Roza Eskenazi

Roza Eskenazi, born in 1895 in Constantinople to Sephardic Jewish parents, emerged as a prominent figure in the world of Greek music. Renowned as the 'Queen of Rebetiko', she captivated audiences with her powerful voice and dynamic performances, blending Greek folk music with Kanto and Turkish influences. Her career took off in 1929 when she made her first recordings, quickly achieving widespread acclaim and bringing rebetiko to a mainstream audience.

Over the next decade, Eskenazi recorded more than five hundred songs, showcasing her versatility as she sang in multiple languages, including Greek, Turkish, Armenian, Arabic, Yiddish, Ladino, and Italian. Her talent led her to the United States, where she became one of the few Greek artists to record under Columbia Records, further solidifying her status in the music industry.

During the tumultuous years of the Second World War, Eskenazi faced the threat of deportation to Auschwitz, a fate that befell many in the Greek Jewish community. She narrowly escaped this tragedy, spending three months in jail in Greece. Demonstrating remarkable courage, she provided shelter to British agents and members of the resistance in her Athens home, saving numerous lives from her community.

In the 1950s, Eskenazi toured the United States twice, with one visit lasting nine months, and returned to Turkey to perform. Although her career experienced a decline in later years, a revival of interest in her music emerged in the 1970s, leading to more frequent appearances on Greek television and live performances. Her final concert took place in 1977, marking the end of an illustrious career.

Eskenazi's legacy continued to resonate long after her passing in 1980, as evidenced by the 1991 short story by Greek writer Dinos Christianopoulos and the 2011 documentary 'My Sweet Canary' by Israeli filmmaker Roy Sher, which premiered at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival and has been showcased at various film festivals worldwide.