Sotiria Bellou

Sotiria Bellou, born in 1921 in Halia, Greece, was a singer of rebetiko music. She began singing at age three and moved to Athens in 1940, where she worked various jobs before being discovered by Kimonas Kapetanakis. He introduced her to Vassilis Tsitsanis, with whom she recorded her first 78 rpm records. Bellou performed in notable clubs like Tzimis o Hontros and moved to the Panagaki club in 1948. She collaborated with composers such as Yannis Papaioannou and Apostolos Kaldaras. Her hits include "Synefiasmeni Kyriakh" and "Kavourakia". She was also a political activist, joining the Greek Resistance during World War II. Bellou passed away in 1997.