“You Were Barefoot” – Kostas Bezos (A. Kostis) (1930) “Ήσουνα Ξυπόλυτη” – Α. Κωστής

Fulfilling a special request for viewer @someoneunknown2003: the B side of Victor V-58061.

Recorded in Athens in 1930 by Victor representative Tetos Dimitriadis and released in the U.S.

This mysterious rebetiko artist recorded a handful of records in the early 30s – most of which were pressed in very small numbers and all of which did not attain widespread awareness until much later.

Unlike typical rebetikos who came from among the poorest population in urban Athens, Bezos was somewhat of outlier. He was born outside of Athens to a middle-class family and came to Athens to work as a journalist and cartoonist. He began a Hawaiian band called the “White Birds” that he played guitar in. At the age of 25, in 1930, he recorded this track and went on to record a total of 12 sides.

After 1932, he appears to have stopped making records. While he continued his work at the newspaper, he also tried his hand at acting. He died of tuberculosis during the Nazi occupation of Greece in 1943. He was 37.

An excellent article about him can be found here:
https://www.lifo.gr/culture/music/poios-itan-o-mystiriodis-kai-afanis-rempetis-kostas-mpezos
(Use Google translate to translate this page)

The A side of Victor V-58061 can be heard at:
https://youtu.be/-hewLiZFxhQ