list of songs with translations, biography, discography
Information, biography, notes, photos
Dimitris Mitropanos – a Greek laiko singer, one of the most famous, respected, and beloved musicians, απίστευτος, μοναδικός, καταπληκτικός, θεϊκός, τέλειος, τραγουδάρα и φωνάρα =)
And one of my favorite Greek singers, if not my favorite. I love him for his typical mood, the sweet sorrow of his songs, the modesty and melancholy of the songs, but above all — for his beautiful voice and the astonishing simplicity and naturalness of his singing. It can be seen that he loved to sing, not to show off. I read somewhere that he said that he likes to sing live. I looked on YouTube, and it seems that he really did sing live everywhere. I wonder - was I lucky or he never lip-synced?
Dimitris Mitropanos was born on April 2, 1948, in Trikala, where he lived until he was 16. He didn't know his father (he assumed he’d been killed in the war) and grew up poor with his mother and older sister, learning to be the man in the family. He had some maternal relatives, but they were repeatedly exiled or imprisoned for their political views. Mitropanos did well in school, though he never liked it much. But he loved singing — whenever he had to walk through dangerous areas, he’d sing to conquer his fear. Even as a child, everyone agreed he sings well, though his voice wasn’t suited for choirs, he was meant to sing solo. He’d listen to folk songs on the radio and idolized Stelios Kazantzidis, though he didn’t listen to him much since he spent most of his time playing soccer outside.
As a kid, Mitropanos worked summers to help his family, first as a waiter in his uncle’s taverna, then at age 12 or 13 - on chopping wood. Around that time, the police summoned him and bluntly explained who his father was, and his family in general, advising him to learn a trade because with with such family history, he wouldn’t have many opportunities after school. That’s when he started taking an interest in politics himself. His views caused trouble at school — complaints, clashes, and finally, when a teacher slapped him (something that never happened at home), neither he nor his mother wanted to stay in Trikala anymore.
In 1959, his uncle was released from prison but settled in Athens instead of returning to Trikala. Mitropanos visited him a few times during holidays, and at 16, he moved there permanently. It wasn’t easy — Athenian kids mocked his village accent and country bumpkin ways. Fights were frequent until they finally accepted him as an equal. At his new school, Mitropanos did well (he liked chemistry), but before graduating, he began singing professionally. At one of his uncle’s gatherings in the taverna "Πλακιώτικο Σαλονι", he met Bithikotsis. After the program, someone pushed Mitropanos to sing, Bithikotsis heard him, pulled him aside, and said: "You must become a singer," offering him a spot at "Kολούμπια." Mitropanos didn’t take it seriously at first, but he liked the idea, especially after meeting Kazantzidis. One night, he watched Kazantzidis perform, studying every move, and later, a friend introduced them. They went to Kazantzidis’ home, where he lived with Marinella. Following Bithikotsis’ advice, Dimitris Mitropanos joined "Kολούμπια", where Takis Labropoulos introduced him to Giorgos Zabetas. So Mitropanos began singing at "Ξημερώματα" until 11:30 PM, then rushed to school in the morning. Zabetas wasn’t just his teacher but a second father, supporting him from those early years. Mitropanos always spoke of him with deep gratitude and respect.
Through politics, Mitropanos met Mikis Theodorakis and later crossed paths at "Ξημερώματα." In 1966 (let’s count how old Mitropanos was then!), he performed at Theodorakis’ "Axion Esti" concerts, singing "Tης δικαιοσύνης ήλιε νοητέ" and "Ένα το xελιδόνι", gaining fame. He returned to Giorgos Zabetas, and in 1967, recorded his first disc with two songs of Zabetas. One, "Thessaloniki," became a timeless hit, still covered decades later, though other tracks were initially more popular. One year later, Mitropanos already sang on Plaka with Marinella, since Panos Tzanetis left due to disagreements.
Two years after moving to Athens, his mother and sister joined him. His uncle married, had kids, and the whole family lived together. Dimitris had it best, he’d sleep mornings, lounge afternoons, then work nights. As the youngest, everyone cared about him. There were no problems, but when his sister got married, he and his mother moved to her and her husband.
To delay military service, Mitropanos enrolled in a film and photography school (which he enjoyed but had no time for). When draft deferment ended, he served two years, squeezing in rushed recording sessions during leave, sometimes without even hearing the final mix. His first solo album released in 1971, followed by a second in 1972, and many more.
While singing on Plaka in 1977, Mitropanos met his father, but no relations formed. In 1979, Mitropanos married after a year together but divorced by ’86–’87. It was strange to him, since he had never lived alone before. In 1991, he remarried (after four years of friendship and three as a couple), becoming a father at 48, then again later. Recently, his wife held an exhibition of her jewelry.
Of his later works, I’d highlight the 2005 album "Υπάρχει και το ζεϊμπέκικο", a live recording with Dimitris Basis, Themis Adamantidis, Stella Theofilou, and Irene Charidi. Their voices are magical, the songs flawless, the zeibekiko collection is sublime, I love the orchestra’s sound. In fact, I prefer many classical old zeibekiko songs exactly from this album. In October 2009, Dimitris Mitropanos shared the stage with pop star Peggy Zina, and that same year, he performed solo at the Herodion Theatre, releasing a double live album. In 2011–2012, he toured with Dimitris Basis and Giannis Kotsiras.
On April 17, 2012, Dimitris Mitropanos passed away. Hospitalized after a heart attack, doctors briefly revived him, but pulmonary edema took him. Yet his voice remains — in this world and in the hearts of those who loved him. All of Greece mourned. News broadcasts led with his death; 11,000 Facebook users posted tributes in a single day, from every corner of the globe. One who always sang live, no lip-syncing. Who despised artificiality, didn't know much about computers, who hated recording studios for the cold, who didn't know how to read notes, who sang for living, listening and feeling people, always as a Human. As Dimitris Mitropanos.
