Manolis Chiotis

Manolis Chiotis (Greek: Μανώλης Χιώτης) was a famous Greek music legend,bouzouki virtuoso and innovator.He was born on March 21 in 1920 (some say in 1921) in Thessaloniki and died on 1970, allegedly on his very birthday.At an early age he learned and mastered the guitar and the bouzouki. In 1936, he made his first appearance in Athens, alongside rebetiko singer Stratos Payoumtzis, who took him under his wing. Success soon followed for the young singer who became the first to master the 4-chord bouzouki. He was also the first Greek to perform with an electric guitar which he purchased from a French group on tour.During his lifetime, Chiotis married three times, all three marriages to singers:* Zoe Nachi * Mary Linda * Beba KyriakidouHis second marriage created perhaps the best duo in Greek music history. Together with Mary Linda, Manolis Chiotis created the refined "Archontorebetiko" (posh rebetiko) style that was accepted into high-class homes where the old-style rebetiko was not, as it was deemed low-class. Larger venues such as ballrooms were needed to accommodate the growing audience. To suit changing tastes and venue conditions, Manolis Chiotis modified the bouzouki, adding a fourth string and utilising electric amplification, thus ending 5,000 years of tradition (resented to this day by purists).He has composed many great songs that have become timeless, to name a few: "O Pasatémpos" (Ο Πασατέμπος), "Apópse Fíla me" (Απόψε Φίλα με), "Miázis san Thálassa" (Μοιάζεις σαν Θάλασσα), "Pollés Forés" (Πολλές Φορές). In his compositions the bouzouki has a dominant role and Chiotis is known to have been an incredible virtuoso of this characteristic Greek instrument. In 1953 and in order to make it quicker to play, he has put an extra pair of strings and thus gave birth to the modern, tetrachordo bouzouki. He was the fastest bouzouki player to live.He got married three times. His most well known marriage was with Mary Linda (Μαίρη Λίντα) who has sung many of his compositions.Till these days Manolis Chiotis is a great influence to musicians all over the world.Many surf artists and bands speak highly of him and recognize him as musical genious!I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)