Stelios Vamvakaris was a Greek rebetiko & laïkó bouzouki virtuoso and composer. Born on 2 March 1947 in Nikea, Piraeus, Greece - Died on 17 June 2019 in Nikea, Piraeus, Greece.
He was one of the pioneer musicians who dealt with the common roots of American blues and bouzouki. Using different tunings of the three-string bouzouki, he composed songs with a strictly personal style that resembled a special mixture of Piraeus rebetiko and blues. A collaboration with Lousiana Red produced the album "437370" ("The Blues Meets The Rebetiko"), which contains 8 blues tracks with bouzouki and baglama.
He traveled to many countries of the world where he presented his songs as well as songs of his father, Μάρκος Βαμβακάρης. He has composed music for the cinema and plays.
His first wife was the Dutch singer & lyricist Marie Tol/Maria Vamvakari with whom they had three daughters, Corina Vamvakari, Gella Vamvakari & another one; they divorced. Due to his marriage to Marie, he became brother-in-law of Cees Tol & Thomas Tol and uncle-in-law of Kees Tol (Thomas' son). The second (and last) companion of his life was Εβελίνα Αγγέλου. He was older brother of Δομένικος Βαμβακάρης, nephew of Αργύρης Βαμβακάρης (his father's youngest brother) and cousin of Linardos Bambakaris (son of Argyris) and Γιάννης Παλαιολόγου (son of Roza, his father's youngest sister). Nephew of Αντώνης Βαμβακάρης (his father's cousin) as well.
Grécia· Piraeus