Stamatis Kraounakis
Encyclopedia
Stamatis Kraounakis is one of the most important contemporary Greek pop music composers. His works have characterised the decades of 1980s and 1990s in Greece. He is also a lyricist
, singer, producer and writer
. He was born and lives in Athens
and has studied Political Science
in Panteion University
. He has composed music for more than 40 album
s and 50 theatre plays.
, with the music for the performance Varieme (1977). In 1981 he made his first big collaboration, with the music for the album Skouriasmena Hilia (Σκουριασμένα χείλια) performed by Vicky Mosholiou.
In Panteion University Stamatis Kraounakis met the poet Lina Nikolakopoulou
, with whom he produced more than 80% of his work. In October 1985 they created and released the album Kikloforo Ki Oploforo with Alkistis Protopsalti
as leading singer, that sold over 200.000 copies and is considered one of the classic pop records of the 20th century in Greece.
Since 1982 Stamatis Kraounakis has an uninterrupted present in Greek music and has collaborated with a number of important Greek singers, like Manolis Mitsias, Dimitra Galani, Tania Tsanaklidou
, Eleftheria Arvanitaki
, while he introduced new singers, like Kostas Makedonas, Dimitris Basis
, Stelios Dionisiou, and Polina Misailidou
.
Since 1990 he has dealt with Greek theatrical plays that could be musically developed, releasing musical monologues, new techniques and songs with extended musical introductions. In addition, he introduced a new way of presenting musical shows, using the songs as music theatrical dialogue and the singers as heroes of a fictional tale.
In 1997 he accepted the position of artistic director in the Municipal Theater of the city of Kavala
, where he established a new era with three significant productions - Ktistes by Giorgos Chimonas, Gro Plan by Giorgos Maniotis, and Aristophanes
' Ploutos
under the direction of Nikos Mastorakis.
In 1998, Stamatis Kraounakis's seminars for song interpretation led his young students to the creation of the artistic group Speira Speira. Under his direction, Speira Speira successfully performed the All In Black and a Piano show, from October 1999 to April 2001.
In 2000 his music for the movie of Nikos Panagiotopoulos Afti I Nihta Menei (This Is The Last Night) took the National Award in Thessaloniki Film Festival, while his music for the TV series Istera Irthan I Melisses (And Then The Bees Came) (based on the book by Yiannis Xanthoulis) took the Award for Best Music in the Television Awards.
In 2002 his music for the movie of Nikos Panagiotopoulos Kourastika Na Skotono Tous Agapitikous Sou (Tired Of Killing Your Lovers) took the Arion Award for Best Soundtrack.
During 2004 Stamatis Kraounakis composed the music for Nikos Panagiotopoulos' movie Delivery, as well as music for Aristophanes' Ploutos for the Athens Festival
in Epidavros
.
In May 2004 he was invited by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
in London
to compose music for the project "Installation 496".
Recently, he has written the theme song for one of the most popular TV series in Greece, Maria, i Aschimi
, the Greek version of Ugly Betty
.
In 2010 he voiced Louis the alligator in the Greek language
version of The Princess and the Frog.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
, singer, producer and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was born and lives in 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 has studied Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
in Panteion University
Panteion University
The Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences , usually referred to simply as the Panteion University, is a university located in Athens, Greece...
. He has composed music for more than 40 album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and 50 theatre plays.
Biography
Stamatis Kraounakis studied music with Mrs Klelia Terzakis and made his first appearance in 1978, writing the music for the album To Spiti Tou Agamemnona. One year earlier he had made his debut in theatreTheatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, with the music for the performance Varieme (1977). In 1981 he made his first big collaboration, with the music for the album Skouriasmena Hilia (Σκουριασμένα χείλια) performed by Vicky Mosholiou.
In Panteion University Stamatis Kraounakis met the poet Lina Nikolakopoulou
Lina Nikolakopoulou
Evangelia Nikolakopoulou is widely recognised as one of the foremost lyricists in Greece. She was born in Methana at June 30, 1958 and she studied social and political sciences at the Panteion University in Athens. This is where she met the composer Stamatis Kraounakis, who is the man that she...
, with whom he produced more than 80% of his work. In October 1985 they created and released the album Kikloforo Ki Oploforo with Alkistis Protopsalti
Alkistis Protopsalti
Alkistis Protopsalti , born as Alkistis Sevasti Attikuzel ) is a Greek singer.- Early life :Alkistis Protopsalti was born in 18 October 1954 in Alexandria, Egypt by Egyptiot parents....
as leading singer, that sold over 200.000 copies and is considered one of the classic pop records of the 20th century in Greece.
Since 1982 Stamatis Kraounakis has an uninterrupted present in Greek music and has collaborated with a number of important Greek singers, like Manolis Mitsias, Dimitra Galani, Tania Tsanaklidou
Tania Tsanaklidou
Soultana Tsanaklidou is a Greek artist, both singer and actress, who represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978.-Biography:...
, Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki
Eleftheria Arvanitaki is a Greek folk singer. She originates from the island of Icaria...
, while he introduced new singers, like Kostas Makedonas, Dimitris Basis
Dimitris Basis
Dimitris Basis, is a Greek singer musician. He is from the village of Cherso, near the city of Kilkis.Dimitris Mpasis was born in Stuttgart. His parents lived in Germany for some years...
, Stelios Dionisiou, and Polina Misailidou
Polina Misailidou
Polina Paraskevi Misailidou is a Greek singer, who is better known in her own country simply as Polina.Polina was born and raised in Nea Smyrni, a suburb south of Athens. She started her career in 1977 singing the song "Lives" at the Thessaloniki Song Festival...
.
Since 1990 he has dealt with Greek theatrical plays that could be musically developed, releasing musical monologues, new techniques and songs with extended musical introductions. In addition, he introduced a new way of presenting musical shows, using the songs as music theatrical dialogue and the singers as heroes of a fictional tale.
In 1997 he accepted the position of artistic director in the Municipal Theater of the city of Kavala
Kavala
Kavala , is the second largest city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala peripheral unit. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos...
, where he established a new era with three significant productions - Ktistes by Giorgos Chimonas, Gro Plan by Giorgos Maniotis, and Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
' Ploutos
Plutus (play)
Plutus is an Ancient Greek comedy by the playwrightAristophanes, first produced c. 388 BC. A political satire on contemporary Athens, it features the personified god of wealth Plutus...
under the direction of Nikos Mastorakis.
In 1998, Stamatis Kraounakis's seminars for song interpretation led his young students to the creation of the artistic group Speira Speira. Under his direction, Speira Speira successfully performed the All In Black and a Piano show, from October 1999 to April 2001.
In 2000 his music for the movie of Nikos Panagiotopoulos Afti I Nihta Menei (This Is The Last Night) took the National Award in Thessaloniki Film Festival, while his music for the TV series Istera Irthan I Melisses (And Then The Bees Came) (based on the book by Yiannis Xanthoulis) took the Award for Best Music in the Television Awards.
In 2002 his music for the movie of Nikos Panagiotopoulos Kourastika Na Skotono Tous Agapitikous Sou (Tired Of Killing Your Lovers) took the Arion Award for Best Soundtrack.
During 2004 Stamatis Kraounakis composed the music for Nikos Panagiotopoulos' movie Delivery, as well as music for Aristophanes' Ploutos for the Athens Festival
Athens Festival
Athens - Epidaurus Festival is an annual arts festival that takes place in Athens and Epidaurus, from May to October. It is one of the most famous festivals in Greece. The festival includes musical, theatrical and other cultural events....
in Epidavros
Epidaurus
Epidaurus was a small city in ancient Greece, at the Saronic Gulf. Two modern towns bear the name Epidavros : Palaia Epidavros and Nea Epidavros. Since 2010 they belong to the new municipality of Epidavros, part of the peripheral unit of Argolis...
.
In May 2004 he was invited by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to compose music for the project "Installation 496".
Recently, he has written the theme song for one of the most popular TV series in Greece, Maria, i Aschimi
Maria, i Aschimi
Maria, i Aschimi is the Greek adaptation of the Colombian telenovela Betty la Fea. The series ran from 2007 to 2008 on Mega Channel in Greece...
, the Greek version of Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty
Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea...
.
In 2010 he voiced Louis the alligator in the Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
version of The Princess and the Frog.
Discography
- Album discography: 60 albums and 14 collaborations
- Shows: Music for 20 shows and 1 ballet
- Theatre: Music for 54 performances (31 contemporary theatre, 9 comedies, 8 Ancient Greek drama, 6 children theatre)
- Cinema: Music for 4 films
- Television: Music for 6 TV series