Sozopol is a settlement with an ancient history, a venue of the annual Apolonia Arts Festival, an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Bulgarian artists.

Among the emblematic figures with whom this Black Sea town abounds is Jean Sheitanov - singer, composer, arranger and guitar collector. Jean comes from a family of merchants with a flair for art, the most prominent of his ancestors being his grandfather, the famous Sozopol painter, Yani Christopoulo, dubbed "the guardian spirit of Sozopol". With his brush, grandpa Yani captured almost every rock, sunset, house and gust of wind breaking the waves, and during his lifetime created over 3000 paintings. Almost all of his paintings are dedicated to the beautiful light and picturesque scenery of Sozopol, and now his grandson Jean portrays them with his lyrics and music.

It was the grandfather who encouraged Jean Sheytanov's first encounter with the piano. Yani also helped the 7-year old Jean record his first compositions on magnetic tape. But at the age of 11 he stopped playing the piano and took up the guitar. He studied at the National School of Music and Stage Art in Burgas, and then at the Conservatory in Sofia, where he was almost immediately invited to play in the Spectrum Orchestra of the former Kremikovtzi metallurgical plant.

Bulgaria's largest metalworking company supported its orchestra so it had the chance to release a record a year with songs, dedicated to the workers, the musician recalls.

"In 1982, Spectrum was renamed Ferroton. It was important for the name to speak for the steel complex's activities, and since it was involved in iron and steel production, it occurred to me to call it Ferroton, - says Sheitanov. - Alexander Alexandrov and I were the main songwriters for the band. In addition, all the famous composers such as Toncho Rusev, Naiden Andreev, Stefan Dimitrov, Dimitar Penev, Boris Karadimchev, they all wrote songs for us."

Besides having numerous concerts and performances in the country, Ferroton also toured abroad.

"With the group we have toured the Soviet Union, Africa and Asia. On the African continent we visited Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and in Asia - Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Afghanistan. We did these under the auspices of Comecon, the Organisation for International Economic Cooperation. We learned that all people are the same and when they like something, they immediately show it with applause and joyful cheers. Apart from Bulgarian music, we also played foreign hits popular at that time. I have many happy memories because I was young, bubbling with ideas and impulse to work."

Sheytanov left the band in 1987 to pursue a solo career. He has written about 170 songs, of which he is the composer, arranger and performer. Jean admits that over the years he has realized that it is best to do what one wants to do and work for the fun of it. But he has had to learn it the hard way - going through moments of struggle and discouragement, even stopping to make music for certain periods of time.

"In 1992 I released my first album "The Gallant Man", which I presented at the Golden Orpheus Song Contest, recalls the musician. - Gradually, however, pop-folk music began to replace pop music, and I had to switch to a slightly more Greek-sounding style of songs that incorporated traditional Greek instruments such as bouzouki. All the lyrics were in Bulgarian and there was nothing vulgar about them."

Audiences love him both for his songs and his diverse repertoire, which includes rock, funk, pop and Greek music.

And not only does Jean Sheytanov continue to play guitar, but he has a collection of instruments that he is proud of. Especially two of them named after him and made to his design: "For my 60th anniversary, my wife and my daughter got me a custom-made guitar from an American brand. I usually indulge in buying replicas of the guitars of Eric Clapton and Steve Vai, John Petrucci, John Scofield, but I am really proud of my two guitars made by the best Bulgarian luthier - Kostadin Dimitrov. They are of my design and with electronics chosen by me."