Manolis Chiotis was one of the most important popular composers and virtuosos of the bouzouki in Greece, an artist who managed to transform the popular song and bring it to a wider audience, not only in Greece but also internationally. His talent, his technique and his innovative ideas changed the sound of folk singing and laid the foundations for the modern Greek music scene.

From Thessaloniki to the top of Greek music

He was born in Thessaloniki on 21 March 1921 and from an early age he showed his inclination towards music. His family moved to Athens, where Chiotis began working professionally as a musician from his teens. He quickly became known for his virtuosity on the bouzouki and for his particular style.

In 1938 he recorded his first album, while the 1950s marked the launch of his career. Chiotis is considered the man who established the four-string bouzouki, giving the instrument new possibilities and a rich sonic range. This innovation allowed him to develop a more complex and melodic style, influenced by Western music and jazz. There were many who initially reacted to this change, considering it a betrayal of tradition, but time has vindicated Chiotis, since the four-string bouzouki dominated the Greek discography for decades.

His love and artistic partnership with Mary Linda

Manolis Chiotis was not only a great musician, but also a personality full of passion. His acquaintance and marriage with Mary Linda created one of the most iconic musical twins in Greek music. Together they recorded dozens of songs that became classics and filled the music scenes with their unparalleled fun and energy.

With songs like “You are the reason I suffer”, “I’m going to get going” and “Let’s go to sleep Katerina”, Chiotis made history. Linda’s voice combined with Chiotis’ bouzouki became a trademark of the era. It is said that the two of them communicated on stage only with looks and that they could improvise without having planned anything, giving the audience unique performances every time.

His international recognition and performances abroad

In 1960, Chiotis and Linda performed in front of the then Vice President of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, to impressive reviews. He had said that “the bouzouki is an instrument that can stand on any music stage in the world”.

Chiotis’ music reached Los Angeles and Las Vegas, where he gave performances in big nightclubs and even made many foreign artists interested in Greek folk singing and bouzouki. It is said that Frank Sinatra himself attended one of Chiotis’ performances in Las Vegas and personally congratulated him, impressed by his speed and technique on the bouzouki.

Lesser known aspects and interesting facts

One of the lesser known facts about Chiotis is that he had a great fondness for technology and new media. He was one of the first musicians in Greece to use an amplifier for his bouzouki so that it could be heard clearly even in large venues. He also liked to experiment with different sounds and tunings, making his playing even more impressive.

Another typical incident concerns an evening at the historic “Zoom” centre, where Chiotis, seeing a young spectator holding a guitar timidly, invited him on stage and asked him to play with him. The young man was none other than the later great guitarist Noti Mavroudis, who remembered that moment as a “baptismal font” in his professional career.

The legacy of Manolis Chiotis

Manolis Chiotis died prematurely on 21 March 1970, on the day of his birthday, at the age of 49. Nevertheless, he left behind a huge musical legacy. His innovations in bouzouki and his compositional genius have influenced and continue to influence generations of musicians in Greece and abroad.

His name remains synonymous with virtuosity and inspiration, and every time the sound of the bouzouki is heard, the echo of Manolis Chiotis comes alive again. Today, musicians around the world continue to study his work, and his recordings remain classic, beloved and unchanged by time.

Discography
Yes, my eyes (1955)
I want to tell my pain (1955)
You’re gone and you’re leaving me (1956)
Good time, my boat (1957)
Forgive me, mother (1957)
You are not human (1957)
I read that you’re getting married (1957)
Kill me (1957)
Sharply (1959)
Tonight kiss me (1959)
Take my tear (1959)
You’re the reason I suffer (1959)
The little petals (the sushi) (1961)
Oriental solo (1962)
Sylvana (1962)
Hiotis Sorrow (1962)
My Thessaloniki (1962)
My Brunette Gypsy (1963)
Get up my girl (1964)
I write to you, mother from America (1965)
As if you don’t love me first (1965)
Honeymoon (1965)
Open the skies tonight (1965)
My great love (1965)