How is the phenomenon of "Kazantzidis" explained? Why, decades after his departure, do he and the songs he imprinted with his soul and voice still hold a vital place in our daily lives? Why do all his contemporaries, older and younger, bow to his gift? How do we interpret his absences from live performances and recording during his prime years? Why did he clash with record companies and nightclub owners? What were the structural elements of his character, what were his grievances, thoughts, and aspirations?

All this and much more, particularly and uniquely, can be found in this publication, which for the first time presents in a detailed and credible way the overall journey of Stelios Kazantzidis and his discography.

The book is authored by a man who knew him and whom the bard honored by granting interviews and writing forewords for his works.

Kostas Balachoutis, in addition to the testimonies from Kazantzidis himself that he collected, conversed with significant collaborators and friends of his, with key supporting characters, as well as contemporary artists.

At the same time, for many years, he methodically and tirelessly gathered everything that has been said and written about the bard in order to create this comprehensive book about the personality and work of Stelios Kazantzidis.

The book includes rare archival material as well as the detailed discography of Stelios Kazantzidis in 78, 45, and 33 RPM records, as well as on shellac records.

As Haris Alexiou aptly notes, among other things, in the preface to this edition: "Kazantzidis inhales air, sorrow, and feelings and exhales the absolute round sound. He absorbs misery and gives back the beauty of sound."