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How about a song about a barber? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Giorgos Batis wrote and recorded The Barberaki (the -aki suffix in Greek is a diminutive and often a form of affection) in 1935 with the Famous Quartet of Piraeus and it\u2019s typical of much of his work \u2014 melodically simple songs, usually played on baglama, about everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Batis was one of the older players in the classic period, a supporter of the younger musicians, and a bit of a hustler: he sold patent medicines, ran pawn shops, collected instruments and opened a music club where much of the early rebetiko was first played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Batis was born (as Yiorgos Tsoros) in the Peloponnese , but moved to Piraeus at a young age. After his stint in the army, he opened a number of businesses — including some small cafes where musicians gathered — before devoting himself to music in the 1930s. Batis linked up with Markos Vamvakaris, Anestis Delias and others and became instrumental in the Piraeus-style rebetiko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Primarily, he played baglama and sang in a rough voice. Reportedly, he was not much interested in recording: there are only 16 of his songs on record. When, after the imposition of censorship, the record companies suggested he re-record his old song with new, censor-approved lyrics, he turned then down. He actively played music through the 1950s and into the ’60s. When he died in 1967, he was buried with his baglama beside him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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