His parents were Aristides, a famous musician who originated from Athens, and Despina (née Bekou) who was a Corsican Greek and an Italian citizen.
[1] After the destruction of Smyrna in 1922, Peristeris moved to Athens, where he soon learned to play the bouzouki and became known as a composer and lyricist.
Peristeris could play all fingerboard string instruments as well as the piano, accordion, cello and double bass.
From the early 1930s, he worked as local repertory manager and orchestra leader for several recording companies (namely Grammophone, Columbia, His Master's Voice, Odeon, Parlophone) in Greece.
For instance, he was pivotal in persuading Markos Vamvakaris to record his songs sung with his own voice.