Manos Hatzidakis

Vocation

Notable

Greek composer and theorist of Greek music. He was also one of the main movers of the "Éntekhno" song (along with Mikis Theodorakis). In 1955 he wrote the score for Michael Cacoyannis' film "Stella," with actress Melina Mercouri singing the movie's trademark song "Love that became a double-edged knife." In 1959, Hatzidakis met Nana Mouskouri, his first "ideal interpreter", a skilled vocalist who shaped the sounds of his music. In 1960, he gained international success, as his song "Never on Sunday" from Jules Dassin's film of the same name won him an Academy Award and became a worldwide hit. In 1966, he travelled to New York City for the premiere of "Illya Darling," a Broadway musical based on "Never on Sunday," which starred Mercouri. He did not return to Greece until 1972 due to his opposition to Greece's military dictatorship. While in the United States he completed several more major compositions. He died on 15 June 1994 in Athens at the age of 68, from acute pulmonary edema. Link to Wikipedia biography