Yiannis Polykandriotis, the son of master of rebetiko Theodoros Polykandriotis and brother of composer Thanassis Polykandriotis has passed away at the age of 73.
The legendary bouzouki player and music teacher, cultured his skills next to his idols Tsitsanis and Zambetas.
Born in 1946, Yiannis began to play the bouzouki at the age of 10 and growing up he was featured in several films and on Greek television.
He performed in music halls, gave concerts and had regular gigs at some of Greece’s most prestigious night-clubs.
Yiannis also founded The Music School of Yiannis Polykandriotis in London where he relocated permanently in 1996, teaching not just bouzouki but baglama and tzoura ensuring that Greek diaspora culture stays alive through London’s vibrant Hellenic community.
One of his brightest moments was his performance at the 2012 London Olympics where he bemused the audience with songs the likes of ‘The children of Piraeus’, ‘Zorbas’, ‘Zeibekiko of Evdokia’ and others.
Watch a recent interview of Yiannis on London’s Hellenic TV below: