O Megalos Manolis

Manolis Angelopoulos was a Greek Roma (Gypsy) singer of Laiko music.

Angelopoulos was born in Agios Athanasios, Drama prefecture on April 8, 1939. Having been discovered quite by accident (singing while he was working), he first recorded a song in 1957. He gained popularity during the 1960s singing about Asia Minor refugees, unrequited love, exotic places and his own love affair with Annoula Vasiliou, who became his wife.

From his childhood Manolis travelled the length of Greece with the family caravan selling a variety of goods from carpets to watermelons. The caravan trucks had a microphone and he began to sell these items through the use of his singing voice over the loadspeakers. His talent was noticed very early on and he fortunately recorded his first song in 1957.

He gained popularity during the 1960s singing about love but also topics like Greek refugees and exotic places. He also brought a mix of Greek-Gypsy-Arabian influences into the Greek music scene.

His song "Ta mavra matia sou", is considered an anthem of the Greek gypsies and one of the most favorite songs in Greece in respect of the Chifteteli.

Angelopoulos toured the USA during the 1970s with great success. He died on April 2, 1989 in London.

*wikipedia* and phantis