(1920–2006) | Born in Psachna, Euboea, he was one of the most renowned traditional musicians of his generation. He learned the violin from his father and grandfather, who were both musicians themselves. He completed only primary school, as from an early age he travelled across Greece playing at village festivals.
He moved to Athens in 1958, already popular, and went on to build a distinguished career, touring extensively around the world. He performed island, mainland and Asia Minor repertoire, collaborating with all the major figures of Greek folk music. He appeared in all the well-known venues, as well as at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Athens Concert Hall. He was the favored violinist who accompanied exclusively prominent Armenian zeibekiko dancers. He participated in numerous radio and television broadcasts by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation and recorded more than two thousand songs. A milestone in his career was his collaboration with Sir Yehudi Menuhin in an advertising recording made in France.
He worked with Domna Samiou for many years, not only in discography but also accompanying her in numerous concerts in Greece and abroad.
Source: Yiorgos E. Papadakis’ archive
