Legendary laika singer Kazantzidis dies after bout with cancer
Apo-tammuz
Athens, 15/09/2001 (ANA)
Stelios Kazantzidis, one of Greece's most loved 'laika' singers, died
Friday in hospital at the age of 70 after a months-long bout with cancer.
Kazantzidis, who was immensely popular in the country and with expatriate
Greeks and considered by many as the most prolific and stirring singer of
Greek popular music, or 'laika', had worked with many of Greece's most
renowned composers, and one of the first composers he ever worked with
described Kazandzidis' voice as "made for expressing anguish".
Kazantzidis was born on August 29, 1931, and at the tender age of 13 lost
his father, a resistance fighter who died from the
hardships and torture suffered during the Nazi occupation of Greece.
Kazantzidis' life as a young boy was full of hardships. He worked as a
baggage-carrier in Athens' central Omonia Square and at an inter-state bus
company, roast chestnuts at open markets (laiki agora), and was a laborer
at the New Ionia textile mills.
His military service was equally hard, as he spent a long term on
Makronissos island to his political convictions.
But his life changed when the owner of a factory in the Perissos working
district gave him a guitar, which he would spend hours playing, channeling
his hardships and feelings into music and songs and singing mostly about
the anguish of the hardworking factory workers and the Greeks who were
forced to emigrate abroad to seek a living, leaving behind their beloved
homeland which was trying to mend the wounds of war.
Kazantzidis made his first appearance in a night club, in Kifissia, in the
early 1950s, and two years later he made his first studio recording,
phonographing a song by renowned laika composer Apostolos Kaldaras, titled
'I'm going swimming, come along if you like".
This was quickly followed by his first commercial success, "The Suitcases"
by another popular composer, Yannis Papaioannou, and then a string of more
successes, all talking about love, anguish and the hardships of the working
class.
His career was marked by collaborations with most of the best-loved and
renowned composers of Greece, including Manolis Hiotis, Yorgos Mitsakis,
Vassilis Tsitsanis, Manos Loizos, Manos Hatzidakis, Miki Theodorakis and
Stavros Xarhakos.
In 1976, after the circulation of his hit album "Yparcho", Kazantzidis
stopped recording. He spent much of his time fishing, his favorite hobby,
in Aghios Konstantinos, Lokrida prefecture, where he spent most of the
months of the year, saying he felt freedom and tranquility fishing with his
friends, far away from the commercial circles of the music industry, which
he felt had betrayed him.
His health problems first emerged in early April, when he was hospitalized
at the Athens Medical Center with problems in his left lung. This was
followed by a trip to Germany a month later for treatment at a specialized
cancer hospital, where he stayed three weeks.
Kazantzidis was rushed again to the Athens Medical Center in early July,
where he died.
Condolences over death of legendary Greek singer Kazantzidis
Political leaders on Friday sent messages of condolences to the family of
Stelios Kazantzidis, one of Greece's most popular singers, who died earlier
in the day at the age of 70 from cancer.
Prime Minister Costas Simitis expressed his "deep grief" over his death and
said that "that our authentic popular culture lost one of its significant
representatives."
Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos said that "the voice of Stelios
Kazantzidis is in the soul of every Greek" and that he will be remembered
through his songs.
Main opposition New Democracy Party (ND) leader Costas Karamanlis said that
"Stelios Kazantzidis, with his unique talent and voice, sang with passion
and touched the soul and heart of every Greek."
Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary Aleka Papariga said that the
death of Kazantzidis "caused grief to the people who adored and loved him,"
and that his career lasted "half a century."
Coalition of the Left and Progress Party (Synaspismos) also bid "farewell"
to the legendary singer.
Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos said that through his songs, Kazantzidis
"knew how to speak to our people." He added that "through his unique voice,
he will always remain alive in our memory."
marios
Found these samples from Greek City:
http://www.greekcity.com/audi2/2137440153.ram
http://www.greekcity.com/audi2/2137440755.ram
http://www.greekcity.com/audi2/2137440755.ram
http://www.greekcity.com/audi1/1663.ram
"Apo-tammuz" <cyprus*and*hellen...@i.am-SPAM-TRAP> wrote