Antonis Papadakis

Who was Antonis Papadakis?

Antonis Papadakis, or Kareklas was a Cretan musician and famous for his superb lyra performance. He was born in Pervolia, Rethymno and started playing the lyra since he was a kid. He is considered as one of the most important lyra performers of the early 20th century. When he started playing lyra the laouto was not yet established as an accompanying instrument of the lyre in Crete. Thus, he was occasionally using the string instrument boulgari as accompanying instrument, popular at that time in the Rethymnon. Bouzouki was a typical accompanying instrument for lyra at that time.

Kareklas' bohemian style was characteristic of his time; he died in the Chania incurable asylum in 1980 at the age of 87.