13 Facts About Amalia Bakas

Amalia Bakas was heavily involved in the "Eighth Avenue scene" in New York City and in Greek communities around the United States.

Amalia Bakas's repertoire consisted of mostly traditional songs to which she added her own style and words.

Amalia Bakas wrote two songs, "Elenitsa Mou" after she was baptized and "Diamontoula Mou" for her daughter.

Amalia Bakas was born in Ioannina in the Janina Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire in a Romaniote Jewish community.

In 1912, when Amalia Bakas was 15 years old, she traveled to America on the Kaiser Franz Josef I ocean liner.

Amalia Bakas was detained at Ellis Island, lacking the necessary $50 fee until a phone call to a relative was made, who paid the fee for her.

Amalia Bakas worked in a factory as a seamstress and the couple had two daughters, Diamond and Ester Cleonike.

Amalia Bakas recorded with Marika Papagika, another popular Greek singer of the time.

Amalia Bakas was one of Papagika's only known friends and Papagika would babysit her daughter Diamond.

Amalia and Gus worked in the restaurant business with Bakas still performing at the cafe-amans on 8th Avenue in New York City.

Amalia Bakas performed with a variety of artists including Gus Gadines, John Pappas, John Dalas, Garbis Bakirgian, Theodore Kappas, Alexis Zervas, and Nicke Doneff.

Amalia Bakas moved to New Port Richey, Florida to be close to her daughter in 1974.

Amalia Bakas died in 1979 and her obituary did not even mention her career as a singer.