Stavros Koujioumtzis
Encyclopedia
Stavros Kouyioumtzis, also Kougioumtzis, Kouyoumtzis, or Koujioumtzis, (1932 – 12 March 2005) is one of the most significant Greek
music composer
s of the 20th century.
He was born in Thessaloniki
in 1932. He wrote his first song in 1960. After that, he started composing many songs and advanced his co-operation with many new singers. In the late 1960s, he co-operated with the then 19-years old George Dalaras
. He wrote Dalaras' first songs and helped him to emerge as one of the most important and successful Greek singers.
Kouyioumtzis has to show various co-operations with some of the most important Greek singers, Anna Vissi
, Haris Alexiou
, Yiannis Parios, Eleftheria Arvanitaki
and Giorgos Kalatzis. He had, also, co-operated in many songs with the poet-lyricist Manos Eleftheriou.
Kouyioumtzis songs are regarded as top-quality music in Greece
. Moreover, in many of his songs he himself wrote the lyrics; wonderful lyrics. Every Kouyioumtzis' song contains a message; either of love, poverty or the agony of the poor to live with dignity. According to lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos
, Kouyioumtzis "followed the music spirit which was dominant in Greece during the last 25 years (from 1965 to 1990) through the music of Mikis Theodorakis
and Manos Hadjidakis
". However, it is clear that Kouyioumtzis music is something different; has its own unique type and character.
It is generally acceptable that Stavros Kouyioumtzis was a character of calm disposition and an excellent man in the field of Greek music. A bashful character himself, it is characteristic that Kouyioumtzis was not appearing in the media, except on special occasions. His last appearance on television was in the entertainment music show of Spyros Papadopoulos on NET TV
. During the last few years he left Athens
and moved back to his birthplace, Thessaloniki, where he continued working on music and songs until he died suddenly on 12 March 2005. His funeral took place at the Cathedral in the Municipality of Kalamaria
and he was buried at the cemetery of Kalamaria, in East Thessaloniki.
Some of Stavros Kouyioumtzis' most famous songs are:
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
music composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s of the 20th century.
He was born in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
in 1932. He wrote his first song in 1960. After that, he started composing many songs and advanced his co-operation with many new singers. In the late 1960s, he co-operated with the then 19-years old George Dalaras
George Dalaras
George Dalaras , also possibly spelled as Yorgos or Giorgos Dalaras, is a Greek singer. He is of international fame and has recently been selected as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. He was born in Nea Kokinia, Piraeus. His father was Loukas Daralas, a singer of rebetiko.-Early...
. He wrote Dalaras' first songs and helped him to emerge as one of the most important and successful Greek singers.
Kouyioumtzis has to show various co-operations with some of the most important Greek singers, Anna Vissi
Anna Vissi
Anna Vissi , known as Anna Vishy in Cypriot Greek, is a Greek-Cypriot recording artist and actress...
, Haris Alexiou
Haris Alexiou
Haris Alexiou is a Greek singer. She is considered one of the most popular singers in Greece and has been commercially successful since the 1970s. She has worked with important Greek songwriters and composers, has performed at top musical theatres all over the world and has received several awards...
, Yiannis Parios, Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki is a Greek folk singer. She originates from the island of Icaria...
and Giorgos Kalatzis. He had, also, co-operated in many songs with the poet-lyricist Manos Eleftheriou.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Moreover, in many of his songs he himself wrote the lyrics; wonderful lyrics. Every Kouyioumtzis' song contains a message; either of love, poverty or the agony of the poor to live with dignity. According to lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos
Lefteris Papadopoulos
Lefteris Papadopoulos is a Greek lyricist, writer and journalist.Lefteris Papadopoulos was born in Athens, Greece on 14 November 1935. He is the son of Greek refugees from the Asia Minor and Russia. He enrolled at the Law School of the University of Athens but he stopped during the third year in...
, Kouyioumtzis "followed the music spirit which was dominant in Greece during the last 25 years (from 1965 to 1990) through the music of Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis
Mikis Theodorakis is one of the most renowned Greek songwriters and composers. Internationally, he is probably best known for his songs and for his scores for the films Zorba the Greek , Z , and Serpico .Politically, he identified with the left until the late 1980s; in 1989, he ran as an...
and Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
". However, it is clear that Kouyioumtzis music is something different; has its own unique type and character.
It is generally acceptable that Stavros Kouyioumtzis was a character of calm disposition and an excellent man in the field of Greek music. A bashful character himself, it is characteristic that Kouyioumtzis was not appearing in the media, except on special occasions. His last appearance on television was in the entertainment music show of Spyros Papadopoulos on NET TV
New Hellenic Television
New Hellenic Television , branded as NET, is the second television network of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation , the public broadcaster of Greece. It is mainly a news and information channel that broadcasts daily newscasts with national and international news, documentaries, talkshows, current...
. During the last few years he left Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and moved back to his birthplace, Thessaloniki, where he continued working on music and songs until he died suddenly on 12 March 2005. His funeral took place at the Cathedral in the Municipality of Kalamaria
Kalamaria
Kalamariá is a municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area, located about 7 km southeast of downtown Thessaloniki. It is the second largest municipality of the Thessaloniki Urban Area as well as one of the largest in Greece, with a population increase of 8% since the 1991...
and he was buried at the cemetery of Kalamaria, in East Thessaloniki.
Some of Stavros Kouyioumtzis' most famous songs are:
- Pou'ne ta hronia (Where are the years gone by)
- Mi mu thymonis matia mou (Don't be angry with me, my love)
- Enas kompos i chara mou (One drop is all my joy)
- Natane to 21 (If it was 1821)
- To kokkino foustani (The red dress)
- Kapou nichtoni (Somewhere the night is falling)
- Sta hronia tis ypomonis (In the times of patience)
- Kapios htypise tin porta (Someone knocked on the door)
- Hronia san vrochi (Years like rain)
- I eleftheri ke oreoi (Those free and beautiful)
- Kapion allon filises (You kissed someone else)
- Matia mou, Matia mou (Oh thou dear as my eyes)
- Ta hrei tis kardias sou (Your heart's debts)
- Ola Kala (Everything is all right)