Γρηγόρης Μπιθικώτσης

Popular Greek folk singer, songwriter and bouzouki player of the laiko style with a career spanning five decades. Born 11 December 1922 in Peristeri (an Athenian suburb), Greece - Died 7 April 2005 in Athens, Greece. He started his career in 1949 as a composer with the song Το Καντήλι Τρεμοσβήνει. His collaboration with Mikis Theodorakis (whom he met while Theodorakis was being sent into exile in Makronisos, and Bithikotsis was serving as a soldier) but also with Manos Hadjidakis "gave birth" to perhaps his best songs. With his interpretation of "" by Mikis Theodorakis and Yiannis Ritsos, he paved new paths in folk song, while his interpretation of "Το Άξιον Εστί" by Elytis - Theodorakis was important. He also performed songs by Markos Vamvakaris, Vassilis Tsitsanis, Yiorgos Mitsakis, Yiannis Papaioannou and Akis Panou. His collaborations with Stavros Xarchakos and Dimos Moutsis are also worth mentioning. He was honoured by the President of the Republic Konstantinos Stefanopoulos in January 2003 with the Golden Cross of the Order of the Phoenix for his contribution to the folk music, as well as the Gold Medal of the City of Athens. Father of Γρηγόρης Γρ. Μπιθικώτσης & Άννα Μπιθικώτση and father-in-law of Κώστας Νικολόπουλος (4).