The Trio Bel Canto continued to dominate the
Greek music scene in the United States well into the '80s. With another
Australian tour in 1981 and more trips to Panama and Canada, they also
entertained here in the United States, travelling across the country and
appearing with various other Greek artists. In 1986, Takis Elenis left the
group to pursue solo interests, and the Trio was once again faced with having
to find a competent bouzouki player. George Vlismas joined the group in 1986
and remained with them for 11 years, until 1997. But it seems that Takis's
leaving the Trio was a turning point for them. From 1988 until 1995, the group
primarily performed in local clubs of the greater New York City area, as well
as playing the local Greek dinner-dances and festivals for which they were very
much in demand. Gone were the golden years of playing exclusively in dinner
theatres and night clubs. Over the years, they began to close, one by one,
until there was only a handful of them left, typically in major metropolitan
cities. And those that WERE left preferred to be cost-conscious and hire
disc-jockeys and have recorded music. Live performers would be booked for
special events, and only if it would bring a profit. During this decade,
however, Greek music was becoming more readily available in the United States
in the form of cassettes and CDs, and popular Greek singers were even coming
over from Greece to entertain the Greek population here in the U.S.
Additionally, with the simultaneous formation of more and more Greek
orchestras, the Trio was becoming "one of the boys", and they were losing the
"monopoly" that they had with the Greeks. Nevertheless, the Trio continued to
be a very sought-after group and typically performed for special occasions and
esclusive events.(Click on a thumbnail to view the
enlarged photo, then use the "Back" button of your browser to return to this
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