SPYROS PERISTERIS
Renaissance Man of Greek Music
Renaissance Man of Greek Music
Peristeris was born in Smyrna in 1900 and died in Athens in1966. He went to Italian night school in Constantinople and became famous as chief mandolinist in a prestigous Smyrna string ensemble. He was recording director at Odeon/Parlophone. As recording director, he arranged for the first recording of Markos Vamvakaris after the success of the bouzouki record "Minore Tou Deke" by the American Iaonnis Halkias. He played on many of the recording sessions he supervised, playing mandolin, bouzouki, guitar or piano.He worked with the all the legendary musicians from the 1930's; Roukounas, Vamvakaris, Stratos, Eskenazi, Abadzi, Dalgas, Skarvelis, Kasimates, Keromitis and more. He also recorded many songs under his own name or various pseudonyms. His bouzouki playing was nothing short of spectacular. Debate still rages on about the type of instrument he is heard playing on many of his recordings. Is it a bouzouki? A guitar? Some have suggested it is a 6 string bouzouki with single strings instead of pairs, thus making it a 3 string bouzouki. Perhaps we will never know, but what is clear is that his influence on early Rebetika music was profound.
___________________
SPYROS PERISTERIS DISCOGRAPHY
1st draft, any corrections or additions welcomed
Spyros Peristeris Performing with Famous Vocalists:
San Pethano
with Kostas Roukounas
O Psilos
with Rita Abadzi
Thalassino Meraki
with Stratos Pagioumitzis
Peismatariko
with Zacharias Kasimatis
Ouzo, Hashish
with Roza Eskenazi
Mes 'Tou Singrou Ti Fillaki
with Andonis Dalgas