Lakis Karnezis

Retired prominent Greek trichord bouzouki virtuoso. Born in 1937 in Kokkinia, Piraeus, Greece. He adopted the pseudonym Lakis Karnezis for family reasons. He started playing semi-professionaly guitar in his early teens shifting to bouzouki in his late teens. His recording career started in 1955. He became widely renown as the "left" (i.e. left-handed) bouzouki of Mikis Theodorakis' orchestra, of which he was a permanent member since 1961 (except during the junta period, 1967-1974). Long time partner of bouzouki virtuoso Kostas Papadopoulos (the "right" bouzouki in the orchestra). Their partnership begun in his late teens; their last performance together took place in September 1995 at Herod Atticus Odeon. Since 1981-2 (or 1987-8), he resides in Nessoden, Norway. Married to Astrid Hellesen since 1988.