Biography
Nikos Xylouris (Greek Νίκος Ξυλούρης, 7 July 1936 - 8 February 1980) was a Greek composer and singer from the village of Anoghia in Crete and also the older brother of another great musician of Cretan music, Antonis Xilouris or Psarantonis. He was part of the movement that brought down the Greek military Junta of 1967. His songs and music captured and described the Greek psyche and demeanor.
He acquired his first lyre at the age of twelve and displayed potential to play local folk music. Xilouris was 17 years of age when he started performances at Kastro folk music-restaurant in Heraklion.
A turning point in Nikos Xilouris' career occurred with a recording in 1958. He first performed outside Greece in 1966 and won the first prize in the San Remo folk music festival. In 1967 he established the first Cretan Music Hall, Erotokritos, in the city of Heraklion on the island of Crete. The recording of Anyfantou in 1969 was a big success. Xilouris soon started performances in Athens, which became his new permanent residence, at the Konaki folk music hall.
He died in 1980 from a brain tumor.
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