He was born on March 21, 1921 in Thessaloniki and died in 1970, allegedly on his very birthday. He first started playing on the violin and eventually moved on to the guitar and the bouzouki. He was immediately recognized as a great talent. He began his stage and recording career in 1937 at the age of 16 playing along with Bayanderas in his songs. In 1938 he recorded his first song De les to nai kai 'sy (Δε λες το ναι και 'συ) in wich he played bouzouki and sang with Stratos Pagioumtzis. During he German occupation, he was already one of the major musicians and played bouzouki and guitar in many recordings. His career took off after the occupation ended. Hiotis composed many great songs that became instant hits. He was known as an incredible virtuoso on both the bouzouki and the guitar. He started playing and popularized the four-course bouzouki (tetrachordo) after 1959. He was married three times. His first wife was Zoe Nahe, his second Mary Linda who sung many of his hits, and his third Beba Kyriakidou. (source: wikipedia)

Some of Hiotis's own songs include:

• O pasatembos
• To xrhma den to logariazw
• Thessaloniki mou
• Perasmenes mou agapes
• Apopse fila me
• Moizeis san thalassa
• Svise thn floga

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