Πάμε στο τεκέ μου

I wonder how many people have heard a rebetiko recording by Stelios Keromytis and mistaken him for Markos Vamvakaris. I know I have.

Keromytis was in his mid-20s when he started playing professionally, after learning the bouzouki from his father and from playing with other musicians, including Vamvakaris, in Piraeus. Keromytis was hugely influenced by Vamvakaris, both in terms of his straight-forward compositions and his deep, rough voice.

He was active, on recordings and performing — often performing with Vasilis Tsitsanis —, well into the 1970s. Many of Keromytis’ recordings were duets with other singers, including Without Hope I Hurt (Double sorrow).