Entertainment News from Athens, Tributes to Greek Artists

Aris San was a Greek musician, singer and entrepreneur. He popularized Greek music in Israel in the late 1950's and 60's. Aris led a mysterious life as a non Jewish Greek singer who formed close ties with generals and politicians. He became a megastar, club owner and lover of many movie actresses. He is mostly remembered for the magic he could play with his guitar and his lucid vocal style. His life should be made into a movie, it has all the qualities for a hit musical, drama, thriller. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this eclectic musician who has even a music award named after him in Israel.

Vasilis Tsivilikas was a Greek comedy actor with significant appearances in the Greek film industry, television and especially theater. His first theatrical performance was in 1965 at Nea Ionia. Two years later Karolos Koun invited him to Theatro Technis. In the early 1970s he got involved with satire plays and in the mid-1970s with prose.  The 70's was also the decade he first appeared on the Big Screen. The first movie he appeared in was I theia mou, i hipissa by Alekos Sakellarios. Tzivilikas loved the energy exchange between audience and actor, while on stage. His acting career spanned over 50 successful years of which he only brought laughter and joy to his faithful followers. Listen to the podcast and find out more about this, unforgettable,  loved and successful artist: 

While the the World Cup is taking place in Qatar this year causing much criticism and controversy, I took the liberty and made this podcast to get us in the spirit of the game.  The tradition of football chants vary from country to country and team to team, in this episode we explore the creative side of the sport, the songs and stories behind the Greek soccer team chants.  Not being fanatical or biased towards a specific team, pure entertainment in mind as we journey into the stadiums chanting famous songs with different lyrics from the poets of the popular game. Credits to the Greek music band walkman the band – Walkman the band-WEDDING BAND   for re creating & singing beautifully many of the audio clips in this tribute. (2905) Walkman The Band - YouTube

In this episode of One Story, One Song we search for the truth behind a very popular Greek rebetiko song titled "Ta Nea tis Alexandras" (Alexandras News) it was recorded in 1961 by Vangelis Perpiniadis.  The real story remained unknown for more than 60 years but a facebook post by Argyro Moustakas Vretou after a spike in murders against women (Femicide) in Greece, tell a different story.   The real news of Alexandra was recorded & released based on her statement as a short film and the song sang by singer Semeli Papavasileiou and lyrics adjusted by lyricist Demitra Athanasopoulos. Listen to the podcast as we try and bring attention to the social crimes against women that are more relevant now than ever.  

Elias Kazan was a Greek American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter actor and author. He was described by the New York Times a one of the most honored and influential directors of Broadway and Hollywood history.  Born in Constantinople his family came to the USA in 1913.  Listen to the podcast and find out the extraordinary journey of the man that became known as the "actor's director" under his direction received 24 Academy Award nominations and received nine Oscars. Elias Kazan changed the history of Cinema: 

In this tribute we focus on the sounds, the musical gems the singers, the writers & composers of the most popular songs that became anthems during very turbulent and politically unstable times in Greece.  17 of November 1973 is a Day of Remembrance.  It commemorates a massive student protest that led to the end of the Greek Military Coup, also known as the Regime of the Colonels.  these songs were mostly censored or banned during the junta but went on to become historical and legendary hymns towards Freedom and Democracy. Listen to the podcast and find out more:

She was born Amalia Hatzaki in Heraklion, Crete in 1919, initially she was a javelin throwing athlete, later she studied law in Athens. However, she took exams and graduated with honors from the Drama School of the Royal Theatre. She played in many films on the Big Screen Cinema as well as on stage and on television, she is fondly remembered as the partner of famous Greek actor Vassilis Logothetidis. Listen to the podcast and learn more about this beautiful, cultured woman that has left her mark in the Greek movie scene.