Grigoris Bithikotsis

Birthday: 1922-12-11
Deathday: 2005-04-07
Birthplace: Peristeri, Athens Prefecture, Greece
Gender: Male
Owned By: Unowned

Grigoris Bithikotsis (Greek Γρηγόρης Μπιθικώτσης, December 11, 1922 – April 7, 2005) was a Greek folk singer/songwriter with a career spanning five decades. He is considered one of the most important figures in Greek popular music.

Bithikotsis was born in Peristeri, Athens, in 1922 to a poor family. He became interested in music at an early age, and acquired a bouzouki as soon as he was able. At first, he had to hide the instrument at a friend's house and practice in secret, as his father disapproved of the new rembetiko style that had captured his son's interest.

He met composer Mikis Theodorakis in 1959 and the two collaborated producing folk songs. Bithikotsis composed over 80 songs, including: Stu Belami to ouzeri and Tou Votanikou o magas. He possessed a rich singing voice with which he performed his own compositions and those of Theodorakis, who frequently chose his friend Grigoris to perform his masterpieces. The two contributed greatly to the then-emerging laika style of Greek music. A leftist, he was exiled to the island of Makronisos in the 1950s during the reign of King Paul.

Throughout his life, Bithikotsis performed frequent concerts at numerous venues, including one in Athens upon the occasion of his eightieth birthday. He died in Athens, in 2005, following three months of hospitalization. His funeral was attended by thousands, including representatives of all the Greek political parties.

Credits

Year Title Character
2023-09-30 Folk Bards - Moments of their lives and ours Grigoris Bithikotsis
1974-01-01 The False Singer
1970-01-01 Grooms Wanted with Dowry singer
1969-01-01 Official sweetheart singer
1967-01-01 Sometimes even the strong cry Singer
1966-01-01 The Devastated singer
1966-01-01 The man who returned from pain singer
1965-03-08 Modern Cinderella singer
1965-01-01 Angels Without Wings Singer
1965-01-01 The Stupid Face Singer
1965-01-01 Atonement singer
1965-01-01 Play my sweety bouzouki singer
1964-09-10 Tired life Singer
1964-02-01 I leave with Bitterness in Foreign Countries singer
1964-01-30 It is a great pity singer
1964-01-01 The Dressmaker
1964-01-01 I stole my wife singer
1964-01-01 Those who forgot God Singer
1963-12-02 The Red Lanterns singer
1963-01-01 We without money singer
1962-10-21 The steps of life Singer
1962-01-01 Athens by Night
1961-10-15 Synoikia to Oneiro singer
1961-09-05 The Harbor Bum singer
1961-04-17 Liar Wanted singer
1961-01-01 Οι χαραμοφάηδες singer
1960-03-21 Το Κλωτσοσκούφι singer
1955-01-01 Rolled in the mud singer