Loading details…
Artist
Mixalis Tzouganakis
12+ albums
cretanfolk
about
Biography Crete is his homeland. Sfakia, his roots. Michalis Tzouganakis was born in Bergen, a city in Belgium, in an old immigrant district. His association via play and companionship with Turks, Greeks, Moroccans, Poles, Egyptians and Italians was determinative in the formation of his personality: the differentiation of each one of them, the particular colour and aroma of every country expressed through the every day habits, the rendering of speech, the musical background…indelible impressions on the soul and brain of little Michalis. But he wasn’t any less affected. He carried within himself a whole island, Crete, with his seven brothers and sisters and both his parents to remind him of it while raising him. He was two years of age when he got in his hands his brother’s lute and… hasn´t left it ever since! On his knees and resting the instrument on his chin, the lute became his favorite toy. He felt enchanted by the sound he managed to produce by strumming on its strings for interminable hours. Bright, insistent and patient, at four, he was in the position to play and sing, entertaining his amazed ’spectators ’! Repatriation to Chania. Michalis is nine years old. School, music, traditional dances and songs! Michalis joins in the musical events of the city, performing on stage. He is so small and yet so mature and passionate when he plays. He attracts everyone’s attention. An outstanding boy, ’ a child-prodigy ’, his course is clear. At ten or eleven he meets important Cr