Σωτηρία Μπέλλου {Sotiria Bellou} (29th August 1921-27th August 1997) was born in the village of Chalia, near Chalkida, and named after her maternal grandfather, a priest. She sang in her grandfather's church choir, and developed a determination to become a singer. Her father bought her a guitar, and paid for her to have lessons. An arranged marriage ended in disaster: for throwing acid in her abusive husband's face, Bellou was sentenced to three and a half years in prison, of which she served only four months.