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- Singer Stratos Pagioumtzis (Στράτος Παγιουμτζής), 1904
- Songwriter Apostolos Kaldaras (Απόστολος Καλδάρας), 1922
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Stratos Payoumtzis (Στράτος Παγιουμτζής) was a Greek Laiko and Rebetiko Singer.
He was born at Aivali in 1904. Before the Asia Minor Disaster, he migrated to Piraeus. He was poor and had to work hard from an early age to secure his living. However, his dream was to sing. He was introduced to Markos Vamvakaris, to Delias and to Batis and started performing together under the name ``Tetras of Piraeus" (``The Quartet of Piraeus"). They were extremely successful, especially Payoumtzis. But he was overshadowed by Markos in recordings. However, slowly, Stratos' recording career took off with the hits ``I Sfougarades" and ``Mages Karavotsakismenoi", while in 1936 he performed ``Mages piaste ta vouna", ``Ton andra sou ki emena" etc. While singing, he used to salute those present around him as well as himself ``Yia sou kai sena re Strato me to tzoura sou". He became famous and legendary and he started been referred to only by his first name ``Stratos" even on his recording labels. He collaborated with Vagelis Papazoglou and other Asia Minor composers. In 1938 he sang songs by Manolis Chiotis and by Bayanteras and caused a sensation. Vasilis Tsitsanis became a collaborator.
During the Nazi occupation, Stratos started from scratch. He collaborated with the best known composers of the laiko and continued recording. But the fashion had turned towards Archontorebetiko, the upper middle class version of the genre, and Stratos was sidelined, up until the 60's when Zampetas reintroduced him to the laiko audience. He then rerecorded some of his pre-war hits.
He started traveling in 1971, after obtaining a passport, denied up until that time because of an arrest in 1937 in possession of cannabis. He visited the diaspora in the United States and toured in many cities. He died on November 16, 1971, at 67, while performing in the States. The Greek - American community covered the expenses for the repatriation of his remains and Yorgos Zampetas covered the expenses of his funeral at home.
Apostolos Kaldaras (Απόστολος Καλδάρας) was one of the most remarkable composers of the rebetiko.
He was born in Trikala, in Thessaly, on April 7, 1922. He finished school and started playing the Bouzouki. During the Nazi occupation, he started playing professionally. After liberation, he started recording in 1946. His fame was established when he recorded ``Nihtose horis feggari" (``Moonless Evening"). He collaborated with many of the Greats of the genre, including Vagelis Perpiniadis, Stratos Dionysiou, Mihalis Menidiatis, etc.
He died on April 8, 1990.