| Spiros Skordilis Biography | |
Spiro's Early Years... |
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| Spiro's growing years were not easy. His parents established their home in Athens, where he was born in 1930. His father was from the Island of Corfu, and his mother from the Island of Sifnos. The family struggled to make ends meet. His problems started in school in the first grade. During a reading exercise, the teacher asked him to read the next line in the book, and Spiro explained he "did not know what page they were reading". She got upset because he was not paying attention, and with the ruler, hit him across his knees. He did not mention this incident to his parents, thinking he would be in more trouble resulting in more punishment. By midnight he had no choice but to tell his parents about the incident in school, because his leg had turned blue, and the pain was intolerable. They rushed him to the hospital where the doctors told his parents that he was suffering from internal bleeding and an infection. Carried on his father's back (there were no good roads or busses), Spiro visited and stayed in the hospital on and off for three years, Spiro went through many operations by the time his leg healed, Spiro felt too old to go back to the first grade. Whatever Spiro learned to read and write was from his nurse. | |
Spiro Discovers Musical Wonderment.... |
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| When his father came home from work, after
dinner he usually would take out his guitar and play. Sitting at his side, Spiro
would sing along with his father. In time, Spiro's father noticed his son's keen
interest, and began to teach Spiro to play the guitar, beginning his adventure with music.
This special relationship between father and son did not last long enough, however, for
Spiro's father died while still quite young, leaving the family to struggle to make ends
meet. Spiro went to work doing odd jobs whenever he could, helping to support his
mother and his younger siblings. His love of music still so strong that by the time
he was eighteen years old he formed his first band, which included the following
instruments: Bouzouki, guitar, accordion, drums, bass, and a female vocalist. His
band became a very well known Laiki Orchestra. Five years later, Spiro left this
band to form the "Blue Trio" with two other musician-friends. Trios were
very popular at this time, and Spiro's "Blue Trio" played in many tavernas in
Plaka, the cultural "center" of Athens. In 1958, Spiro started
appearing nightly at Vachos Taverna (a very famous Taverna) with many other well
known musicians, including Bobby and George Malidis, Georgo Kehayias and Panagiotis
Visvardis, to note a few. During this time, the trio was still featuring Kantades,
as well as Latin and European influenced music. Spiro soon signed a
contract with Columbia Recording Company recording the songs of other composers: Markos Vamvakaris--------- Fora ta Mavra Forata Miki Theodorakis------------- Strose to Stroma, Ftohologia Pente Pente Deka, To Psomi einai Sto Trapezi Stavros Xerhakos--------------Kante Ipomoni, Vale kai Allo Piato Sto Trapezi Yiani Papaioannou------------ Strapatsarismenos, Kali Kardia, Kalo Krasi Georgos Mitsakis--------------Stis Larisis to Potami |
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Spiros road to Success..... |
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| Soon after Spiro recorded his first original
composition at RCA. It was a Zeimbekiko song named Vongae O Ponos.
It became quite successful in a short period of time. He was now featured in the
Night Club's Parade of Stars. He wrote many other songs, and those songs became just
as famous In 1961, he wrote and presented to the recording company "Oti Arhizi
Oreo" ("When something Beautiful Begins"). The recording company
turned it down. They told him that they could not see a market for this type of
song. {It must be explained that during this era, the recording companies paid
the artists to perform, and since the artist did not share any of the expense of the
recording, the company had the final choice of music and lyrics to be recorded). Still,
Spiro did not give up! He persisted by slipping in his work "Oti Arhizi
Oreo" ("When Something Beautiful Begins") each time he presented work for
recording. RCA finally relented, and the song was recorded. Not only did this
song surpass all expectations, in a very short period of time it became a
"standard" ( a "hit", a "favorite") in Greece.
"Oti Arhizi Oreo" (also known to some as Einai Kako Stin Ammo Na
Htizis Palatia) has gained great popularity over the years, having been recorded in
many countries by many artists. Translated and recorded by artists in
Bulgaria, France, Israel, and even South Africa this song has brought them success as
well! The song has been used in the movie "Otan Oi Yinekes
Agapoun". "Oti Arhizi Oreo" has also been featured in poems,
satires, cartoons, and in the theater. The following Greek Artists have recorded
this song over the years: Spiros Skordilis, Bobby Tsetinis, Harry Klean, Rita
Sakelariou, Tolis Voskopoulos, Mr. Perakis, and Mr. Polichroniadis. By 1967, Spiro's
compositions and recordings were gaining popularity. He wrote Tou Bouzoukiou Mou
to Minore, To Mini Mini, To Minaki Sou, and the
ever popular anthem for his favorite soccer team Olympiakos. Spiro married Lena Dana, a singer whose style complimented Spiro's performance. They started their tour by going first to Australia. After a successful year, they returned to Greece. Upon their return, there was a political change in Greece. The new regime chose the songs that were allowed to be performed in clubs. They banned his song To Mini Mini to Minaki Sou. Artists were constantly being harassed. Spiro decided to go on a tour to Canada, and afterwards to perform in the U.S. (Boston and Chicago). For job related and personal reasons, he stayed in Canada and the U.S. He continued writing music, and performing in many US cities. In 1977, Spiro and Lena Dana left Charleston, South Carolina for an engagement in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Lena became very ill. Within six months of her illness, Lena died. Spiro was devastated, not only left without a wife, but without a performing partner as well. There were many decisions and adjustments to be made. He chose not to travel for a while to put his life together again. The Folk-Artist-in-the-School program sponsored by the Pinellas Art Council, encouraged
Spiro to teach sixth grade students to play the Bouzouki. The children [all
American] took to the instrument naturally, and were very eager to learn. "This
class is better than all of my other classes put together", said one of the students
who had never played an instrument before. Learning to play the Bouzouki was "great
fun.". Spiro found a new direction for his life. It was at this time that
he met Kay, who soon became another of his life's Great Loves, and eventually became his
adoring wife! Kay Skordilis, who herself is not a musician, loves music and writes
lyrics to Spiro's beautiful music. It is a beautiful partnership, providing us with
music that is treasured, full of emotion, meaning, and cultural distinction. |
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Spiro's Life Today.... |
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| Spiro is a wonderful husband, father and
grandfather. He has many friends, who he enjoys on a frequent basis. He is in
close contact with the many friends he has around the world, mostly by telephone. Not
only content to write, record, and perform his music, Spiro has been an inspirational and
dedicated teacher in the cultural community of Tarpon Springs, Florida, his new
"hometown". Because of his influential teaching, a number of middle school
age children have become, in their twenties, highly skilled musicians, and a few of them
have started their own ensembles that play for community events! In addition, Spiro
has been a Master Teacher in the Florida Apprenticeship Program.
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