Μανώλης Καρπουζάκης

Cretan artist [Lyre] born in 1947 at Ζαρό Καινουργίου, Ηρακλείο, Crete, Greece - Died on July 6th, 2011. Son of Γεώργιος Καρπουτζάκης and Πελαγία Καρπουτζάκη - Σαλούστρου, brother to Θεονύμφη, Μιχάλης, Γιάννης, Κατίνα and Νίκος. Self taught player he started to play at the age of 7 with a hand made lyre by his father. At the age of 10 he got an original Μεσσαρίτικη [from Messara] with 4 strings " βροντόλυρα " [vrontolyra], since the he played both. At the age of 14 he moved to Herakleion where he gave his first live performance with Γιάννης Αποστολάκης. In 1965 Panivar discovers the new talent and collaborates with his until 1982 releasing 55 albums and live recordings. In 1982 he moved to Cretaphon where he stayed until the end of his career, where his releases reach the number of 102 and 30 appearances. In 1973 he released his first 7'': "Στης δυστυχίας τις στιγμές" From 70's to 90's he made collaborations [Αλέκος Κοκαράκης, Βαγγέλης Τσαφαντάκης, Βασίλης Σκουλάς, Μανώλης Σαλούστρος, Νίκος Γιατρομανωλάκης, Νίκος Αλεφαντινός, Μανώλης Κακλής, Κώστας Ζαχαρόπουλος etc. ] and recorded live all over the world [EU, US, Australia etc.] wherever Cretans were present. He also played traditional folk Greek music. One of the first members of " Παγκρητίου Συλλόγου Καλλιτεχνών Κρητικής Μουσικής " and president 1994-1997.