Dionysis Savvopoulos

Born: 1944-12-02

Dionysis Savvopoulos (Greek: Διονύσης Σαββόπουλος) (born 2 December 1944) is a prominent Greek singer-songwriter. Savvopoulos was born in the city of Thessaloniki, Greece (December 1944) in a middle-class family. He passed his university entrance exams and enrolled in the Aristotle University to study law, but after his first year of his studies, his passion for music and politics led to an argument with his father and he dropped out in 1963. Savvopoulos then hitchhiked on a truck to Athens and took various odd jobs, including working as a nude model for students in the Athens School for Fine Arts and as a journalist in a newspaper. In Athens, he began singing and playing guitar in various night clubs and became closely associated with the so-called Greek New Wave. Although Savvopoulos was not famed for his voice, his talent in songwriting impressed Alekos Patsifas, the director of LYRA record company in Greece which was specializing in artists of the Greek New Wave, who signed him. Savvopoulos remained with this label until 1983. Savvopoulos debut album To Fortigho ("The truck" alluding to his hitchhiking experience) came out in 1966. Although critically well-received, it failed to chart, allegedly selling only 3,000 copies. Despite this, he was kept on the label's roster and continued with a string of highly successful albums, with self-penned songs combining arrangements reminiscent of early Frank Zappa and politically incisive lyrics in the style of Bob Dylan, with folk tunes from Macedonia, Thrace, and Rebetiko music. Savvopoulos has been noted for being politically active throughout his career in music. In 1967, Savvopoulos was briefly imprisoned and beaten for his political convictions by the Greek military junta of 1967-1974, led by the dictator George Papadopoulos. Most of his songs are written by himself (both lyrics and music). He is still singing but no longer composing (since his last studio album as a songwriter, O chronopios). Throughout his career, he has sung Greek rock, Laïko (Greek folk music) and Rebetika. He is married to Aspasia Arapidou. They have two sons, Kornilios and Romanos, and two grandsons, Dionisis and Andreas. Source: Article "Dionysis Savvopoulos" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.


Placeholder

March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step

as Narrator (greek voice)
Released: 2017-02-15

A young penguin, driven by his instinct, embarks on his first major trip to an unknown destination.

Movie page

Athens 2004: Olympic Closing Ceremony (Games of the XXVIII Olympiad)

as Himself
Released: 2004-08-29

The games of the 28th summer olympiad returned to the birthplace of the Olympics - Athens,...

Movie page

Made in Greece

as uncredited
Released: 1987-01-01

Giannis Giannakis, released from psychiatric hospital after many years, decides to return home...

Movie page

Varieté

as Singer
Released: 1985-01-18

An actor's troupe puts up a variety show.

Movie page

From the Earth to the Moon

as (voice)
Released: 2013-09-23

In America, 100 years before the moon landing of Apollo 11, the bellicose bemoan their fates...

Movie page

The boy and the tree

as Tree (voice)
Released: 2009-12-31

One evening close to Christmas, the tree, having seen the splendidly trimmed Christmas trees...

Movie page

Yannis Spanos: Behind the marquee

as Himself
Released: 2024-03-17

A discovery of the incredible musical journey of Yannis Spanos, setting off from small-town...

Movie page

Ζήτω το ελληνικό τραγούδι

as Self - Presenter
First aired: 1986-10-11

TV Show page