Stelios Kazantzidis was one of the most prominent Greek singers.
18 Facts About Stelios Kazantzidis
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Stelios Kazantzidis was the first of two brothers born to Haralambos Kazantzidis and Gesthimani Kazantzidis, who was a Greek who came from the town of Alanya in what is southern Turkey and migrated to Greece as a result of the Greco-Turkish War.
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Stelios Kazantzidis 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.
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Stelios Kazantzidis's life changed when the owner of a factory, which was located in the Perissos working district, gave him a guitar.
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Stelios Kazantzidis 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", written by Apostolos Kaldaras.
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Stelios Kazantzidis married Marinella on 7 May 1964 and they toured together in Germany and the United States.
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The album simply titled Stelios Kazantzidis, was a transitional album.
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In 1968, Stelios Kazantzidis recorded "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes", written by newcomer Hristos Nikolopoulos; the song became an immediate success.
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Suddenly Stelios Kazantzidis rocked the Greek music industry again, when he announced his decision to stop recording.
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Stelios Kazantzidis accused his label of "colonial-like" contracts and took a leave from recording.
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Stelios Kazantzidis continued to release records occasionally for the rest of his life.
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Stelios Kazantzidis could do this; he played on all the strings.
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Minos had Stelios Kazantzidis recordings issued in Israel, for the local market there.
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Stelios Kazantzidis died of a brain tumor on 14 September 2001.
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Stelios Kazantzidis's death was an emotional event for Greece, as attested to by the many obituaries in appreciation of his life and work.
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Stelios Kazantzidis was given a state funeral through the streets of Elefsina which was broadcast live on Greek television.
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Stelios Kazantzidis's music was beloved by the Greek diaspora all over the world, capturing their feelings in the difficult post-war period.
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Stelios Kazantzidis was commemorated on a Greek postage stamp in 2010.