Μάρκος Βαμβακάρης

Μάρκος Βαμβακάρης

Markos Vamvakaris was a Greek composer, lyricist and bouzouki player, one of the forefathers of rebetiko. Born 10 May 1905 in Skali settlement of Ano Khora, Syros island, Greece - Died 8 February 1972 in Nikaea, Piraeus, Greece.

He is universally referred to by rebetiko writers and fans simply by his first name, Márkos. The great significance of Vamvakaris for the rebetiko is also reflected by his nickname: the "Patriarch of the Rebetiko". When he sang, his voice was hoarse (for this reason they called him Κοντραμπάσος (Kontrabassos = Double Bass)).
His family belonged to the sizeable Roman Catholic community of the island (for this reason he later acquired the nickname Φράγκος (Fragos = Franc)). He learned bouzouki, becoming an innovative virtuoso player, and began to write songs of his own. At first he often played in clandestine hashish-smoking establishments known as 'tekés'. [a=Σπύρος Περιστέρης (2)] persuaded him to record his songs sung with his own voice. He recorded his first rebetiko disc, "Καραντουζένι / Αράπ Ζεϊμπέκικο", in 1933. It was the first bouzouki record released in Greece. In 1934, he, Γιώργος Μπάτης, Στράτος Παγιουμτζής & Ανέστης Δελιάς, with the contribution of Spyros Peristeris, established the first official and legal professional company with bouzouki & baglama in Greece, Τετράς η Ξακουστή του Πειραιώς (Tetras i Xakousti tou Piraeos = Famous Quartet of Piraeus), and played in more legitimate clubs and taverns. His post-war recordings were done by German recording engineers at a hotel parlor nearby the Omonoia square in Athens, Greece but Rebetiko was no longer fashionable.
His composing style was utterly simple: minimal orchestration, melodic lines stripped of any embellishment, and lyrics as devoid of ornamentation as possible.
As the years pass, his towering contribution to Greek music emerges. All other Greek composers, of his time and afterwards, revere him as their master teacher, and Mikis Theodorakis remarked: "We all, we are but branches of a tree. Markos is that tree".
Father of Στέλιος Βαμβακάρης and Δομένικος Βαμβακάρης (with his second wife). Eldest brother of Αργύρης Βαμβακάρης and uncle of his son, Linardos Bambakaris. Uncle of Γιάννης Παλαιολόγου (son of his youngest sister Roza) as well. Cousin of Αντώνης Βαμβακάρης.