| Background | non_vocal_instrumentalist |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 11 December 1948 (age 77) |
| Birth place | Athens, Greece |
| Instrument | Vocals, keyboards, piano, electric and acoustic guitars, bass, bouzouki and drums |
| Genre | Instrumental, religious, soundtracks and songs |
| Occupation | Composer, lyricist, arranger, producer and performer |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Label | Philips, Seagull, ΕΜΙ, Lyra, MINOS EMI, CBS/Sony Music, Polydor, Warner Music, Stam Studio |
| Associated acts | Demis Roussos, Eleni Vitali, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Alkisitis Protopsalti, Manolis Mitsias, Yiannis Parios, Vassilis Saleas, Giannis Koutras, Mihalis Dimitriadis, Electra, Petros Gaitanos |
| Website | www.stamatisspanoudakis.com |
Stamatis Spanoudakis (Greek: Σταμάτης Σπανουδάκης; born 11 December 1948 in Athens, Greece) is a modern Greek classical composer. In his early career, he studied classical guitar. He shifted to rock music, but then continued classical studies at the Würzburg State Conservatory (now the Hochschule für Musik) with Bertold Hummel and later in Athens with Konstantinos Kydoniatis. Later, he studied Byzantine music. He has worked with various Greek singers, composing the music and writing the lyrics for a large number of hit songs (I akti, Pame gi’alles polities, Lathos epohi, Simera, Efiges noris, Zoi klemmeni, Kalimera ti kanis). With his religious works, he has provided a very different perspective of contemporary Byzantine music (Kyrie ton Dynameon, Efta Paraklisis, Imera Triti, Earini Ora). He has also composed numerous soundtracks (Colours of Iris, Angel, Sudden Love, Stone Years, All in a road, Brides). Since 1994, he has exclusively composed instrumental music, such as music that embraces Greece's history and religion (Alexandros, John's Tear, Marble King, For Smyrni, A Piece of My Soul, Moments Gone, Alexandros II, Rejoice my sea).
Biography
Stamatis Spanoudakis hails from an esteemed Greek family in Athens. His early fascination with music led him to pursue classical studies, specializing in guitar and theory. In the 1960s and 1970s, he immersed himself in the rock and pop scene, playing bass guitar and keyboards in various bands across Athens, Paris, and London. During this time, he also recorded his first albums.
Returning to his classical roots, Spanoudakis resumed his composition studies under the guidance of Professor Bertold Hummel in Würzburg and Professor Konstantinos Kydoniatis in Athens. A subsequent exploration of Byzantine music ignited his passion for Greek songwriting and instrumental compositions.
Today, Spanoudakis strives to seamlessly integrate his diverse musical influences—rock, classical, and Byzantine—into his work. He has penned numerous hit songs for renowned Greek musicians and composed scores for successful films, theater productions, and television programs in Greece, Germany, and Italy. With a discography exceeding sixty albums, his contributions to the music industry are extensive.
Since 1995, Spanoudakis has focused on instrumental music inspired by Greek historical and religious themes, garnering significant popularity in Greece. He currently resides in a suburb of Athens with his wife, Dori, and their four dogs. In his personal studio, Spanoudakis records, composes, arranges, produces, performs, and engineers his musical endeavors.[1]
Discography
| Album/CD title | Published by | Year |
|---|---|---|
Beautiful Lies Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis | Philips | 1971 |
Looking Back Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis | Seagull | 1974 |
Promitheus Original soundtrack from the film by Kostas Feris | Seagull | 1974 |
Colours of iris Original soundtrack from the film by Nikos Panayiotopoulos | Seagull | 1975 |
To the first musician A religious record with Stamatis and a vocal group of friends | Seagull | 1977 |
Let's listen together Stories for children. Texts by Maria Goumenopoulou. Nαrrαted by Kostas Giannikos | Seagull | 1977 |
Nestor's company Children's songs, with Nestor, Dori, Eva and Stamatis | Seagull | 1977 |
Nestor's dream Children's songs, with Nestor, Dori and Stamatis | Seagull | 1978 |
| Maran atha Stamatis's first instrumental record | Seagull | 1978 |
Songs of love Songs with Dimitris Tamposis and friends | Seagull | 1979 |
| The garden with the statues Music from the TV series of Pantelis Voulgaris | ΕΜΙ | 1980 |
| The story teller Music from the TV series of Nikos Pilavios | Seagull | 1980 |
| The story teller ΙΙ Music from the TV series of Nikos Pilavios | Seagull | 1981 |
Lord of the powers A religious record with Giannis Koutras and Eleni Vitali | Lyra | 1981 |
Angel Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Katakouzinos | Lyra | 1981 |
Dies Irae A religious record with Michalis Dimitriades and Electra | Lyra | 1982 |
Sudden love Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Tsemperopoulos | MINOS EMI | 1983 |
Something is happening here The first collaboration of Stamatis with Vassilis Saleas. With Giannis Ekmektsoglou on electric guitar and Chiko on drums. . | MINOS EMI | 1984 |
Seven prayers A religious record with Eleni Vitali and children's choir | MINOS EMI | 1985 |
Senza tempo Songs with Demi Roussos | Warner Music | 1985 |
Stone years Original soundtrack from the film by Pantelis Voulgaris | Lyra | 1985 |
Contrabando Songs with Eleutheria Arvanitaki. This was his first whole album, for a singer | Lyra | 1987 |
Absences Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Katakouzinos | Lyra | 1987 |
On the way Songs with Stamatis Spanoudakis | Lyra | 1987 |
And we came into the years Songs with Eleni Vitali | Columbia/ Sony Music | 1988 |
Two steps from the sand Songs with Alkistis Protopsalti | Polygram | 1989 |
Tanirama Songs with Eleutheria Arvanitaki | Polygram | 1989 |
Ping Pong A rock record, with electric and acoustic guitars, synths and drums. | Polygram | 1989 |
Striker Number 9 Original soundtrack from the film by Pantelis Voulgaris Striker no 9 | CBS | 1989 |
Third Day A religious record with Manolis Mitsias and Vassilis Saleas | CBS | 1990 |
The dilemma Songs with Petros Gaitanos | Polygram | 1990 |
Bye bye Original soundtrack from the film by Giorgos Tsemperopoulos | Columbia/ Sony Music | 1991 |
I'm fine, thank you Songs with Manolis Mitsias | Sony Music | 1991 |
Thalassa . | Sony Music | 1992 |
Touch Songs with Giannis Parios | Minos EMI | 1992 |
Where do you go when you sleep Songs with Dori Spanoudakis | MINOS EMI | 1992 |
Iris / Promitheus / Maran atha 3 of the earlier instrumental and soundtracks, together in one record | Stam Studio | 1994 |
With words A compilation of hit songs | Stam Studio | 1994 |
Alexandros (The myth of the east, the dream of the west) This album tells the tale of Alexander the Great | Stam Studio | 1994 |
Moments gone . | Stam Studio | 1995 |
Holy Hour An album filled with melodies of the Greek orthodox religious hymns as well as originals by the artist. With Vassilis Saleas and Lefteris Zervas | Stam Studio | 1995 |
John's Tear Music for the revelation of St. John | Stam Studio | 1996 |
Moments gone II Contemporary musical arrangements | Stam Studio | 1996 |
The Marble King A musical impression of Constantine Palaiologos, the last martyr Emperor of Constantinople. A tribute to Agia Sofia and the fall of his beloved city in 1453. | Stam Studio | 1998 |
All In A Journey Original soundtrack of the film by Pantelis Voulgaris. It includes the saxophone and Greek lyra, accompanied by piano and contrabass. | Stam Studio | 1998 |
| Facing the audience A live performance of the best of Spanoudakis's works, performed by a string orchestra, a choir and an elite of soloists of traditional Greek instruments | Stam Studio | 1998 |
| Nineteenhundredandninetynine A musical journey honoring the year before the millennium | Stam Studio | 1999 |
| Before the exhibition A compilation of Stamatis's music made for artist's Vasiliki exhibition in Paris | Stam Studio | 2000 |
| Moments gone III . | Stam Studio | 2000 |
| For Smyrni The artist's musical perception of events that took place in Smyrni in the early twentieth century | Stam Studio | 2001 |
| The Essential Collection The absolute "Best of" Stamatis Spanoudakis's works. Digitally remastered all on a double CD album. | Stam Studio | 2002 |
| Piece of my soul A combination of children's voices and mixed teenage choir with Spyros Lambrou choir | Stam Studio | 2003 |
| Music for films A compilation of film themes | Stam Studio | 2004 |
Brides Original soundtrack of the film "Brides". Directed by Pantelis Voulgaris and produced by Martin Scorsese. Includes traditional instruments and Byzantine voices. | Stam Studio | 2004 |
| Live at the Royal Albert Hall Some of the best pieces of Stamatis Spanoudakis, performed live at the Royal Albert Hall by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the London Symphony Choir. | Stam Studio | 2006 |
Alexandros II (Paths you never walked) Performed by ERT Symphony Orchestra and Choir and Stamatis's band | Lyra | 2009 |
| Live in China Live recording in Beijing. Performed live by ERT Symphony Orchestra and Choir and Stamatis's band. | Stam Studio | 2009 |
Je veux toujours être avec toi Various tracks with Dori Spanoudakis, in French | Stam Studio | 2011 |
Rejoice my sea A blend of melodies children's voices, classical and ambient orchestrations, guitars, pianos and violins. | Stam Studio | 2013 |
Bathed in the sun . | Stam Studio | 2016 |
References
- ^ "Bio etc.". Stamatis Spanoudakis. Retrieved 2024-08-28.