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'''Roza Eskenazi''' (c. 1890 – [[2 December]] [[1980]], {{lang-el|Ρόζα Εσκενάζυ}}) was a famous [[Greeks|Greek]] singer of [[Rebetiko]] and traditional Greek music from Asia Minor. Her recording career extended from the late 1920s into the 1970s.
'''Roza Eskenazi''' (c. 1890 – [[2 December]] [[1980]], {{lang-el|Ρόζα Εσκενάζυ}}) was a famous [[Greeks|Greek]] singer of [[Rebetiko]] and traditional Greek music from Asia Minor. Her recording career extended from the late 1920s into the 1970s.


Born Sarah Skenazi in [[Constantinople]] (now [[Istanbul]]), Roza Eskenazi was of [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardi Jewish]] origin. When she was about seven years old, her family moved to [[Thessaloniki]], where her parents earned a living doing a variety of menial jobs. In her teens Rosa began performing with two Armenian [[cabaret]] dancers named Seramous and Zabel, who reportedly liked her because she could speak their language, [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and had talent as a singer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Eskenazē|first=Roza|year=1982|title=Auta pou thymamai|others=introduction by Kōstas Chatzēdoulē|publisher=Kaktos |location=Athens|language=Greek|page= 19 | quote= Βγήκα στή δουλειά μέ κάτι Ἀρμένισσες χορεύτριες, τή Σερανούς, τή Ζαμπέλ καί κάτι ἄλλες καί μέ πήραν μαζί τους, γιατί ἤξερα τή γλώσσα τους, τά τούρκικα, καί ἐπειδής εἶχα ὡραία φωνίτσα καί τραγούδαγα.}}</ref>
Born Sarah Skenazi in [[Istanbul]], Roza Eskenazi was of [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardi Jewish]] origin. When she was about seven years old, her family moved to [[Thessaloniki]], where her parents earned a living doing a variety of menial jobs. In her teens Rosa began performing with two Armenian [[cabaret]] dancers named Seramous and Zabel, who reportedly liked her because she could speak their language, [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and had talent as a singer.<ref>{{cite book|last=Eskenazē|first=Roza|year=1982|title=Auta pou thymamai|others=introduction by Kōstas Chatzēdoulē|publisher=Kaktos |location=Athens|language=Greek|page= 19 | quote= Βγήκα στή δουλειά μέ κάτι Ἀρμένισσες χορεύτριες, τή Σερανούς, τή Ζαμπέλ καί κάτι ἄλλες καί μέ πήραν μαζί τους, γιατί ἤξερα τή γλώσσα τους, τά τούρκικα, καί ἐπειδής εἶχα ὡραία φωνίτσα καί τραγούδαγα.}}</ref>


Eskenazi moved to [[Piraeus]] in 1910. She continued to perform as a dancer but also sang songs in [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and Armenian for cabaret patrons. In 1929, she was discovered by [[Panagiotis Tountas]], a well-known composer and record producer with whom she made her first recordings. She soon became famous, and by the mid 1930s, she had recorded more than 500 [[folk music]] and rebetiko songs, as well as songs from [[Smyrna]]. From its beginning, her lengthy career was associated with rebetiko music. Although she sang all types of songs, the beginning of her career signifies the [[rebetiko]] music's breakthrough, forever associating her voice with the genre.
Eskenazi moved to [[Piraeus]] in 1910. She continued to perform as a dancer but also sang songs in [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and Armenian for cabaret patrons. In 1929, she was discovered by [[Panagiotis Tountas]], a well-known composer and record producer with whom she made her first recordings. She soon became famous, and by the mid 1930s, she had recorded more than 500 [[folk music]] and rebetiko songs, as well as songs from [[Smyrna]] ([[İzmir]]). From its beginning, her lengthy career was associated with rebetiko music. Although she sang all types of songs, the beginning of her career signifies the [[rebetiko]] music's breakthrough, forever associating her voice with the genre.


Rosa Eskenazi is considered a model for other singers because of her personal style, technique and passion. Unfortunately, the censorship of one of her songs "Πρέζα όταν Πιείς" (the title meaning "When You take Heroin") by [[Ioannis Metaxas]] lead to a marginalization of other midwar [[rebetiko]] singers but opened the way to the school of [[Vassilis Tsitsanis]]. Before [[World War II]], Eskenazi travelled as a singer in the [[Balkans]], [[Turkey]] and [[Middle East]]. After the war, she toured the [[United States]] and [[Turkey]].
Rosa Eskenazi is considered a model for other singers because of her personal style, technique and passion. Unfortunately, the censorship of one of her songs "Πρέζα όταν Πιείς" (the title meaning "When You take Heroin") by [[Ioannis Metaxas]] lead to a marginalization of other midwar [[rebetiko]] singers but opened the way to the school of [[Vassilis Tsitsanis]]. Before [[World War II]], Eskenazi travelled as a singer in the [[Balkans]], [[Turkey]] and [[Middle East]]. After the war, she toured the [[United States]] and [[Turkey]].

Revision as of 15:57, 28 February 2009

Roza Eskenazi (c. 1890 – 2 December 1980, Greek: Ρόζα Εσκενάζυ) was a famous Greek singer of Rebetiko and traditional Greek music from Asia Minor. Her recording career extended from the late 1920s into the 1970s.

Born Sarah Skenazi in Istanbul, Roza Eskenazi was of Sephardi Jewish origin. When she was about seven years old, her family moved to Thessaloniki, where her parents earned a living doing a variety of menial jobs. In her teens Rosa began performing with two Armenian cabaret dancers named Seramous and Zabel, who reportedly liked her because she could speak their language, Turkish, and had talent as a singer.[1]

Eskenazi moved to Piraeus in 1910. She continued to perform as a dancer but also sang songs in Greek, Turkish, and Armenian for cabaret patrons. In 1929, she was discovered by Panagiotis Tountas, a well-known composer and record producer with whom she made her first recordings. She soon became famous, and by the mid 1930s, she had recorded more than 500 folk music and rebetiko songs, as well as songs from Smyrna (İzmir). From its beginning, her lengthy career was associated with rebetiko music. Although she sang all types of songs, the beginning of her career signifies the rebetiko music's breakthrough, forever associating her voice with the genre.

Rosa Eskenazi is considered a model for other singers because of her personal style, technique and passion. Unfortunately, the censorship of one of her songs "Πρέζα όταν Πιείς" (the title meaning "When You take Heroin") by Ioannis Metaxas lead to a marginalization of other midwar rebetiko singers but opened the way to the school of Vassilis Tsitsanis. Before World War II, Eskenazi travelled as a singer in the Balkans, Turkey and Middle East. After the war, she toured the United States and Turkey.

In the 1970s, Eskenazi became famous once again as a result of the rebetiko revival. She died in Athens on 2 December 1980, aged 90.

In 1982, a short memoir, assembled from interviews with Eskenazi late in her life, was published under the title Αυτά πού Θυμάμαι (The Things I Remember). The book includes a large number of photographs of the artist at the height of her career.

References

  1. ^ Eskenazē, Roza (1982). Auta pou thymamai (in Greek). introduction by Kōstas Chatzēdoulē. Athens: Kaktos. p. 19. Βγήκα στή δουλειά μέ κάτι Ἀρμένισσες χορεύτριες, τή Σερανούς, τή Ζαμπέλ καί κάτι ἄλλες καί μέ πήραν μαζί τους, γιατί ἤξερα τή γλώσσα τους, τά τούρκικα, καί ἐπειδής εἶχα ὡραία φωνίτσα καί τραγούδαγα.

Discography

Rosa Eskenazi may be heard on many of the anthology CDs listed in the rebetiko discography. CDs of her own which may be available in English language countries include:

  • Rosa Eskenazi Rembetissa 1933-1936 Rounder Select, 1996.