(1920-2006). Alekos Arapakis was born in the Psahna area in Euboea. One of the most celebrated traditional musicians of his generation, he was taught violin by his father and grandfather. He was only able to complete an elementary formal education since from a very young age he toured the country performing in festivals.
He was already an established musician when he moved to Athens in 1958 and he toured all over the world during his career. His repertoire covered music and songs from the islands, the mainland and Asia Minor. He collaborated with all the great figures of traditional Greek music and performed in all the well-known venues of the genre, as well as in more formal settings, such as the ‘Herodio’ Theatre and the Athens Concert Hall. He was the favoured and exclusive violinist of some of the leading Armenian Zeibekiko dancers, including Takoui, Syranous, and Bouranous. He participated in numerous programs of the Greek state radio and television and recorded more than two thousand songs. One of the highlights of his career was his collaboration with Sir Yehoudi Menouhin in a promotional recording in Paris.
He collaborated with Domna Samiou over a number of years, both in the recording studio and accompanying her in live performances in Greece and abroad.
Source: Yiorgos E. Papadakis‘ archive
