Stratos Dionysiou facts for kids

Stratos Dionysiou (Greek: Στράτος Διονυσίου; November 8, 1935 – May 11, 1990) was a famous Greek singer, composer, and lyricist. People often called him "To Geraki tis Pistas," which means "The hawk of the stage." He was known for his powerful voice and emotional songs.

Early Life and Family

Stratos Dionysiou was born on November 8, 1935. His hometown was Nigrita, in the Serres region of Greece. His parents, Angelos and Stasa Dionysiou, were refugees. They had moved from Ayvali in Asia Minor.

In 1947, Stratos moved to Thessaloniki, a big city in Greece. A year later, his father passed away. In 1955, he married his childhood sweetheart, Georgia Laveni. They had four children together: Angelos, Tasoula, Stelios, and Diamantis. Stratos was also a big fan of the PAOK sports team.

Stratos Dionysiou's Singing Journey

Starting His Music Career

Stratos Dionysiou began his singing journey by performing for free. He sang in nightclubs in Thessaloniki. Before becoming a professional singer, he worked as a peddler and a tailor. His first professional performance was at a nightclub called "Farida."

From his very first shows in the 1950s, other artists noticed Stratos. They encouraged him to move to Athens. They believed he could work with more famous musicians there.

Moving to Athens and First Hits

Stratos left Thessaloniki to grow his singing career in Athens. He performed at the "Asteras" nightclub. There, he sang with the well-known singer Kaity Grey. In 1958, he recorded his first song. It was called "Parages kai PalatIa" (Shacks and Palaces).

A year later, he recorded "Ego den eimai enoxos" (I am not Guilty). This song became very popular. Many people connected its lyrics to a famous legal case at the time. Stratos signed with the "Columbia" record company. He sang songs by many famous writers. He also re-recorded older Greek songs. These were from the rebetiko music style.

Becoming a Star

Stratos Dionysiou became very famous in the late 1960s. He turned many songs by Akis Panou into big hits. Some of these popular songs include "Και τι δεν κάνω" (What don't I do) and "Στο σταθμό του Μονάχου" (At Munich Station). He even sang Greek versions of Indian songs. One example is "Kardia mou kaimeni" (My poor heart).

In 1969, a famous composer named Mimis Plessas heard Stratos sing. Two months later, Plessas wrote a legendary song for him. It was called "Vrehi fotia stin strata mou" (Fire is raining down my path). This song was featured in a 1970 movie. Stratos then released other successful songs. He also toured the United States, where he was very popular. In the early 1970s, he worked with other great singers. These included Haris Alexiou and Lizeta Nikolaou.

Facing Challenges and a Big Comeback

In 1973, Stratos Dionysiou faced legal trouble. He was held for a period of time. He said it was a setup by others in the music business. He was later released from prison in 1976. During this difficult time, his friend and fellow singer Tolis Voskopoulos supported him. While he was in prison, Stratos even recorded an album called "Pali Mazi mas."

After his release, it was hard for Stratos to get back into music. Many companies and club owners did not want to work with him. But Stratos did not give up. He kept trying and eventually signed with the Minos company. The company director, Makis Matsas, was unsure at first. Stratos's past legal issues made things difficult. Also, another big singer, Stelios Kazantzidis, was with Minos. Matsas worried about having two huge stars in one place.

Stratos pushed for the chance. They agreed to a contract with tough rules. If his first album did not sell more than 30,000 copies, their partnership would end. The album was called "Ypokrinese" (You are pretending). It sold over 100,000 copies in just a few months! Stratos's hard work paid off. His big "comeback" was a huge success. Many more hit songs followed. These included "I packed up the things" and "You took everything and left."

Success in the 1980s

In the 1980s, Stratos Dionysiou broke all sales records. He created many huge hits. These songs are still popular today. They are played on the radio as if they were new. Songs like "You took it all," "Listen, my friend," and "The people want a song" became classics. In 1987, he opened his own nightclub in Athens. It was simply called "Stratos."

Personal Life

Stratos Dionysiou married Georgia Laveni in 1955. They had four children: Angelos, Stelios, Diamantis, and Tasoula. Three of his children, Angelos, Diamantis, and Stelios, also became singers. Sadly, his daughter Tasoula passed away in 2012 at age 53.

Stratos also had a relationship with singer Marina Vlaxaki. She was his backing vocalist from 1980 to 1989.

His Views on the World

Stratos Dionysiou described himself as a "New Democrat." However, he believed that all political parties ended up with similar problems. He was critical of how much influence America had in Greece. He once said that he felt Greece was being told what to do by "the big bosses, the Americans." He wished for Greece to be more independent.

His Passing

Stratos Dionysiou passed away in Athens on May 11, 1990. He was 55 years old. The cause was a serious health issue called an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

His funeral was held at the First Cemetery of Athens. Hundreds of people attended, including many other singers and actors. Just hours before he died, he was singing at his nightclub, "Stratos." That same afternoon, he had recorded nine songs for his next album. This album, "Poios allos" (Who Else), was released a month after his death. It became a best-seller. The last song he recorded that day was "Don't leave me alone."

His Lasting Impact

Stratos Dionysiou's funeral was a huge event. People pushed to get close to his body. Some even climbed on nearby graves to see, showing how much they loved him. Many people were crying. Giorgos Polychroniadis, who sang with Stratos, said he was amazed by how many ordinary people loved him. People said goodbye to their favorite singer by singing his songs.

Stratos Dionysiou's death left a big empty space in Greek music. But his songs live on. They are still heard today and continue to be loved by many. After his death, singer Notis Sfakianakis released a song called "o Stratos" in his honor.

Discography

Posthumous Albums