Stavros Koujioumtzis

Who was Stavros Koujioumtzis?

Stavros Kouyioumtzis, also Kougioumtzis, Kouyoumtzis, or Koujioumtzis, is one of the most significant Greek music composers 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 Giannis 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 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.