Giorgos Zampetas

Giorgos Zampetas
Γιώργος Ζαμπέτας

Giorgos Zampetas in 1964
Background information
Born 25 January 1925
Athens, Greece
Origin Kythnos, Greece
Died 10 March 1992 (aged 67)
Athens, Greece
Genres Rebetiko, Laiko
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, artist, composer
Instruments Bouzouki
Years active ~1950 – 1992

Giorgos Zampetas (Pronounced 'Zabetas', Greek: Γιώργος Ζαμπέτας, sometimes romanized as George Zambetas / George Zabetas / Giorgos Zabetas; 25 January 1925 in Athens – 10 March 1992 in Athens) was a well-known bouzouki musician. His origins are from the island of Kythnos.

Early years

Giorgos Zampetas, Greek music composer, singer and one of the greatest bouzouki artists of all time was born in Metaksourgio of Athens, on 25 January 1925. His parents were Mihalis Zampetas, a barber, and Marika Moraiti, niece of a well-known baritone of those years.

From a very young age, Zampetas showed a great interest in music: as he was helping his father in his barber shop, he secretly played his first melodies on a bouzouki. Anything that was producing sound seemed exciting to him and helped him in his compositions, as he said in his biography not long before he died. In 1932, as a seven-year-old first grader, he won his first prize, playing his first song in a school competition.

Career

He was one of the most recognized Greek musicians of all times, working in the Greek cinema of those years with stars such as Aliki Vouyouklaki, where members of his own family, such as his first cousin Anargyros worked together with Aliki to train her vocally. He appeared in many Greek film productions, and his compositions used in many, such as "Siko Horepse Sirtaki".

Death

When he died after a long illness, the people of Greece mourned deeply. . He left family behind in Athens, Kythnos, in Canada and in London. He had made one last appearance a few months before his death.

Songs

Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of Zampetas' songs; in brackets are the year of creation and the name of the lyricist:

Songs of Giorgos Zampetas that other artists have sung

Sources

External links

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