Yiannis Papaioannou (rebetika)

Yiannis Papaioannou (1914-1972)

I Ellada tou Yianni Papaioannou

Ta tragoudia tou

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

He is considered by many as the first song writer to have taken bouzouki music out of the "tekke" (drug den), making it more acceptable to the non-hashish smoking stratum of Greek society.

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 on August 3, 1972.

Discography

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