Takis Mousafiris

Takis Mousafiris
Born1936
Ioannina, Greece
Died (aged 84)
Athens, Greece
Occupation(s)Composer, lyricist and songwriter

Takis Mousafiris (Greek: Τάκης Μουσαφίρης; 1936 – 11 March 2021) was a Greek composer, lyricist and songwriter. He collaborated with several notable Greek singers such as Stratos Dionysiou, Dimitris Mitropanos, Rita Sakellariou and Tolis Voskopoulos, among others.[1][2] He sometimes used two pseudonyms for his works, Antonis Zannas (Αντώνης Ζάννας) and Nikos Michael (Νίκος Μιχαήλ).[1]

Mousafiris was born in 1936 in Ioannina, Greece,[3] although he later moved to Athens, feeling great affinity for both cities.[1] His father was from Kalarrytes, while his mother was from Syrrako.[4] Mousafiris was an ethnic Aromanian,[4][5] with his parents originating from ethnic Aromanian villages. Mousafiris stated on an interview that traditional Aromanian music influenced him and that both of his parents played musical instruments.[4]

Mousafiris died on 11 March 2021 at the age of 84[6] from a cancer he had been fighting against for 6 months. He had been diagnosed with COVID-19 shortly before and managed to recover from it prior to his death, according to a statement from Mousafiris' family.[1][2] He was buried on 13 March in his birthplace, Ioannina.[7]

  1. ^ a b c d "Πέθανε ο συνθέτης Τάκης Μουσαφίρης". Naftemporiki (in Greek). 11 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b Wichmann, Anna (11 March 2021). "Greek songwriter Takis Mousafiris passes away". Greek Reporter.
  3. ^ "Αποχαιρετισμός στον Τάκη Μουσαφίρη" (in Greek). Zosimaia School. 11 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Stoukas, Michalis (11 March 2021). "Τάκης Μουσαφίρης: Άγνωστα στοιχεία για τη ζωή και τα τραγούδια του". Proto Thema (in Greek).
  5. ^ Kahl, Thede (2009). ""Being Vlach, singing Greek": Greek-Aromanian music contacts in the Pindus mountain range. The Aromanians or Vlachs in the Pindus". Carmina Balcanica. 2 (3): 31–55. I am reminding the reader of the Aromanian origins of famous musicians like Kaldaras, Bakalis, Virvos, Mitropanos, Tsitsanis, Mousafiris.
  6. ^ "Τάκης Μουσαφίρης: "Έφυγε" ο συνθέτης των μεγάλων επιτυχιών". Proto Thema (in Greek). 11 March 2021.
  7. ^ "ΓΙΑΝΝΕΝΑ-Σήμερα στον Ιερό Ναό Περιβλέπτου,η κηδεία του Τάκη Μουσαφίρη". Epirusgate (in Greek). 13 March 2021.