Στέλιος Καζαντζίδης

(1931 - 2001) Greek singer born in Nea Ionia, Athens on 29th August, 1931, his parents were originated from Pontos, Asia Minor. He is considered to be one of the most popular and influential Greek laiko singers (at and era the Rembetiko was fading and giving its place to laiko), and well known for capturing poor people's feelings in the difficult post-war period in Hellas, he also sang in his unique way songs about love, abandonment, separation, pain and more. His father was killed for supporting the resistance (during the civil war), Στελιος lost his at the age of 14 and also chased in his life for he leftish beliefs. 1952 he recorded his first song at Columbia, Athens titled: “Για μπάνιο πάω κι αν θέλεις έλα” that didn’t go very well, first success was: “Οι βαλίτσες (Δεν θέλω το κακό σου)” until 1959 he recorded around 300 songs on 78rpm shellacs. 1959 from the release “Μαντουμπάλα” Αφοί Λαμπρόπουλοι earned 3.000.000 drachmas and gave the artist 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: Standard (7) he was fought not to achieve this, rejected 3 times in order to receive his licence. Also, he lived a humble life away from the TV the press, plain, 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. Died on the 14th of September, 2001, his funeral was broadcast live on Greek national television.