Kifisia is one of the most expensive northern suburbs of Athens, mainly accessed via Kifissias Avenue, running all the way from central Athens up to Theseos Avenue in the suburb of Nea Erythraia. It has traditionally been home to the major Greek political families...
night club in the early 1950s and soon after, in July 1952, made his first studio recording at Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
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 Gianni Papaioannou's "The suitcases" (Οι βαλίτσες) soon after. 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
Manolis Chiotis
Manolis Chiotis was a Greek Rebetiko composer, singer and bouzouki player. He was born on March 21, 1920 in Thessaloniki and died in 1970.- See also :* Bouzouki* Rebetes* Rebetiko* Laiko* Greek nightclubs* Greek music...
, Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
, Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
, and Stavros Xarhakos
Stavros Xarhakos
Stavros Litras is a Greek composer and conductor.Stavros Xarchakos was born in Athens, where he studied at the Athens Conservatoire. He emerged in the Greek music scene around 1963, composing music for the theatre and cinema...
. He and Marinella
Marinella
Marinella is one of the most popular Greek singers whose career has spanned several decades. She has sung professionally since 1957. Since the beginning of her career, she has released 66 personal albums and has been featured in albums of other musicians.-Early life:She was born Kyriaki...
became a legendary duo.
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
Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis was a Greek songwriter and bouzouki player. He became one of the leading Greek composers of his time and is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Rebetika. Tsitsanis wrote more than 500 songs and is still remembered as an extraordinary bouzouki...
. It started in 1956 and resulted in Kazantzidis reinterpreting some of Tsitsanis old songs. Kazantzidis, thus, sung and popularized such rebetiko
Rebetiko
Rebetiko, plural rebetika, , occasionally transliterated as Rembetiko, is a term used today to designate originally disparate kinds of urban Greek folk music which have come to be grouped together since the so-called rebetika revival, which started in the 1960s and developed further from the early...
classics as "Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki", "Mpakse tsifliki" and "Ta Kavourakia". These songs, and many others, previously unknown to the wide public suddenly became cherished and sought-after.
Stelios Kazantzidis married Marinella
Marinella
Marinella is one of the most popular Greek singers whose career has spanned several decades. She has sung professionally since 1957. Since the beginning of her career, she has released 66 personal albums and has been featured in albums of other musicians.-Early life:She was born Kyriaki...
on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States.
In 1965 Kazantzidis, whilst at 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. In September 1966 he divorced Marinella
Marinella
Marinella is one of the most popular Greek singers whose career has spanned several decades. She has sung professionally since 1957. Since the beginning of her career, she has released 66 personal albums and has been featured in albums of other musicians.-Early life:She was born Kyriaki...
, and they recorded their last duets ("Mh Mou Lete Gia Authn", "Apopse Se Eho Stin Agalia Mou," "I Kardia Tis Manas") for Philips the following year. In 1968 Kazantzidis recorded "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes", written by newcomer Hristos Nikolopoulos; the song became an immediate success. 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
I zoi mou oli
"I zoi mou oli" is a well known song of Stelios Kazantzidis. The lyrics are written by Akis Panou who is also the composer of the song...
", and in 1974 he recorded "Stin Anatoli", composed by 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. "Ο Dromos Tis Epistrofis" (Ο Δρόμος της Επιστροφής) sold 200,000 copies and became a commercial success. He continued to release records occasionally for the rest of his life. Kazantidis, besides his work on folk music, also recorded four records with Pontic alongside Chrysanthos Theodoridis, the greatest Pontic singer, songwriter, and lyricist.
Foreign audiences
In IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, he was a musical icon. Many of his songs were translated into Hebrew and performed by the country's leading singers. Yaron Enosh, an Israel Radio broadcaster who often plays Greek music on his programs, described the singer's ability to combine joy with sorrow: "This is the task of music: to touch the entire range of feelings...Kazantzidis could do this; he played on all the strings." To the Greek Jews who immigrated to Israel, Kazantzidis was "the voice of the world they left behind, for good or for bad." According to the operator of Radio Agapi, a station that plays Greek music 24 hours a day, "Kazantzidis was the voice of the people, of the weary, the exploited, the betrayed. And the voice of the refugee and the emigre, too."
Kazantzidis also sang in Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
.
Death
Kazantzidis died of a brain tumor on September 14, 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 national funeral through the streets of Elefsina (26 km from Athens) which was broadcast live on Greek television. His music was also beloved by the Greek diaspora all over the world, capturing their feelings in the difficult post-war period.Film
Greek popular music had long been intertwined with Greek post-war cinema. In the 50s and 60s, almost every film contained portions of music performed on screen, often by Kazantzidis.- I kyria dimarhos (1960) - The mayoress
- Paixe, bouzouki mou glyko (1965) - Play, my sweet Bouzouki
- I timoria (1965) - The punishment
- Afiste me na ziso (1965) - Let me live
- Adistaktoi (1965) - The Ruthless
- Oi angeloi tis amartias (To limani) (1966) - Angels of sin
- Foukarades kai leftades (1966) - Poor men and rich men
- Eho dikaioma na s' agapo! (1966) - I have the right to love you
- O gerontokoros (1967) - The old single man
- I ora tis dikaiosynis (1967) - The hour of justice
- Adiki katara (1967) - Unjust Curse
- Ta psihoula tou kosmou (1968) - The breadcrumbs of the world
- Oi andres den lygizoun pote! (1968) - Men never expire
- O gigas tis Kypselis (1968) - The giant of Kypselis
- Kravges ston anemo (1976) - Shouts in the wind
One of his songs (Efige Efige) featured in the end scene of Season 2 of the hit HBO TV series The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
.
Albums
- 1961-63
- O Stelios Tragoudaei – 'Stelios is Singing (2001/2002)
- Iparho – I Exist
- Stelios Kazantzidis: Ta zeibekikaStelios Kazantzidis: Ta zeibekikaStelios Kazantidis: Ta zeibekika htas) is an album released in the late 1990s or the early 2000s and are made up of 18 greatest hits.-Track listing:#"Vradiazi" [Βραδιάζει - Getting Dark] - 3:28...
(2006/2007?)
Singles
Notable Stelios Kazantzidis songs include:- I zoi mou oliI zoi mou oli"I zoi mou oli" is a well known song of Stelios Kazantzidis. The lyrics are written by Akis Panou who is also the composer of the song...
– My entire life – 2:57 - Dio Portes Echi i ZoiDio Portes Echi i Zoi"Dio Portes Echi i Zoi" is a song made popular by Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis. The lyrics are by Eftichia Papagianopoulos and the music is by Kazantzidis himself. "Dio Portes Echi i Zoi" means "Life Has Two Doors".The song was released in 1959 on 7" 45rpm vinyl record...
– Life has two doors – 3:20 - To AgriolouloudoTo Agriolouloudo"To Agriolouloudo" is one of the most known songs of Stelios Kazantzidis'. The lyrics are written by Pythagoras and music is written by Christos Nikolopoulos...
– The wildflower – 2:50 - Allotines Mou Epoches – My former times - 2:43
- Anemona – 3:00
- De Tha KsanagapisoDe Tha Ksanagapiso"De Tha Ksanagapiso" is a song performed by Stelios Kazantzidis. The lyrics are written by Lefteris Papadopoulos and music is composed by Manos Loizos...
– I will never love again – 3:10 - As Eicha tin Ygeia Mou – If I had my health – 3:03
- An Einai i Agapi Egklima – If love is a crime – 2:26
- Ego me tin Axia Mou – Me with my worth – 3:15
- Eimai Ena Kormi Chameno – I'm a lost man – 3:33
- Exo Ap'Adiko – I have suffered injustice - 3:04
- Gyrizo Ap'ti Nychta – I return from the night – 2:58
- Tin Kalyva Ti Diki Mou – That hut of mine – 2:32
- I Kardia Mou As Opsetai – Take a look at my heart - 3:16
- Kathenas me ton Pono Tou – Each with his pain – 3:20
- Katastrofes kai Symfores – Catastrophes and misfortunes - 3:45
- Ki An Gello Einai Psema – And if I laugh, it's a lie – 3:24
- Me Xypnas Charamata – You wake me at dawn – 2:40
- Niotho mia Kourasi Vareia – I feel a deep weariness – 3:05
- Nomiza Pos Itan Filoi – I thought that they were friends – 3:15
- Otan Methaei o Anthropos – When A man gets drunk – 2:46
- Pare ta Chnaria MouPare ta Chnaria Mou"Pare ta Chnaria Mou" is a song performed by Stelios Kazantzidis. The lyrics are written by Kostas Virvos and music is composed by Thodoros Derveniotis . The English translation of the title is "Follow My Tracks".-External links:*...
– Take my footprints - 3:08 - I Stenochoria Mou – My concerns – 3:00
- Tha to Po Fanera – I'll say it openly – 3:24
- Sto Trapezi pou ta Pino – At the table where I drink – 2:37
- H Kypros einai Elliniki – Cyprus is Greek – 3:12
- Nea IoniaNea Ionia (song)"Nea Ionia" is a song performed by Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis. The lyrics are by Pythagoras and the music is by Christos Nikolopoulos.The song was released in 1992 on the album Vradiazei...
– Nea Ionia – 2:49