About

Known credits:
14
Birthday:
1921-03-21
Place of birth:
Thessaloniki, Greece
Website:
N/A

Manolis Hiotis

Overview

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.

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.

Known for

Acting

1964 Ο Καταφερτζής Actor singer 59
Average
1964 The Orgies Villa Actor singer 59
Average
1964 Έκλεψα τη Γυναίκα μου Actor singer 58
Average
1963 My friend, Lefterakis Actor singer 59
Average
1963 Someone like It Cold... Actor singer 59
Average
1962 Min eidate ton Panai? Actor singer 59
Average
1962 The Wise Guy Actor Singer 59
Average
1961 Φτωχαδάκια και Λεφτάδες Actor singer 59
Average
1959 Laos and Kolonaki Actor singer 58
Average
1959 Να ζήσουν τα φτωχόπαιδα Actor Singer N/A
N/A

Sound

1965 Πράκτορες 005 Εναντίον Χρυσοπόδαρου Sound Music 58
Average
1963 Jack of All Trades, Master of None Sound Music 59
Average
1959 Laos and Kolonaki Sound Music 58
Average
1959 A Fool And A Hater Sound Songs 58
Average