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Johnny Otis: Renowned Greek American musician

The Greek Herald
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Johnny Otis: Renowned Greek American musician

By Georgene Dilernia.

Johnny Otis, born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes, was a Greek American musician known for his contribution to American R&B and rock and roll.

As well as being a musician, Otis was also a singer, songwriter, disc jockey, bandleader, record producer and talent scout. Otis had been nicknamed the “Godfather of Rhythm and Blues,” illustrating his influence on the genre.

Let’s take a look into the music legend’s life and the accomplishments he made.

Johnny Otis was a Greek American musician known for his contribution to American R&B and rock and roll. Source: Ekathimerini.

Early Life:

Otis was born in Vallejo, California to Greek immigrant parents. His father, Alexander J. Veliotes, was a Mare Island longshoreman and grocery store owner, and his mother, Irene Kiskakes, was a painter.

Otis was the eldest of three children. He had a younger sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Nicholas, who grew up to be the US ambassador to Jordan and Egypt.

Otis grew up in a predominantly black neighbourhood in Berkeley, California, where his father’s grocery store was located. Being surrounded by this culture growing up, later influenced his involvement in the rise of R&B.

Otis grew up in a predominantly black neighbourhood in Berkeley, California. Source: SFGate

Music Career:

Otis began performing as a teenager for local functions after dropping out of high school and joined local band, the West Oakland House Rockers.

In the early 1940s, Otis played in swing orchestra, including Lloyd Hunter’s Serenaders and Harlan Leonard’s Rockets. He founded his own band in 1945 and they had one of the biggest hits of the big-band era, “Harlem Nocturne.”

During this time, Otis also became a talent scout and discovered numerous artists early in their careers who became big hits, including Little Esther, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Jackie Wilson, Johnny Ace and Hank Ballard.

In the early 1940s, Otis played in swing orchestra. Source: NPR.

Otis had seminal influence on R&B and rock and roll, establishing much of the foundation work for both genres.

Personal Life and Death:

On May 2, 1941, Otis married Phyllis Walker at the age of 19, whom he had known since childhood. They had four children together, two sons who later became musicians, Shuggie and Nicholas, and two daughters, Janice and Laura.

Otis died of natural causes on January 2012 in the Altadena area of Los Angeles.

Behind the scenes of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s film, ‘Greek Freak’

Andriana Simos
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Behind the scenes of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s film, ‘Greek Freak’

Akin Omotoso, the director of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s film, ‘Greek Freak,’ has given a little sneak peak into how the project is progressing on the latest episode of Michael Scotto’s HoopsHype podcast.

In the podcast, Omotoso describes how Giannis will balance playing in the NBA and working as an executive producer on the film, saying it will be “a challenge.”

“It is a challenge, but we’re all confident that we’ll make it work. It’s a priority in terms of telling the story, but it’s also a priority for all of us that he’s successful on the court,” Omotoso can be heard saying on the podcast.

READ MORE: Greek stars to feature in newly announced Disney films and TV shows.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be an executive director on the newly announced film, ‘Greek Freak.’

“I think, like everything, you find the balance. We’re looking forward to being part of that journey and being as available as we all can be… and still make it work. It’s exciting.”

Omotoso then goes on to say that viewers can expect to see a “very inspirational story,” one which actually made the director cry when he first read the script.

“His story is so inspirational. It’s a family story. Viewers can look forward to a very inspirational story. You get a chance to get behind the scenes. I was really moved. When I first read the script, I cried,” the director says.

“This is a really important story to their family, to their legacy… and so I want to be able to make sure I capture that and honour them and also give the audience a real taste of what it was like for them coming up.”

As for who will be playing the role of Giannis? The director isn’t giving anything away just yet.

“Giannis sent out a Tweet a few weeks ago and told everyone it is an open casting, saying ‘we’re looking for people to play me and my brothers. Send your tapes and let’s have a look’,” Omotoso explains.

“And it’s been really moving and touching seeing all these auditions come through… So I have to say, it is a hard task but one which I find really exciting and I know that as we go through this process, we’ll find the right person.”

Greek-Australian business enters administration after amassing over $5 million debt

The Greek Herald
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Greek-Australian business enters administration after amassing over $5 million debt

White Marquee Event Hire’s parent company has been placed in voluntary administration, with debts estimated at $5.7 million, but there are hopes the Greek-Australian owned company can trade through.

The company in question, Adelaide Event Group, also trades as Budget Party Hire and Renniks Events.

Administrators SV Partners, who were appointed on December 21, said the early indications were that the company had unsecured debts in the order of $3 million, “owing principally in respect of Commonwealth and State taxes and unrelated trade creditors.”

A secured financier is understood to be owed about $2.7 million, administrator Stuart Otway said.

The three brands under the AEG umbrella were “continuing to trade as normal during the administration period,’’ SV Partners told The Advertiser.

Greg Evangelou is the chief executive of White Marquee. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

The Marleston company, established in 2014, bills itself as “South Australia’s premier event hire company’’ and has supplied events such as the Tour Down Under, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and the Royal Adelaide Show.

SV Partners said the company “remains optimistic that a formal restructure will allow the company to successfully trade into the future.”

“We understand that a Deed of Company Arrangement will be proposed, which would see control of the company returned to the director and some 35 jobs retained,’’ Mr Otway said.

This is not the first time the White Marquee brand has been in administration.

Budget Party Hire Pty Ltd, which previously operated White Marquee and was operated by Greg Evangelou, was placed in liquidation in 2015, with $1.4 million in debt including $575,000 owed to the ANZ bank and $224,442 owed to the Australian Taxation Office.

Budget Party Hire Pty Ltd was liquidated and then deregistered in 2017.

The White Marquee brand was reborn into Adelaide Event Group, which Greg’s father, Nicholas Evangelou, is the sole director of.

Greg Evangelou, now chief executive of White Marquee, on Wednesday called for calm, saying clients won’t lose deposits and bookings will be honoured.

“No small businesses will be affected,’’ he said.

“No clients will lose their deposits, all bookings will be honoured. We are very confident that we will get out of this bind.’’

Mr Evangelou was previously a director of the Asiafest festival, which was placed in liquidation in 2016 with debts of more than $400,000. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

There were “a lot of bookings early in the New Year” he said, and the last thing he wanted was brides in tears on Christmas Day thinking their wedding would be cancelled.

Mr Evangelou said the company had experienced an almost 100 percent fall in revenues at some stages of the COVID lockdowns, and the first major event the company had to look forward to was the next Royal Adelaide Show in September which was too far away to make a difference.

“We’re very confident we’ll be able to negotiate with investors and come out of it successfully,’’ he said.

White Marquee employed about 80 staff pre-COVID, which has fallen to about 35.

Mr Evangelou said no staff entitlements were at risk.

Mr Evangelou was previously a director of the Asiafest festival, which was placed in liquidation in 2016 with debts of more than $400,000.

Source: The Advertiser.

Greek PM and nurse among first people to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Greece

The Greek Herald
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Greek PM and nurse among first people to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Greece

Vaccination against the coronavirus began in Greece, as well as most EU countries, on Sunday.

The first Greek to be vaccinated was Efstathia Kambissiouli, head nurse of the intensive care units at Athens’ Evangelismos hospital.

“In my person, all health professionals are being honored and [it] is a recognition of our work and our contribution. I hope a new page is turned on today, but we got a lot of way to go, we must adhere to measures and hold fast to our goal and when we are all vaccinated we can take our lives back,” Kambissiouli said after her vaccination.

The first Greek to be vaccinated was Efstathia Kambissioul.

“I felt great, I have no fear and no doubt. I have been vaccinated many times in my life,” she added.

Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, was also vaccinated against the coronavirus on Sunday afternoon, followed by Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at 2.30 pm at Attikon hospital, in western Athens.

Greek President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, was also vaccinated against the coronavirus.

“This is a great day for science and the European Union, which distributed the vaccines simultaneously to all members…We [officials] are being vaccinated first to show the vaccine is safe and effective…We hope that, with time, even those of our fellow citizens who are suspicious of vaccination will be convinced it is the right thing to do,” Mitsotakis said.

Mitsotakis and Sakellaropoulou are the first of 45 state officials whose vaccination was given priority to keep the machinery of state operating smoothly.

No cafes, no tourists: Virus empties streets of old Athens

The Greek Herald
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No cafes, no tourists: Virus empties streets of old Athens

It’s been a while since visitors to Greece sought out souvenirs in Athens’ oldest neighbourhood.

The winding streets of Plaka, laid out long before the city imported a grid system, are lined with closed stores behind aluminium shutters. The coronavirus pandemic has kept tourists away from the historic city centre that forms a semi-circle around the Acropolis, and the area remained unusually devoid of pedestrians and motorists before Christmas.

In their absence, ancient monuments are a little easier to make out from a distance, fewer horns are sounding in traffic and homeless cats parked in front of cafes are a little less aloof.

A man with an umbrella walks in the rain on Pnyx hill in front the ancient Acropolis hill, with the ruins of the fifth century BC Parthenon temple, in Athens, on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Greece so far has imposed two nationwide lockdowns since the start of the pandemic. The first, in the spring, kept the country’s infection rates low. Authorities ordered the second in response to a rapid post-summer rise in reported cases and as of Christmas Eve has seen 4,4,57 confirmed virus-related deaths.

The restrictions have closed bars, restaurants, coffee shops and many other businesses considered non-essential but which make up a large slice of Greece’s tourism-dependent economy.

The number of visitors traveling to the country plummeted 76.1% during the first 10 months of 2020 compared to a year earlier. Spending sank 77%, according to central bank data released this week.

Greece is expected to see a 10.5% contraction of its gross domestic product this year compared to the forecasted EU average of 7.4%, while its debt-to-GDP ratio is set to surge to a staggering 208.9%.

Sourced By: Associated Press

‘House’ museum dedicated to Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis

The Greek Herald
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‘House’ museum dedicated to Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis

The creation of a ‘house’ to carry on the great legacy left by the Nobel Prize-winning poet Odysseas Elytis, puts the Ministry of Culture and Sports in the final stretch.

The listed building and the two auxiliary buildings in Plaka, owned by the Ministry of Culture, located at the junction of Dioskouron and Polygnotou streets, are being restored by the competent service of the ministry. The budget of the project amounts to 657,200 euros and its auction is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.

The building creates spaces for the exhibition and the storage of the Elytis Archive, as well as for the great visual material, which displays his varied work. At the same time, the life of the poet is presented through photographs, texts, audio and visual material, while his office is restored with his personal objects.

As the Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni stated, “The creation of a space for the study and promotion of his work is the minimum tribute to the great Greek poet.”

“Researchers, but also citizens, will be able to know the power of Elytis’ work, to study the value of his poetry in a space dedicated to personality, life, the valuable national heritage, with which he enriched the country”.

Sourced By: ERT International

‘Our blessings outweigh our struggles’: Scott Morrison sends Christmas message to Australians

The Greek Herald
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‘Our blessings outweigh our struggles’: Scott Morrison sends Christmas message to Australians

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has sent a message to Australians in the lead-up to Christmas day, thanking people for their “amazing spirit”.

In a year that was filled with sadness and worry, the Prime Minister says this year we give thanks for our Christmas, because “our blessings outweigh our struggles”.

Read the Prime Minister’s full message below:

If there’s one overwhelming feeling we have this Christmas, it’s one of thankfulness.

This year has not been easy for any of us.

Some of us have faced the loss of loved ones. Others, the loss of jobs and their livelihoods. Separation from family. Isolation during lockdowns and lost gatherings with those we love.

For all of us this year has been a time of stress and a lot of uncertainty.

Yet through it all, once again, we have rallied to each other, together.

Australians are an amazing people with an amazing spirit. This year the Australian spirit has shone brightly again.

Though we had to be distant socially, emotionally we connected and turned to each other.

With everyone playing their part.

Even now in Sydney, on the Northern Beaches, everyone is still there doing their bit to keep all of us safe right across the country.

No matter where you are in Australia, this Christmas is one where, as Australians, we can once again count our blessings as a country.

And in our very Australian way, resolve once again to share those blessings with others wherever we can.

We give thanks this year for our Christmas because our blessings outweigh our struggles.

For all of us, those who are Christian and those who are not, this Christmas is again a time of great hope.

My prayer for Australia this Christmas comes from the great verse: “Let us not grow weary of doing good. For in due season we shall reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”

So stay safe. Stay COVIDSafe.

May God bless you and your family at this Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Australia.

The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister of Australia

Multiculturalism Minister Geoff Lee sends special Christmas message to Greek community

The Greek Herald
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Multiculturalism Minister Geoff Lee sends special Christmas message to Greek community

Minister for Multiculturalism Dr Geoff Lee has sent a special Christmas message to Australia’s Greek community, expressing thanks for their collaboration and support throughout 2020.

See the full Christmas message by Dr Geoff Lee below:

As the Acting Minister for Multiculturalism, I extend my best wishes to the Greek Orthodox community in New South Wales and wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas.

After a challenging year, the central Christmas message of the birth of Jesus Christ offers us hope and comfort. I hope you get the chance to share this special time of year with your loved ones in a COVID-safe way.

I would like to thank His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and the Greek Orthodox community, especially the clergy, for your collaboration and support throughout 2020. Your efforts and sacrifices have assisted the NSW Government enormously. Thank you for playing your part to help save lives. 

I wish everyone a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Haris Alexiou: Famous Greek singer

The Greek Herald
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Haris Alexiou: Famous Greek singer

By Victoria Loutas

Famous Greek singer Haris Alexiou made memorable contributions to the Greek performing arts. An extremely successful artist, she has worked with endless Greek songwriters and composers and performed at top musical theatres across the globe.

Haris Alexiou was born on December 27, 1950 as Hariklia Roupaka in Thebes, Greece. Her family moved to Greece following the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. 

In 1972, Alexiou made her first big appearance onto the musical scene. She successfully auditioned for a multi-artist album, featuring notable Greek singer George Dalaras, produced by Apostolos Kaldaras. This album became an instant success and was one of the biggest hits of the 1970s. 

In 1973, Alexiou participated in the albums Kalimera ilie, by Manos Loïzos and Lefteris Papadopoulos, Byzantinos Esperinos, by Apostolos Kaldaras and Lefteris Papadopoulos, and Odos Aristotelous, by Yannis Spanos and Lefteris Papadopoulos. These features developed her talent and allowed her to build her own fanbase. 

Photo: Anadolu Agency

Alexiou finally released her first personal album in 1975, titled ‘ 12 ‘Laika’ Song, where she explored her own style, singing a variety of traditional songs, ballads, folk songs and rebetika.

Over the 1970s and 80s, Alexiou continued to collaborate with remarkable Greek artists and headlined many concerts. At this point in her career, her popularity reached its peak and she quickly became known as ‘Haroula of Greece’.

In the late 1980s, she began to work in theatre, presenting the musical, ‘The Show In On’, together with Dimitra Galani and Yiannis Parios, in Athens and Thessaloniki.

Over the next decade, she continued to release successful, beautiful music, while expanding her wealth of talent.

Photo: Pariraki

In September 2000, the album ‘Whispers’ was released. It included her favourite songs performed by her and a piano only. In October, she presented these songs in the Athens Concert Hall and in the ancient Epidaurus Odeon, accompanied by a small musical ensemble. In this same year, she formed her own record company, ‘Etsia’.

In 2004, the Olympic Games were held in Athens. Haris Alexiou, sang at the closing ceremony, along with D. Galani, Marinella, Y. Parios, G. Dalaras.

In July of 2020, at age 69, Alexiou announced that she would be stepping down from the stage, retiring from her long and extremely successful musical career. 

Top 8 Greek Christmas traditions you should know about this festive season

The Greek Herald
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Top 8 Greek Christmas traditions you should know about this festive season

By Billy Patramanis

Decorating Boats

The decorating of Christmas trees became a tradition in Greece in 1833. Originally a German and Scandinavian Christmas tradition, Prince Otto of Bavaria, who ruled Greece from 1832-1862, decorated the first tree in his Nafplio palace. Christmas trees were considered upper-class and only the wealthy would decorate trees, though this would change after World War II.

During this time, however, a famous Greek tradition in households was the decorating of boats. The tradition stemmed from Greece’s history with the sea as a maritime country. A decorated boat for Greeks was a sign of love and respect for the sea, and the welcoming of family, who were arriving by boat. 

Christopsomo

The Christopsomo, or Christ bread, is a must on every Greek Christmas table. The Christopsomo has varied designs depending on region of Greece you live in, however, each design has a cross made of dough in the centre, along with nuts sprinkled on top for prosperity. The Christopsomo is eaten on Christmas Eve.

Christopsomo. Source: Pinterest 

Christmas Desserts

Christmas desserts are a tradition when it comes to food for the Christmas celebrations. The two main desserts are the ‘melomakarona’ (honey cookies) and ‘kourabiedes’ (sugar-coated butter cookies). The ingredients in both are made from products that are famously Greek produced; oil, honey, oranges and nuts. 

Kourabiedes and Melomakarona. Source: Greece Is

Christmas Carolling

Christmas Eve in Greece is filled with Christmas carolling from very early in the morning. Groups of children will go from door to door with music triangles and sing traditional Christmas carols, known as ‘kalanta’. The kalantas the children sing begin with Jesus’ birth, before going into songs praising the house and the people they’re singing to. The kalanta ends with the children asking for a gift, which will often be a small amount of money, as well as a dessert such as a melomakarona or kourabiedes.

Greek tradition of Carolling. Source: Mama Lisa

Florina Fires

In Florina, a northern Greek city, the town has a tradition every Christmas eve whereby dozens of large fires are set in the main part of the city. In ancient times, the city of Florina would begin these fires in appreciation for the sun god. However, in more modern times, these fires are started to symbolise the birth of Jesus, and more specifically, represents the fire that led the Three Wise Men to Jesus’ birth.

Florina Fires. Source: Greece-is.com

Volos Lanterns

On December 26, the city of Volos, a city in Central Greece, have their own Christmas tradition, similar to that of Florina. In Volos, citizens come out at night along the shore of city and release thousands of “fanaria” into the night sky. The lanterns symbolise wishes made on Christmas, hoping that when they are released into the night sky, their wishes are fulfilled.

Lanterns released into the night sky. Source: xpatathens.com

Stand-up surfing Santas

In Parga, stand up surfing is a well known recreational sport that many in the region participate in. Therefore, during Christmas, people dressed up as Santa will begin stand up surfing in the harbour of Parga to spread holiday cheer. It is a fun tradition that mixes their beloved sport with Christmas cheer.

Stand-up surfing santas. Source: Parga, Greece Facebook.

Cretan Santas

In Chania, a city located in Western Crete, a new tradition which began 8 years ago is growing in popularity. The new tradition consists of local residents dressing up as Santa and participating in a parade, known as the Santa Run. This new tradition had more than 10,000 people dress up as Santa in 2016, with money from the parade being donated to a children’s shelter in Chania.

Hania Santa Run, 2016. Source: pappaspost.com
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