Andreas Zeppos: The philanthropist fisherman from Ayvalik which is in the possession of handing out fish to the needy of Piraeus

The melodic song “Captain Andrea Ζέπο” referred to in the everyday life of the fishermen in the sea…
it was written in 1946 by Giannis Papaioannou for his friend and famed fisherman of Piraeus, Andrea Ζέππο.
“Through the bunch of
out knights
out of the Mouth
and of Αϊβαλιώτες”…
The Zeppos, was a refugee from Ayvalık in Asia Minor and was born in 1914 in Piraeus. Fatherless he started working from a young age to support his family. He followed the family profession and became a fisherman. The resistance fought in the Albanian front, and when he returned he bought his own boat, in which he gave the name of his father, “Agios Efstratios”
“All καλάρουνε
but I don’t catch fish
khalar the Ζέπος
and catch squid”…
During the occupation, launched the most profitable period for the Ζέππο. Caught large fish and had worked for many of Piraeus. However, the difficulties and the hunger of his fellow citizens wouldn’t leave him unmoved. Half of the catches you make, not sold, but distributed together with his wife, Katina, to the poor of the Piraeus.
Apart from kind-hearted and benevolent, the Zeppos had two weaknesses that led to the slaughter. The drink and the late night. All the great singers knew the famous fisherman of Piraeus. Every night they were visited in the bouzouki and spoil a day’s pay for themselves.
However, the good times had passed over and was followed by difficult years. Encountered financial difficulties, which was pushed into poverty. A loan in which had been a guarantor and is not paid, it was the cause to seize the favorite of a fishing boat and basic tool of the job. The song, performed first time the Odysseas Moschonas, followed by Sotiria Bellou and great performers of the Greek pentagram.
Giannis Papaioannou was inspired when he was working in the “Agios Efstratios”, the boat of Andrea Ζέππου. On 7 June 1969 the beloved fisherman of the rebetiko song died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 55 years and in honor of Elias Lymberopoulos wrote after the death of the song “The Zeppos εκουράστηκε”.
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