Tributes

Vassilis Dimitriou took the leading element of mass culture, television, and turned it into a form of high art by dressing popular TV series with his exquisite songs and melodies. His allies were some of the best voices of Greek music: Christos Thivaios, Marinella, Anastasia Moutsatsou, Fide Kӧksal, ...

On this day in 1890, the first ship bearing Greek immigrants reached the storied island of sighs and hope—Ellis Island, just off the coast of Manhattan. A haunting radio documentary retraces the footsteps of those who journeyed to America, chasing a dream. The ordeal of securing a passage to the "...

The main conclusion that we will be drawing from today’s GME is just how multi-faceted and versatile Vassilis Dimitriou was as a composer. You see, he always felt that music is unified. When he went to the conservatory in the early 1960s to study music, genres like traditional, modern, popular folk m...

A story almost too surreal to believe… On the morning of April 10, 1924, a group of bandits—spurred not only by the lure of wealth but also by political fervor—staged a daring heist on the Athens–Thessaloniki express near Doxaras, in the heart of Thessaly. Just three days before a pivotal referendum that wo...

The main conclusion that we will be drawing from today’s GME is just how multi-faceted and versatile Vassilis Dimitriou was as a composer. You see, he always felt that music is unified. When he went to the conservatory in the early 1960s to study music, genres like traditional, modern, popular folk m...

We turn the clock back to 1870…We encounter the infamous Arvanitakis brothers—feared bandit leaders of the time. They carry out a daring abduction in Syntagma Square, right outside the “Grand Hotel d’Angleterre” (as the “Great Britain” Hotel was then called), kidnapping a group of foreign travelers. Am...

On Monday, April 7, 2025, “Our Town” with Themis Rodamitis featured a special tribute to the literary Athens of the Belle Époque. The program highlighted figures, circles, literary hangouts, publications, and cafés from the period of the 1880s-1920s. In the studio, author Dionysis N. Mousmoutis discussed writers, ...

The first part of the episode is dedicated to the acclaimed laïkó composer and lyricist Akis Panou, while the second part honors the legendary singer Grigoris Bithikotsis, who gave Greek music some of its most powerful and unforgettable moments. Known as the "sir" of the Greek music staff, Bithikotsis—with his...

This week, we will be remembering one of my favourite Greek composers who was born on April 12, 1945, which means that this Saturday we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of his birth. Unfortunately, this year is also the tenth anniversary of his loss, as he sadly passed away on April 28, 2015. Vassilis...

On Sunday, April 6th, 2025, "Our Town" with Themis Rodamitis featured the Vougiouklis sisters. The exceptional performers, researchers, and musicians Suzanna and Eleni Vougiouklis, who sing in more than 20 languages and dialects, have made a unique artistic journey. Their repertoire spans a wide range...

On Saturday, April 5th, 2025, “Our Town” with Themis Rodamitis presented a special feature on Mandragoras magazine. This unique arts magazine, which also serves as a publishing house with a significant presence in literature, culture, and social initiatives in Athens, is celebrating 33 years in the literary...

The week that ends today, here at GME, was dedicated to our favourite albums and the songs that were released in the last five years, from 2020 to 2024. Today, we conclude our mini tribute with last year’s top picks, which are founded mainly on fascinating partnerships: seasoned musician Antonis Apergis w...