Akordeon manos loizos biography

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akordeon manos loizos biography

By 1975 Loizos had become one of the most popular artists in Greek music.

He died on 17 September 1982 in a hospital in Moscow, Soviet Union after suffering several strokes. On November 17th he was arrested at his home in Holargos and was further held for 10 days.

End 1974, he released his album The Songs of the Street, featuring all forbidden or unrecorded songs of the previous years due to censorship.

Many songs followed which became a success such as Delfini Delfinaki, Akornteon, Tzamaika, Deka Palikaria, Koutsi Kithara, Ah Xelidoni mou, Paporaki tou Mbournova, Proti Maiou and many others. Includes one of her biggest hits ‘Ola Se Thimizoun’. After graduating from the Averofio School in Alexandria in 1955, he relocated to Athens to pursue his studies.

He was enrolled in the Pharmacology School of the University of Athens.

Besides himself, lyrics for his songs were written by Lefteris Papadopoulos, Kostoulas Mitropolou, and Giannis Negrepontis. He was born on October 22nd, 1937, in Alexandria. Manos Loizos' songs and music remain popular until today among all ages of the Greek society.
Studio albums

YearTitleChart positionsCertification
GRE[2]CYP[3]
1968O Stathmos

(Greek: Ο Σταθμός; English: The Station)

  • Début studio album
  • First album ever in Greek market bearing the ‘MINOS’ logo
  • Lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos
  • Singers of the album were Yiannis Kalantzis, George Dalaras, Litsa Diamanti and Dimitris Efstathiou
  • Released: December 1968
  • Language: Greek
  • Label: Minos EMI
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
——
1970Thalassografies

(Greek: Θαλασσογραφίες; English: Sea Drawings)

  • 2nd studio album
  • Lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos
  • Singers of the album were Manos Loizos, George Dalaras, Yiannis Kalantzis, Yiannis Parios and Mariza Koch
  • Released: October 1970
  • Language: Greek
  • Label: Minos EMI
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
——
1971Evdokia

(Greek: Ευδοκία)

  • 1st soundtrack album
  • Movie ‘Evdokia’ was directed by Alexis Damianos
  • Released: December 1971
  • Language: Greek
  • Label: Minos EMI
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
——
1972Na Chame Ti Na Chame

(Greek: Να ‘Χαμε Τι Να ‘Χαμε; English: If We Had)

  • 3rd studio album
  • Lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos
  • Lyrics of the album were censored due to dictatorship.
  • Singers of the album were George Dalaras, Yiannis Kalantzis, Manos Loizos and Haris Alexiou (backing vocals)
  • Released: December 1972
  • Language: Greek
  • Label: Minos EMI
  • Formats: LP, cassette, CD
——
1974Kalimera Ilie

(Greek: Καλημέρα Ήλιε; English: Goodmorning Sun)

  • 4th studio album
  • Lyrics by Dimitris Christodoulou
  • Lyrics of the album were censored due to dictatorship.
  • Singers of the album were Kostas Smokovitis, Haris Alexiou and Aleka Aliberti.
  • Recording sessions were made in November 1973 during riots against the Greek military junta.
  • Self-titled song has been used as the anthem of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement since 1974.

    Ten days later, Manos Loizos died on September 17th, 1982.

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    Manos Loizos (22/10/1937 - 17/09/1982)

    Manos Loizoswas one of the most important Modern Greek composers.

    He was born in 1937 in Larnaca, Cyprus, but when he was very young, his family moved to Alexandria, Egypt, in search for a better life.

    During the period 1974 – 1977, he was one of the main composers of political songs. During a short time, he also joined the Vakalo Art & Design College to study painting. Later, he enrolled at the Higher School of Financial and Commercial Studies. He graduated from the Alexandria high school and in 1955, he moved with his family to Athens so he could study.

    He wrote songs using many styles (Elafrolaiko, Laiko, Ballads, “Neo Kima” etc). He was a self-taught musician, with no formal musical arts training. He studied music from a very early age; he enrolled at a local conservatory and started learning to play the violin, before deciding to play the guitar.

    Manos Loizos

    Manos Loizos

    A great Cypriot composer from the community of Agion Vavatsinias

    Manos Loizos was a Cypriot composer (his father came from Agion Vavatsinias and lived in the village and his mother came from Greece), who is considered one of the most important artists in the late years of Greek music.

    His best known co-operation was with his very personal friend, lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos who wrote the lyrics of many of Loizos' most successful hits.

    Some of Loizos' most famous songs are :

    "Ola se thymizoun (Everything Reminds Me of You)" Lyrics: Manolis Rassoulis
    "Jamaica" Lyrics: Lefteris Papadopoulos
    "S' Akoloutho (I follow you)" Lyrics: himself
    "To Akordeon (The Accordion)" Lyrics: Yannis Negrepontis
    "O Dromos (The Street)" Lyrics: Kostoula Mitropoulos
    "Che" (dedicated to Che Guevara) Lyrics: himself
    "Ah Helidoni mu (Ah, my swallow)" Lyrics: Lefteris Papadopoulos
    "De Tha Ksanagapiso (I Shall not Love Again)" Lyrics: Lefteris Papadopoulos
    "Paporaki tou Burnova (Paporaki of Burnova)" Lyrics: Lefteris Papadopoulos
    "O Koutalianos" Lyrics: Lefteris Papadopoulos
    "Evdokia" (Instrumental Zeibekiko)

    In 1985, a big concert dedicated to his memory took place in the Athens Olympic Stadium, attended by more than 50,000 people.

    However, he quit in 1956 and started following courses at the School of Economics and Business. The year 2007 was declared "Manos Loizos Year" in Greece.

    Discography

    He composed many well-known Greek songs and has co-operated with various important composers, singers and lyricists like Mikis Theodorakis, Haris Alexiou, George Dalaras, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Christos Leontis, Fondas Ladis, Yannis Negrepontis, Manolis Rasoulis, Giannis Kalatzis, Nazim Hikmet and many others.

    In 1978, he was appointed Chairman of the Association of Songwriters and Lyricists of Greece. In 1978, he became president of the Greek Composers Union and takes a leading role in the creation of a copyright collecting agency.