With a singing career that has continued from the late 1940's until today,
Anna Chrysafi is a true veteran of the palko. Born in Athens (1922?)
to Asia Minor refugee parents, with several musicians in her family, Anna
started her working life as a seamstress. Her first appearances as a singer
were in 1949 at the Athenian kosmiki taverna 'Rosiniol', and her
first recordings were made with Yorgos Mitsakis. Their collaboration continued
for some seven years.
She has worked with all of the greatest names in rebetiko history - Yiannis Papaioannou, Vasilis Tsitsanis, Sotiria Bellou, Markos Vamvakaris, Takis Binis and many others. Thanks to the revival of interest in the rebetiko and post-war laiko songs that began to gather force in the 1970's and shows no sign of abating, Anna Chrysafi continues to be an active presence on the Greek popular music scene.