Grigoris Asikis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grigoris Asikis
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| Background information | |
| Native name |
Γρηγόρης Ασίκης
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| Born | 1890 Istanbul, Constantinople Vilayet |
| Died | 7 October 1966 (aged 75–76) Athens |
| Genres | Rembetiko |
| Occupation(s) | Singer and songwriter |
| Instruments | Oud |
| Labels | Columbia |
| Associated acts | Kostas Skarvelis, Kostas Nouros, Roza Eskenazi |
Grigoris Asikis (Greek: Γρηγόρης Ασίκης) was a famous Greek singer and songwriter. He was born in Istanbul in 1890 and died in Athens in 1966. He was well-known for his urban Greek music, especially a style called Rembetiko. Grigoris wrote the words for most of his songs. He also played a special Greek instrument called the outi, which is similar to an oud.
Early Life and Family
Grigoris Asikis was the third child in his family. His father, Victor, was from Lesbos, and his mother, Marianthi, was from Istanbul. From a young age, Grigoris believed he had a great singing voice. When he was 15, he bought an outi and started playing music.
Grigoris and his wife, Eirene Sotiriadou, had two children named Thanasis and Victor. Later, the family moved to Athens, Greece. They settled in an area of Athens called Vyronas. In Athens, they had four more children: Anastasia, Nikolaos, Basiles, and Manolis.
Music Career
After moving to Athens, Grigoris Asikis first tried to continue his job making metal bed frames. However, this business did not work out for him. Instead, he often visited a club called "The Asia Minor." This club was a popular spot for laika music at the time. Other musicians there welcomed him warmly.
In the late 1920s, Grigoris began recording his music. He worked with big record companies like Columbia, Odeon, and Parlophone. Other musicians, like Kostas Skarvelis, also recorded music during this time.
Grigoris Asikis recorded a total of 82 of his own songs. In the 1930s, many famous singers performed his music. These artists included Kostas Nouros, Roza Eskenazi, Stellakis Perpiniadis, and Rita Abatzi. Other singers like Marika Politissa, Kostas Roukounas, and Georgia Mettake also sang his songs.
Later in the 1930s, Grigoris changed his musical style. He stopped writing songs for instruments like the outi, lyre, and violin. Instead, he started writing songs that featured the bouzouki. Some of these new songs were sung by his close friends and famous artists. These friends included Markos Vamvakaris, Yiannis Papaioannou, and Apostolos Chatzichristos.
