Front: Katherine Kavouklis Arvanitis (left) and Maggie Kavouklis Nichols. Back from left: Michael Kousaleous with mandolin, name unknown, Michael Samarkos, name unknown, Michael Nicholis, name unknown.
As a master artist in the Florida Folklife Apprenticeship Program in 2005-2006, Nick Mastras taught laouto to Michael Raysses. He learned from his uncle, a respected musician in Greece, then played and toured with Athens’ famed Dora Stratou Dance…
He arrived in New York in 1913. By 1918 Katsaros was so popular that RCA Victor Records signed him to a recording contract, and he became the first Greek singer/composer to record on a 78-rpm disc. Contracts with Columbia and Decca followed, and…
In addition to being the master candle maker for St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Louis Peronis was also known for playing Greek music on the violin.