Stelios Kazantzidis life Part III

After his conflict with his discographic company, Stelios Kazantzidis cooperated, in 1961, with the worldwide acknowledged, Greek composers Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis. It is well known that Xatzidakis won the Oscar award in 1961, for the soundtrack of the movie “Never on Sunday” (Pote tin Kiriaki), which was directed by Zil Dassen. The famous Greek actress Melina Merkouri starred in that movie.

The years between 1961 and 1965 were the most productive for Kazantzidis. Rich discography, participation in theatrical plays, appearances in the best nightclubs and the most famous Greek music halls, tours all over the world, characterize this period.

In 1965 Stelios Kazantzidis took an “insane” decision. He would never sing in public again, neither in nightclubs nor in concerts. He was sick of the night life in Greece, with the mafia and all the businessmen who threatened him. Due to his publicity, most of the nightclubs in Athens faced economical problems.

He stuck at his decision until his death in 2001. He denied huge amounts of money and tempting proposals. Apart from his opposition to the nightlife system, he did not consider himself to be a “sightseeing” for which people have to pay. As a result, he continued only recording albums. He felt obligated to do so, because poor people were the majority of his audience and he believed that they could afford that expense to listen his voice.

He once declared: “I sing for the poor, the immigrants and the suffering people… generally for the lower social classes. They can’t go to the expensive night clubs. They buy my discs and they regard them as their Gospels.”