Founded in 1981, by
Kostas Sotiropoulos, the Hellenic Five specializes in music for the traditional
cultures of Greek people. Their extensive repetoire includes traditional folk
dance music to the contemporary music heard in Athens today.
The Hellenic Five has
performed throughout the United States, Canada and was invited to perform on a
ten day tour of Greece by the late Melina Mercouri, former international
actress and Minister of Cultural Affairs in Greece. Other venues of note
include The International Festivals of Music in Vancouver, Chicago and
Rockford, The Chicago Cultural Center, The Art Institute, The Medinah Temple,
several major colleges and universities throughout the United States, the
Democratic Convention in Atlanta, fundraising and celebratory events for
Greek-American political figures, entertaining fans of the Chicago Bulls at the
United Center pre-game ceremonies, live performances on WLUP 98 FM and WNUR
89.3 FM, several Carribean Cruises, The Museum of Natural History, The Hellenic
Museum, The Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, Illinois
The Hellenic Five has
also appeared on CBS’s Early Edition in an episode entitled “Run, Gary, Run”
and on the Food Network with Bobby Flay. Their original music was also featured
in both appearances.
Locally, the Hellenic
Five plays for many “Greek Nights”, festivals, night clubs and restaurants.
Venues include Grant Park’s Summer Dance, Park West, Excalibur, a long stint at
Cairo every Wednesday night for 5 1/2 years was one of the Club’s most popular
evenings, Pegasus Rooftop for 3 years, Kallisto, Byzantium and Barrel Café. At
the Chicago Cultural Center, The Hellenic Five gave performances in tribute to
Melina Mercouri, Yiannis Ritsos and Stelios Kazantzidis.
The Hellenic Five is
in demand when it comes to backing up singers and dance groups that come to the
United States from Greece.
The Hellenic Five has
also played for many charitable organizations and benefits such as The Leukemia
Society and The AIDS Foundation. They are also especially sensitive when it
comes to helping raise money for children, who come here from Greece and other
countries abroad, needing operations and or transplants. Instrumentation
includes bouzouki, clarinet, guitar/bass guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion
and vocalists.
The Hellenic Five has a CD
of eleven original songs. Members of the group can also be heard on Jim
Stoynoff’s “ Return to Our Roots”, numerous recordings by other recording
artists and are now in the studio for their next album.
The
Hellenic Five has become the Greek enterainment choice for a wide variety of
special events. Whether your group is 20 or 2000, The Hellenic Five will deliver high
quality, high energy, highly appropriate music designed to insure the best
musical
entertainment for your dollar.
To contact The Hellenic Five call: Kostas Sotiropoulos @ 773-685-2929