Kostas Mountakis

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Kostas Mountakis ( Greek Κώστας Μουντάκης , * February 10, 1926 in Alpha ; † January 31, 1991 in Athens ) was a Greek lyre player.

Mountakis was the son of the singer and dancer Nikos Mountakis , who died shortly after his birth. After attending high school, he was unable to continue his education due to financial problems with the family. He joined the gendarmerie in 1948 and worked in Sophoklis Venizelos ' office from 1950 to 1952 , then for 16 years in the fertilizer factory in Drapetsona.

As a child, Mountakis came into contact with traditional Cretan music through his family and in the 1940s he played the lyre in the coffee house of his hometown. During his time in the fertilizer factory, he made his first radio appearances in Simon Kara's program, which focused on traditional Cretan music. From 1955 onwards he made numerous recordings. In Athens he founded the tavern Chania with the employees Nikos Manias and later Giannis Xylouris and Vangelis Markogiannakis , where he performed on the weekends.

In 1961 he traveled to the USA for the first time, another tour took him in 1971 to Canada, Australia and South Africa, among others. Due to health problems, he had to cut back on his activities from 1975 and began to teach Lyra with his son Manos Mountakis in Iraklia and Chania, among others. In 1985 he founded the Hellenic Conservatory in Athens. One of his most famous students was the Irish musician Ross Daly . He also supported the Institute for Mediterranean Research and contributed to research programs of the Institute for Ethnic Music. The first Cretan music festival in Athens in 1992 was dedicated to his memory.

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personal data
SURNAME Mountakis, Kostas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Greek lyre player
DATE OF BIRTH February 10, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Alpha (Greece)
DATE OF DEATH January 31, 1991
Place of death Athens