Bebis Stergiou Kouventa Me to Xaro 1960 Ta Varia

Κουβέντα με το Χάρο (Conversation with Charon) Written by the great Panagiotis Toundas and first recorded in 1935 by Kostas Roukounas, this recording was made in New York by Dimitris "Bebis" Stergiou in 1960 while he was performing there in the popular Greek night clubs on Eighth Avenue near 29th Street. The cut is from the first stereophonic Greek album ever recorded. The album was titled "Greek Town USA". There is an entire genre of Rebetika songs portraying a dialogue between a group of rembetes and Charon who in Greek tradition is the personification of death or the Grim Reaper in western society. Hashish was an integral part of the sub culture of rebetic life, and no doubt influenced the thoughts and songs of such imaginary dialogues. The lyrics of Stergiou's version were slightly modified from Tountas' original, probably due to the censorship in Greece during the era the album was released. Dimitris "Bebis" Stergiou was born in Piraeus in 1927. He was from an affluent family and received an education in Byzantine and Classical music. He fell under the spell of the bouzouki, and became obsessed with mastering it. He became good friends with the great Manolis Xiotis, and was influenced by his unusual dexterity and speed with the instrument. Stergiou worked in New York in the late 1950's. There were several Greek female singers he worked and teamed up with. These duos became known as "Bebi & Beba". Stergiou was considered by his peers to be among the greatest bouzouki ...