Kazantzidis

STELIOS KAZANTZIDIS

By Xainti Vogiatzi

  • BIRTH

    Kazantzidis was born at 29 August 1931 in Nea Ionia, Athens, Greece.

  • CHILDHOOD

    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 to work in various jobs. His life changed when the owner of a factory, which was located in the Perissos working district, gave him a guitar.

  • ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    He made his first public appearance at a Kifissia night club in the early 1950s
  • FIRST STUDIO RECORING

    FIRST STUDIO RECORING

    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.
  • THE FIRST HIT WITH GIANNIS PAPAIOANNOU

    THE FIRST HIT WITH GIANNIS PAPAIOANNOU

    At 9 December 1952 the song, The suitcases, by Giannis Papaioannou becomes a great success and the Kazantzidis phenomenon begins.
  • COLLABORATION WITH VASILIS TSITSANIS

    COLLABORATION WITH VASILIS TSITSANIS

    At 31 Μαρτίου 1956 he collaborated with Vassilis Tsitsanis and sang the songs "Cloudy Sunday", "Bakse Tsifliki" and "Ta Kavourakia".
  • WEDDING

    WEDDING

    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.

  • STOP APPEARING IN NIGHTCLUBS

    In 1965, Kazantzidis, whilst at the peak of his career, decided to stop appearing in nightclubs.
  • STELIOS KAZANTZIDIS

    STELIOS KAZANTZIDIS

    In September 1966 he divorced Marinella, and they recorded their last duets ("Mh Mou Lete Gia Authn", "Apopse Se Eho Stin Agalia Mou" and "I Kardia Tis Manas") for Philips the following year.
  • RECORDED "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes"

    RECORDED "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes"

    In 1968, Kazantzidis recorded "Nyhterides Ki Arahnes", written by newcomer Hristos Nikolopoulos , and after this he sang "Sto Trapezi Pou Tha Pino", "Pare T' Ahnaria", "Tha Kopso to Telefono" and "Kai Oi Andres Klene"
  • ANTHEM OF AEK

    ANTHEM OF AEK

    In 1971, Kazantzidis and Christos Kolokotronis (music and lyrics respectively) created the anthem of AEK performed by Mimis Papaioannou: "Nikiste - Nikiste".
  • COLLABORATION WITH AKIS PANOU

    COLLABORATION WITH AKIS PANOU

    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"
  • RECORDED "IPARXO"

    RECORDED "IPARXO"

    In 1975 he recorded another one of his biggest hits, "Iparho", penned by Pythagoras.
  • BACK TO THE SONG

    BACK TO THE SONG

    In 1987 he recorded again for the first time after 12 years , the album " O dromos tis epistrofis".

  • DEATH

    Kazantzidis died of a brain tumor on 14 September 2001.