Μάρκος Βαμβακάρης

Márkos Vamvakáris was a Greek composer, lyricist and bouzouki player, one of the forefathers of rebétiko. Born 10 May 1905 in Skalí settlement of Áno Khóra, Sýros island, Greece - Died 8 February 1972 in Níkaea, Piraeus, Greece.
He is universally referred to by rebetiko writers and fans simply by his first name, Markos. The great significance of Markos Vamvakaris for the rebetiko is also reflected by his nickname: the "Patriarch of the Rebetiko". When he sang, his voice was hoarse (for this reason they called him Κοντραμπάσος (Kontrabássos = Double Bass)).
His family belonged to the sizeable Roman Catholic community of the island (for this reason he later acquired the nickname Φράγκος (Frágos = Franc)). He learned bouzouki, becoming an innovative virtuoso player, and began to write songs of his own. At first he often played in clandestine hashish-smoking establishments known as 'tekés'. Σπύρος Περιστέρης persuaded him to record his songs sung with his own voice. His first release was "" in 1933. It was recorded by German engineers, invited to Greece for this purpose by Μίνως Μάτσας, in a makeshift studio. (Markos Vamvakaris had already recorded four songs for Columbia, but the company, Αφοί Λαμπρόπουλοι, was hesitant to release his recordings). It was the first bouzouki record released in Greece. In 1934, he, Γιώργος Μπάτης, Στράτος Παγιουμτζής & Ανέστης Δελιάς, with the contribution of Spýros Peristéris, established the first official and legal professional company with bouzouki & baglama in Greece, Τετράς η Ξακουστή του Πειραιώς (Tetrás i Xakoustí toú Piraeós = Famous Quartet of Piraeus), and played in more legitimate clubs and taverns. His post-war recordings were done by German recording engineers at a hotel parlor nearby the Omónoia square in Athens, Greece but rebetiko was no longer fashionable.
His composing style was utterly simple: minimal orchestration, melodic lines stripped of any embellishment, and lyrics as devoid of ornamentation as possible.
As the years pass, his towering contribution to Greek music emerges. All other Greek composers, of his time and afterwards, revere him as their master teacher, and Mikis Theodorakis remarked: "We all, we are but branches of a tree. Markos is that tree".
Father of Στέλιος Βαμβακάρης and Δομένικος Βαμβακάρης (with his second wife). Eldest brother of Αργύρης Βαμβακάρης and uncle of his son, Linardos Bambakaris. Uncle of Γιάννης Παλαιολόγου (son of his youngest sister Roza) as well. Cousin of Αντώνης Βαμβακάρης.