He served in the Greek army in 1919, which had landed in Smyrna at the time. He and his family left for Greece as part of the Asia Minor Catastrophe in 1922. In 1923 he moved to Piraeus, where he came into contact with rebetiko musicians from Asia Minor.
A veteran of the Greek army in 1919, who had arrived in Smyrna at the time, and his family left for Greece as part of the devastating Asia Minor catastrophe in 1922. In 1923, he settled in Piraeus, where he encountered musicians from Asia Minor who played rebetiko music.