Yiannis Papaioannou (rebetika)

Yiannis Papaioannou (1914-1972)

Born in Kios, Asia Minor (Turk. "Gemlik"), in 1914, Yiannis Papaioannou came to Greece as a 9-year old refugee boy.

He is considered by many as the first song writer to have taken bouzouki music out the "tekke" (drug den) and into the respectability it still enjoys today. The multi-talented Papaioannou's music varies from old-style rebetika ("Pente Ellines ston Adi", "O boufetzis"), to oriental ("Cifteteli", "Karabiberim") and even island music (Kapetan Andrea Zeppo mp3).

Although primarily a song writer, Papaioannou was also an accomplished bouzouki player whose "Taksim" remains a unique instrumental masterpiece to this day. He died in a traffic accident near Elefsina in 1972.

Discography

I Ellada tou Yianni Papaioannou

Ta tragoudia tou

• I Ellada tou Yianni Papaioannou (Η Ελλάδα του Γιάννη Παπαϊωάννου)
• Yiannis Papaioannou: Ta Tragoudia tou (Γιάννης Παπαϊωάννου: Τα τραγούδια του)