Mikis Theodorakis

Mikis Theodorakis (Greek: Μίκης Θεοδωράκης; born July 29 1925) is a Greek music composer and left-wing politician. He was born on the island of Chios in Greece and

Mikis Theodorakis (Greek: Μίκης Θεοδωράκης; born July 29 1925) is a Greek music composer and left-wing politician. He was born on the island of Chios in Greece and spent his childhood years in different provincial Greek cities such as Mytilene, Cephallonia, Pyrgos, Patras, and Tripolis. His father came from Crete and his mother from Asia Minor. He has received several offers to serve as President of Greece, but has refused them.

Theodorakis' fascination with music began in early childhood; he taught himself to write his first songs without access to musical instruments. In Pyrgos and Patras he took his first music lessons, and in Tripolis, Peloponnese, he formed a choir and gave his first concert at the age of seventeen.