Γρηγόρης Μπιθικώτσης

Popular Greek laïkó singer, songwriter and instrumentalist (mainly bouzouki, secondly baglama, guitar) with a career spanning five decades. Born 11 December 1922 in Peristeri (an Athenian suburb), Greece - Died 7 April 2005 in Athens, Greece. He started his career in 1949 as a composer with the song Το Καντήλι Τρεμοσβήνει. His singing career started in 1955 with his own composition Βρε Πού Πάμε. His collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis (whom he met while Theodorakis was being sent into exile in Makronisos, and Bithikotsis was serving as a soldier) but also with Manos Hadjidakis "gave birth" to perhaps his best songs. With his interpretation of "387859" by Mikis Theodorakis and Yiannis Ritsos, he paved new paths in laïkó song, while his interpretation of "256750" by Elytis-Theodorakis was as important. He also performed songs by Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Yorgos Mitsakis, Yannis Papaioannou and Akis Panou. His collaborations with Stavros Xarchakos and Dimos Moutsis are also worth mentioning. He was honoured by the President of the Republic Konstantinos Stefanopoulos in January 2003 with the Golden Cross of the Order of the Phoenix for his contribution to the folk music, as well as the Gold Medal of the City of Athens. His first wife was Θεόκλεια Μπιθικώτση with whom they had two daughters, Anastassia & Άννα Μπιθικώτση. With his second wife, Metaxia, they had a son, Γρηγόρης Γρ. Μπιθικώτσης. Father-in-law of Κώστας Νικολόπουλος (4) (Anna's husband], and uncle of Γιάννης Μπιθικώτσης.