Manolis Chiotis
| Manolis Chiotis | |
|---|---|
Manolis Chiotis
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Emmanuil Hiotis |
| Born |
March 21, 1920 Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia, Greece |
| Died | March 21, 1970 (aged 50) Athens, Greece |
| Genres | Laiko, Elafrolaiko |
| Occupation(s) | Bouzoukist, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Producer |
| Instruments | Four-course Bouzouki, Guitar, Vocals |
| Years active | 1935-1970 |
Manolis Chiotis (Greek: Μανώλης Χιώτης; March 21, 1920, Thessaloniki – March 21, 1970, Athens) was a Greek rebetiko and laiko composer, singer, and bouzouki player. He is considered one of the greatest bouzouki soloists of all time. He popularised the four-course bouzouki (tetrachordo) and introduced the guitar-like tuning, who found it better suited to the kind of virtuoso playing he was famous for.
The late Jimi Hendrix has often been named the world’s greatest guitarist, an elite acknowledgment given the stiff competition. But when asked by American reporters who his choice was, he surprised them by saying, “You believe I’m the best because you have not listened to Greek Manolis Chiotis playing his bouzouki.”
Hendrix first met Chiotis and his partner, singer Mary Linda, while they were on tour around the United States back in the 1960s. Having attended one of Chiotis’ shows, Hendrix admitted he admired him and that he discussed with Chiotis about his playing technique.
Hendrix was Chiotis’ biggest backer even before then-U.S. President Lyndon Johnson invited Chiotis and Mary Linda to the White House to play on his birthday and offered them a Green Card for immigrants so they could stay in America as long as they wanted.
Chiotis had other successes. In the summer of 1961, he played for Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly. Journalist Dimitris Liberopoulos, Onassis’ biographer, writes in his book that when the two couples joined one of Chiotis’ shows in Athens, they asked to meet him in person to congratulate him.
Callas told Chiotis that she had been translating the lyrics of his songs to Princess Grace all night long and the American actress loved them because “she is a woman in love.” At that moment, Kelly asked Chiotis what the difference between a bouzouki and an electric guitar is.
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Wikipedia