Actor
Manolis Hiotis
Born March 21, 1921 in Thessaloniki, Greece
Died March 20, 197015 films
Manolis Chiotis (Greek: Μανώλης Χιώτης; March 21, 1921 – March 21, 1970) was a Greek rebetiko and laiko composer, singer, and bouzouki player. He is considered one of the greatest bouzouki soloists of all time. He popularised the four-course bouzouki (tetrachordo) and introduced the guitar-like tuning, which he found better suited to the kind of virtuoso playing he was famous for.
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Chiotis had other successes. In the summer of 1961, he played for Aristotle Onassis and Maria Callas, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly. Journalist Dimitris Liberopoulos, Onassis’ biographer, writes in his book that when the two couples joined one of Chiotis’ shows in Athens, they asked to meet him in person to congratulate him.
Callas told Chiotis that she had been translating the lyrics of his songs to Princess Grace all night long and the American actress loved them because “she is a woman in love.” At that moment, Kelly asked Chiotis what the difference between a bouzouki and an electric guitar is.
Chiotis’ answer was rather unexpected; “Mrs. Callas, please explain to Princess Grace that the strings of an electric guitar vibrate due to electricity, while the strings of a bouzouki vibrate through the heart.
Filmography
15 films as actor- 1966Love that time does not fadeMusician
- 1964The Hustlersinger
- 1964The Orgies Villasinger
- 1964I stole my wifesinger
- 1963My friend, Lefterakissinger
- 1963Someone like It Cold...singer
- 1962Min eidate ton Panai?singer
- 1962Dimos from TrikalaSinger
- 1962The Wise GuySinger
- 1961Poor Bumssinger
- 1960Cruise to RhodesMusician
- 1959Laos and Kolonakisinger
- 1959Vacation in KolopetinitsaSinger
- 1959Long live the poor childrenSinger
- 1959A Fool And A HaterSinger