Composers, Greek
Music Composers Greek
List activity
68 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
68 people
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
The names of Manos Hadjidakis and Mikis Theodorakis have been written with golden letters in the music history of Greece since 1960. He was born in Xanthi on 23 October 1925, in a mid-class family. When he came of age he came in the capital city of Greece of Athens. He succeeded from the beginning when he made the high class of Greece to accept the Rebetiko, a popular kind of music. His love for this great music resulted in two great LP's - 'Lilacs On The Dead Earth', and 'Cruel April Of 45'.
He worked with director Karolos Koun and he wrote excellent music for such plays as 'A Streetcar Named Desire', starring Melina Mercouri and Vasilis Diamantopoulos. From this collaboration a great classic song resulted, named 'Paper Moon-Xartino To Feggaraki'. He also wrote music for the Greek National Theatre.
In the following years Hadjidakis created a personal style which no one can forget. He wrote music for films like Stella (1955), Madalena (1960), Maiden's Cheek (1959), I Aliki sto Naftiko (1961), creating massive successes. The first golden disc was given to Manos and Aliki Vougiouklaki for the song "The Grey Cat (To grizo gati)" from the film "To xylo vgike apo ton Paradeiso".
He gained worldwide popularity with his collaboration with Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin in 1960 for the film Never on Sunday (1960), and he even won an Oscar. He wrote music for other international films like Elia Kazan's America America (1963), Andrew Marton's It Happened in Athens (1962), Dassin's Topkapi (1964), Peter Ustinov's Memed My Hawk (1984).
In 1963 he staged "A Street Of Dreams (Odos Oneiron)", with Minos Argyrakis, which was considered a milestone in Greek Theatre. In the later years, he humorously denied "Never On Sunday's" popularity and tried to produce more sophisticated works with the help of the poet and lyricist Nikos Gatsos. He became one of best Greek composers, and together with Mikis Theodorakis they are the founders of the temporary Greek Music.
During 1966-1972 he lived in the United States where he wrote the "Magnus Eroticus" LP, which was poems of ancients and temporary poets like Sapfo, Odysseas Elytis, Myrtiotissa etc. He also produced instrumental LP's, like the excellent "The smile of Jokonda". Manos was great friend of persons like Seferis, Elytis (2 Nobel winners poets), Sikelianos, Gatsos (poets), Vougiouklaki (actress), Koun (director), Melina Mercouri (actress, politician), with which they did have a love-hate relationship.
He wrote 4 books and he created the Orchestra Of Colours (I Orhistra ton Hromaton), for some years he was the director of the 3rd program of the Greek Radio channel.
Manos Hadjidakis died on June 15 1994, a lovely summer afternoon. He was one of the greatest composers of Greece, and he is surely missed.Ξημερώνει (τ. Η Λίζα και η Άλλη), Γαρύφαλλο στ' αυτί (τ. Λατέρνα, Φτώχεια και Φιλότιμο, (❁´◡`❁) Στέλλα)- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Mikis Theodorakis was born in the Greek island of Chios, in 1925. It was the same year that the other great composer of Greece was born in Xanthi, Manos Hatzidakis. He fought during the 2nd World War, and was captured at the city of Tripoli. He was tortured, but when he was set free, he joined the partisan army of Greece named EAM, which means National Liberating Movement. He took part in the civil war in Greece which occurred during 1945-1949, always with the left parties of Greece. He was exiled for the first time in the island of Ikaria in 1947, he was transferred to the island of Makronisos in 1948.
He married Myrto Altinoglou, five years later in 1953, and one year later he moved in Paris in order to continue his studies in music. He composed continuously during the following years using some of the most wonderful poems in order to express the people of Greece. After Lamprakis, a Parliamentary representative was murdered, Theodorakis became a member of the Parliament and the number one enemy of the Right parties of Greece.
The great composer didn't not stop expressing his need and hope for democracy even when military dictator Georgios Papadopoulos took power in Greece in 1967. Some months later the military dictatorship decides that he is not 'welcome' in his own country, he was exiled for one more time. Great personalities express their support to this great composer, like Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Miller etc.
He became internationally famous when he composed the music for the film Zorba the Greek (1964), directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Anthony Quinn. But he was becoming very popular even before that film, when he was composing music for the Jules Dassin film Phaedra (1962) starring Melina Mercouri, Anthony Perkins, Raf Vallone, and Kakogiannis' Electra (1962) starring Irene Papas, Aleka Katselli. He even composed music for such acclaimed films like Z (1969) by Costa-Gavras starring Yves Montand and Papas, and Serpico (1973) by Sidney Lumet starring Al Pacino. He came back in 1974, but he stayed only for 6 years. Theodorakis was dissatisfied and went back in Paris and finished his third big work, Canto General, which together with the music from the film Zorba the Greek (1964) and "Axion Esti," a piece of work based on the poems of the Nobel winner poet Odysseas Elitis.
During the '80s, he became for one more time member of the Parliament and issue of controversy in the beginning of the 90s, when he collaborated with the right party's prime minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis. In 1992, he composed the Canto Olympico for the Olympic Games of Barcelona.
His opera Ilektra gained very good reviews, in Luxemburg, the Capital City Of Europe in 1995. He composed also another opera of Lysistrati for the Olympic Games of Athens in 2004. Although, he created controversies with his actions during the last decades, 1980-1990, Mikis Theodorakis was one of the greatest composers of Greece, and created the modern music of Greece together with Manos Hadjidakis.Η Μαργαρίτα η Μαργαρώ, Δραπετσώνα- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Mihalis Hatzigiannis was born on 5 November 1979 in Nicosia, Cyprus. He is a composer and actor, known for Mia melissa ton Avgousto (2007), R20 (2004) and O giteftis (2007).- Music Department
- Composer
- Art Director
Giorgos Andreou is known for Well Kept Secrets, Athanassia (2008), Honey and the Pig (2005) and Eugene, Identity Unknown (1997).Το πρόβλημα μου είσαι εσύ (✿◡‿◡) εδώ- Music Department
- Writer
- Soundtrack
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Giorgos Hatzinasios was born on 19 January 1942 in Thessaloniki, Greece. He is a composer, known for High Treason (1971), Synomosia sti Mesogeio (1975) and Oi dromoi tis polis (1995).Μάθημα Σολφέζ, Ο Ανθρωπάκος (Eurovison)- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Manolis Hiotis was born on 21 March 1920 in Thessaloniki, Greece. He was an actor and composer, known for Beckett (2021), The Wise Guy (1962) and The Taxi Driver (1953). He was married to Beba Kyriakidou, Mary Linda and Zoe Nahi. He died on 20 March 1970.- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Markos Vamvakaris was born on 10 May 1905 in Ano Hora, Syros, Greece. He was a composer and actor, known for Soul Kitchen (2009), The Girl of the Neighbourhood (1954) and The Wire (2002). He was married to Evangelia Vergiou and Eleni Mavroudi. He died on 8 February 1972 in Athens, Greece.Φραγκοσυριανή, Χαράματα η ώρα τρεις (ง •_•)ง listen to- Composer
- Music Department
- Writer
Manos Loïzos was born on 22 October 1937 in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a composer and writer, known for The Exorcist (1973), To leventopaido (1969) and My Life in Ruins (2009). He was married to Dora Sitzani and Maro Loizou. He died on 17 September 1982 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].Καλημέρα Ήλιε- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Vasilis Tsitsanis was born on 18 January 1915 in Trikala, Greece. He was a composer and actor, known for Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Stella (1955) and Gia to psomi kai ton erota (1959). He was married to Zoe Samara. He died on 18 January 1984 in London, England, UK.Συνεφιασμένη Κυριακή, Αραπίνες- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Fotis Polymeris was a Greek guitarist, singer and composer. One of the most important singers and composers of light music, who performed and composed songs that have marked his era, the best of which is "Asta ta mallakia sou". He was born in Patras, while his real name was Fotios Palimeris. He stood out in singing competitions since he was a little boy and composed more than 100 songs. Before the war, he had released his first album. He worked with all the great composers and singers, as well as with Greek rebetiko artists such as Vasilis Tsitsanis, Giorgos Mitsakis, Giannis Papaioannou, Markos Vamvakaris and others. He recorded more than 200 songs. In 2004, he wrote his autobiography.- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Mihalis Rozakis is known for Ena senario einai i zoi mas (1985), She Knew No Other Way (1973) and Irthes san oneiro (2000).(Mike Rozakis) & The Playboys Έτσι είν' η ζωή (❤´艸`❤) listen to, (❤´艸`❤) Προβλήματα listen to (❤´艸`❤) Mike Rozakis more about- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Stamatis Spanoudakis was born on 11 December 1948 in Omonia, Athens, Greece. He is a composer, known for Brides (2004), Prometheus in Second Person (1975) and The Color of Iris (1974).Αλέξανδρος- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
Tzimis Panousis was born on 12 February 1954 in Athens, Greece. He was an actor and composer, known for Pizza 2027, O Drakoulas ton Exarheion (1983) and Tzimis Panousis: Kagela pantou (1986). He died on 13 January 2018 in Athens, Greece.Εγώ κι Εσύ- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Nikos Portokaloglou was born on 30 December 1957 in Volos, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Parees (2007), Brazilero (2001) and ...kai dyo avga Tourkias (1987).Δίψα- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Alkinoos Ioannidis was born on 19 September 1969 in Nicosia, Cyprus. He is an actor and composer, known for Eisai to tairi mou! (2001), Constantine's and Helen's (1998) and Ta paidia tou oneirou (1993).Στην αγορά του Αλ-Χαλίλι ◑﹏◐ Listen to- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Babis Bakalis is known for Afti i nyhta menei (2000), Vasika... kalispera sas (1982) and Xanagyrise konta mou (1965).- Music Department
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Eftyhia Papagiannopoulou was born in 1893 in Aydin, Turkey. She was an actress, known for A Good-hearted Bum (1952), Kapote klaine kai oi dynatoi (1967) and Large Highways (1953). She died on 7 January 1972.Η Φαντασία μου (✿◡‿◡) Η Φαντασία μου (Στιχουργός)- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Apostolos Kaldaras was born on 7 April 1922 in Trikala, Greece. He was a composer and actor, known for Kapote klaine kai oi dynatoi (1967), Apokliroi tis koinonias (1965) and Agapisa kai ponesa (1963). He died on 8 April 1990.Η Φαντασία μου (✿◡‿◡) Η Φαντασία μου (Ευτυχία Παπαγιαννοπούλου Στιχουργός)- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Mimis Plessas was born on 12 October 1924 in Athens, Greece. He is a composer and actor, known for Bullets Don't Come Back (1967), Trikymia mias kardias (1969) and Gorgones kai mages (1968). He is married to Loukila Kerrer-Plessa.- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Loukianos Kilaidonis is primarily a quality music composer and singer and well known in Greece. He was famous for organizing the great beach parties in '80s Athens in Varkiza and Vouliagmeni. His songs are mostly humorous and portray the everyday life of the working class. His signature outfits and long grey hair give him a revolutionary air. He's quite simple and easy going and quite the fun maker. He's the soul of the party!Ο ύμνος των μαύρων σκυλιών- Music Department
- Actor
- Composer
Pashalis is known for Eisai to tairi mou! (2001), Blackmail Boy (2003) and Granita apo melani (1983).Πασχάλης Αρβανιτίδης & The Olympians (✿◡‿◡) Σχολείο (Στίχοι)- Actress
- Composer
- Music Department
Nini Zaha is known for Lili and the Womanizer (1959), Adieu, Lebewohl, Goodbye (1961) and Aleka Kanellidou: Efimerida (1991).- Actress
- Composer
- Music Department
Arleta was born on 3 May 1945 in Athens, Greece. She was an actress and composer, known for Arleta: Ah, beba! (1991), Arleta: Bar 'To navagio' (1991) and Arleta: Na pethaneis (1993). She died on 8 August 2017 in Athens, Greece.Σερενάτα, Διδυμότειχο μπλουζ