Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης

Stélios Kazantzídis was a Greek laïkó singer. Born 29 August 1931 in Néa Ionía, Athens, Greece - Died 14 September 2001 in Athens, Greece. He is considered one of the most popular and influential Greek laïkó singers (at an era the Rebétiko was fading and giving its place to laïkó), and well known for capturing poor people's feelings in the difficult post-war period in Greece; he also sang in his unique way songs about love, abandonment, separation, pain and more. His parents originated from Pontos, Asia Minor. His father was killed for supporting the resistance (during the civil war), when Stélios was 14 years old. In 1952, he recorded his first song at Columbia, Athens titled: "Για μπάνιο πάω κι αν θέλεις έλα" that didn’t do very well. His first success was: "Οι βαλίτσες (Δεν θέλω το κακό σου)". Until 1959, he recorded around 300 songs on 78rpm shellacs. In 1959, from the release "Μαντουμπάλα", the record company, Αφοί Λαμπρόπουλοι, earned 3.000.000 drachmas and gave the artist only 800 drachmas! This was his first fight with the labels and the start for the labels to give % to the artists in Greece. He also changed the general way that artists were approached by businessmen from a concert to a record deal. These reasons forced him to create his own record company and pressing plant, with equipment ordered from Italy, which was installed by Italian engineers in Kiáto, Corinthia: Standard (7). He was fought not to achieve this, rejected 3 times in order to receive his licence. The pressing plant costs were ultimately borne by Μίνως Μάτσας & Υιός Α.Ε., that also purchased the label on 28 November 1968. After a few years, they sold the pressing plant's machinery to Cyprus. He lived a humble life away from TV and press. He even stopped performing live because, as he said, people couldn't afford the high prices that the night clubs were asking them since 1965. 1957-1965 he made a successful duet and a couple with Μαρινέλλα. His funeral was broadcast live on Greek national television. Older brother of Στάθης Καζαντζίδης. In 1982, he married his last wife, Βάσω Καζαντζίδη.