Amalia Papastefanou

Singer of Dodecanese and Asia Minor songs. She was born in Rhodes to parents who were refugees from Asia Minor.

She began singing in her teenage years: from a very young age, her father would accompany her to name-day celebrations and family gatherings on the island, encouraging her to sing. In the 1950s, she started performing on the Rhodes Radio Station, and later moved to Athens, where she sang at the Traditional Music Department of the National Radio Foundation (EIR), where Domna Samiou worked.

In the 1960s, she collaborated with the record company Fidelity under the supervision of Domna Samiou, recording 45 rpm records featuring songs from the Dodecanese, with a repertoire mainly consisting of island, Asia Minor, and refugee songs. Her work is considered instrumental in bringing Dodecanese and Asia Minor songs to a wider audience throughout Greece.

In 1967, she married the Greek expatriate Panagiotis Papastefanou and moved to the United States, where she continued performing at community events, social gatherings, and cultural celebrations, bringing with her the island and refugee repertoire. Her voice and performances gained widespread acclaim, earning her the nickname “the nightingale of the Dodecanese”.

 

Songs

Eri

Records

A collection of 127 traditional songs and tunes from all over Greece that were first released on 45 rpm records between 1959 and 1969 under the direction and musical supervision of Domna Samiou. The collection was compiled and edited by Yiorgos Tsampras.
Reissue of the Caprice album “Grekisk folkmusik” (Ξενιτεμένο μου πουλí) on a CD with 9 extra tracks, and a comprehensively informative booklet about Greek folk music and the woman behind this production – Domna Samiou.
Releases on 45 rpm records, during the period 1959-1969, under the direction and musical supervision of Domna Samiou.
The wealth of Greek traditional music has been enriched by every aspect of maritime tradition – by its values, virtues and charm – as is amply demonstrated by this wonderful collection of songs.