About

Known credits:
14
Birthday:
1944-12-02
Place of birth:
Thessaloniki, Greece
Website:
N/A

Dionysis Savvopoulos

Overview

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.

Known for

Acting

2024 Yannis Spanos: Behind the marquee Actor Himself N/A
N/A
2017 March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step Actor Narrator (greek voice) 60
Fair
2013 From the Earth to the Moon Actor (voice) N/A
N/A
2009 The boy and the tree Actor Tree (voice) 59
Average
2006 Ζωντανοί Στο Κύτταρο - Σκηνές Rock Actor Self N/A
N/A
2004 Athens 2004: Olympic Closing Ceremony (Games of the XXVIII Olympiad) Actor Himself 59
Average
1987 Made in Greece Actor 59
Average
1986 Ζήτω το ελληνικό τραγούδι Actor Self - Presenter 70
Good
1985 Varieté Actor Singer 59
Average

Sound

1983 Athens, Return to the Acropolis Sound Original Music Composer 59
Average
1976 Happy Day Sound Music 58
Average
1975 Evidence Sound Music 59
Average
1975 Evidence Sound Songs 59
Average

Crew

1975 Evidence Crew Thanks 59
Average