The Legendary Taki Dotis: King of the Taxim

Taki (Demetrios) Dotis was originally a musician, composer and recording artist with a natural talent for playing the Bouzouki. He is now a part of the Greek-American Historical Museum!

After doing recordings in Athens, he played in several movies and Athenian clubs, including the historical HARAMA. Taki played with legendary musicians and composers like Vasili Tsitsanis, Yiannis Papaioanou, Spyros Zagoreos and George Lafkas.

He also accompanied such famous singers as Dimitri Mitropanos, Yiannis Florinotis (Euro-Vision, 1975), Rita Sakelario, Rene Dhalma, Rena Koumiotis, Katrerina Topazi and Haroula Lambraki. 

He is historically known as the first Bouzouki musician from Florina and King of the Taxim.  Invited to perform for Greek - American audiences, his music led him to Hollywood, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Hawaii, Boston, Toronto, and then to Seattle.

After many years of travelling, he decided to make Seattle his permanent home after marrying Vickie “Kiki” Panagiotopoulos, a third generation American-Greek. They have two sons, Elias and George.

Since opening several restaurants, with the first opening in 1984, including two pasta and pizza houses, he revisited his true cultural cuisine with Taki's Mad Greek in 2001.

Taki learned the Bouzouki, Baglama, and Tzoura from the great Rembetis. He was the first from his generation chosen to perform with the legendary Rembetis at the historical nightclub, Harama, before coming to America.