The celebrated composer Mimis Plessas has passed away just one week shy of his 100th birthday.
The news was announced by his wife, Loukila Carrer Plessas, in a heartfelt message: “You will not be by my side, my Star of Life… you will always be within me, protecting me until we meet again, my soul. Our common journey in life has reached its end until we reunite. Grateful for everything… Thank you for it all… I will love you forever….” pic.twitter.com/AflP0YtDxI— Loukila CarrerPlessa (@loukilacarrer1) October 5, 2024
Education and early musical steps
Mimis Plessas was born in Athens on October 12, 1924. He attended the Leontios Lyceum and later studied Chemistry at the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Athens. He pursued postgraduate studies in Chemistry in the United States, where in 1952, at the age of 28, he received the first music award from the University of Minnesota. The following year, he ranked fifth among pianists in the U.S. In 1952, he also began composing and became a conductor and composer from 1956 onwards. He gained international recognition, winning seven awards in various countries (Barcelona in 1960, Warsaw in 1962, Belgium in 1963, Italy in 1964, the U.S. in 1965, Paris in 1968, and Tokyo in 1970) and six in Greece (Athens and Thessaloniki in 1959, 1963, 1964, and 1967). His works were performed by major orchestras worldwide.
A century of creation
Mimis Plessas had an illustrious artistic career across music, theatre, cinema, radio, and television. Recognized as one of the most significant and productive Greek composers, he traversed a remarkable spectrum from jazz and light music to serious popular songs and large musical forms. He distinguished himself early on, both in Greece and internationally, due to his evident talent. He collaborated with numerous renowned singers including Zoe Kourouklis, Nana Mouskouri, Jenny Vano, Giovana, Marinella, Rena Kourioti, Giannis Voyiatzis, Daki, Yannis Poulopoulos, Tolis Voskopoulos, Stratos Dionysiou, and many others, many of whom he helped bring to prominence through his songs.
Unforgettable hits
Some of his unforgettable successes include songs such as “An s’arnitho agapi mou”, “Ekeino to proi stin Kifisia”, “Ti sou ‘kana kai pinis”, “Tosa kalokairia”, “Poios to xerei”, “Oi chantres”, “Ma tora agapi mou”, “I Myrsini vazi ta aspra”, “Apopse se thelo”, “Min tou milate tou pediou”, “Ama deite to fegari”, “I proti mas nychta”, “Methys’ apopse to koritsi mou”, “Proti fora”, “Ta filia”, “Epefte vatheia siwpi”, “Chilies vradies”, “Tou agoriou i kardia”, “Tha pio apopse to fegari”, “Ximeroni Kyriaki”, “Koritsi stasou na sou po”, “Ola dika sou”, “Eimai gynaika tou kefiou”, “Pera sta palia seragia”, “Proti fora”, “Eklapsa xthes”, “To kerimou eliose”, “Mia me theleis mia me diochnis”, “Oi meres tou kalokairiou”, and “Me vrike o ilios”, among many others.
He was repeatedly honored with platinum and gold discs, and his work “O Dromos” (with lyrics by Lefteris Papadopoulos) undoubtedly holds the first position in Greek discography.
Plessas composed music for film and theatre, contributing to over 100 movies and numerous performances. He also wrote music and songs for the television series “Ta paidia tis Niovis”. He was the producer of the historic radio show “Se 30 defterolepta,” a knowledge-based show offering various prizes during the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a member of the Greek Society of Dramatic Writers, the Society of Musical Composers-Lyricists of Greece, ERGIM (modern music), and many other artistic societies. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Patras in 2010 and a PhD in Chemistry from Cornell University in the U.S.
In 1993, he composed music for a production based on George Orwell’s book “Animal Farm,” presented at the National Theatre under the direction of D. Potamitis. In 1998, he completed the folk opera “Zeus” with a libretto by Giannis Kalamitis. In 1999, with a libretto by Iakovos Avlitis, he completed the oratorio “Kosmas Aitolos, the Saint of Slaves,” which was performed in 2002 at the Athens Concert Hall. In 2007, his compositions were recorded in the U.S., Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Spain, featuring significant artists, soloists, and ensembles. In 2009, he created a unique tribute concert to “The Voice” at the Vea Theater, after being commissioned by the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics (IALP), featuring artists from all music genres. In 2010, his songs were translated into Turkish by Fide Koksal, leading to the release of the album “BRIDGES” in Greece and Turkey.
In 2011, he held two concerts dedicated to his entire oeuvre, titled “Songs that Have No Seasons,” with 23 singers and actors, musical groups, jazz ensembles, and choirs at the Badminton Theatre. In 2012, he presented a “journey” of his path from jazz to his songs that adorned the big screen at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall with notable performers. In 2016, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his entrance into the discography with the album “Rantevou ston aera” for the movie of the same name by Giannis Dalianidis, he presented his last complete work “Diaphanos Stavros,” featuring Thanos Olymbios as the performer. This album went platinum. In 2022, he established his official orchestra: the “Mimis Plessas Orchestra.”
Distinctions
Mimis Plessas received numerous accolades both in Greece and abroad and was awarded many gold and platinum discs. Notably, in 2000, he was honored by the Municipality of Athens for 50 years of contribution to Greek music and culture with the “Golden Medal of the City” during a major orchestral concert at the Athens Concert Hall. In 2001, he was awarded the Golden Cross of the Order of the Phoenix for his contributions to culture by then-President of the Republic Kostis Stefanopoulos. Additionally, he was honored in 2002 for his 50-year career in the Greek music scene at the Herodes Atticus Theater by the Ministry of Culture, in 2004 as the “Man of the Year” by the Minister of Culture at the ceremony for personalities for his contributions to global culture, and in 2005, the Athens Festival commissioned him for the inaugural concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the festival. In 2006, the Academy of Personalities honored him for his overall contribution to culture, and in 2007, Patriarch Bartholomew presented him with the Grand Cross of Saint Andrew at a special event at the Patriarchate.
Plessas and his wife Loukila Carrer had one daughter together in 1998, and he had a son from a previous marriage, composer Antonis Plessas.
Condolences messages
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: “A leading composer, great scientist, and sweet person has left us.”
“A leading composer, great scientist, and sweet person has left us. His ‘Path’ was rich. Full of melodies that start from jazz and penetrate Greek song, as well as Greek cinema. Mimis Plessas was unique. Just as unique as the moments he will forever gift us with his notes,” wrote Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a Facebook post following the death of Mimis Plessas.
Lina Mendoni: “We owe him…”
Upon learning of Mimis Plessas’ loss, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni made the following statement:
Mimis Plessas, who left us today just a few days before turning 100, was a multidimensional musician: composer, conductor, and pianist. His contribution to music and Greek song, which unfolded over many decades, was truly rare, if not unique, in breadth and impact. The songs he composed are not only timeless but continue to be among the most popular across all ages.
Mimis Plessas musically adorned the most beloved musicals of Greek cinema, as well as numerous theatrical performances. He collaborated with the most emblematic lyricists and performers of his time. He conducted some of the largest orchestras and excelled as a soloist. He served music through radio and television. He highlighted and supported countless young artists. He played a decisive role in introducing jazz into our country and familiarizing the local audience with it. He was fortunate, justly so, to achieve both official recognition for his contributions with many honorary distinctions and awards, and the unwavering love of the public.
All of this forms individual and indicative pieces of the impressive, in depth and scope, imprint that Mimis Plessas leaves on music. However, we owe him something more. He demonstrated how heavy, in the end, light music really is. “The Path,” the album he created in collaboration with Lefteris Papadopoulos, Giannis Poulopoulos, Popi Asteriadi, and Rena Koumioti, which would emerge as the best-selling of all time, is a striking example of how mass appeal can, if not impose, coexist with quality. With his discography, he stamped the establishment of light music as an equal genre of our music.
To his wife Loukila, his daughter Eleanna, his son composer Antonis, and his many friends and collaborators, I express my deepest condolences.
Antonis Samaras: “He marked the cultural life of our homeland.”
Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras expresses his heartfelt condolences for the death of Mimis Plessas in a written statement.
“The loss of Mimis Plessas causes deep sorrow. A unique composer, a deeply spiritual person, marked the cultural life of our homeland,” states the former Prime Minister and adds: “His melodies were, are, and will be, an inseparable part of our lives. My warmest condolences to his family.”
Kyriakos Velopoulos: “Pioneer, multiple award-winning, prolific.”
“Pioneer, multiple award-winning, prolific. This was Mimis Plessas, who is no longer with us, in three words. The deep pain for the loss of the great Greek composer is matched only by the gratitude for the immortal masterpieces he bequeathed to us,” stated Kyriakos Velopoulos, President of the Greek Solution.
K. Malama: “Mimis Plessas travels to the Pantheon of Greek Culture.”
A great composer, an inspired musician, a melodic person is no longer with us. Mimis Plessas, over seven decades of creation, offered a great deal to Greek music, theater, cinema, and television with his melodies, his compositions, and his aesthetic for art overall. The legacy he leaves in Greece is indelible and significant. This great teacher will continue to accompany us from the Pantheon of Greek Culture.
Kyriaki Malama
Representative of Halkidiki – Shadow Minister of Culture
SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance
The Greek Film Center bids farewell to Mimis Plessas
The loss of Mimis Plessas leaves a huge gap in modern Greek culture and plunges us into sadness. Mimis Plessas was a wonderfully sweet person, deeply cultured and talented from his early steps in the arts, which he experienced to the fullest as a creative adventure. He was a highly sensitive receiver, open to the entire spectrum of musical harmony, in the variety of genres and compositional forms. A gifted artist with timeless stature in Greek music. His music harmonized with the lyrics of our leading lyricists, as well as with the images of classic Greek cinema, adding a unique color to a large number of Greek films across all genres, from musicals (“Gorgonas and Mankes”) and comedies (“The Card Player”) to crime films (“Nightmare,” “Crime in the Backstage”) and attempts at Greek westerns (“The Soil Was Painted Red”).
The Greek Film Center expresses its sincere condolences to his family and the countless friends of his musical work.
Androulakis: “I express my sorrow for the death of our great composer.”
The President of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, expressed his sorrow for the loss of the great Greek composer Mimis Plessas, just days before reaching a century of life.
“I express my sorrow for the death of our great composer, Mimis Plessas. We walked with him through the paths of jazz, popular and art song, and so many generations have tied their memories to his melodies,” stated Nikos Androulakis in a post on social media.
Stefanos Korkolis: “As much as we say he was 100 years old, it’s a shock – I am devastated.”
“A difficult morning. As much as we say he was 100 years old, it’s a shock. A wonderful person. The most courteous person I have ever known,” said Stefanos Korkolis, speaking about the loss of Mimis Plessas. “I don’t have much to say; I am devastated,” he added.
“I visited him in the summer; we played piano, talked about our things. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to do the concert we dreamed of, with two pianos, one facing the other. A great man has departed,” he noted in a phone call to Mega.
KKE – Announcement from the Press Office:
We bid farewell with great sorrow and respect to the great Mimis Plessas, who creatively traversed almost a century.
An exceptional pianist, musician, and composer, he charted a significant artistic course in music, primarily in cinema, theater, radio, and television, seamlessly moving from jazz—his great love—to light music, popular song, and large musical forms. Standing out early on for his talent, Mimis Plessas collaborated with top lyricists and performers, gifting us with songs that will never “grow old,” always rising to the lips of thousands through generations.
KKE expresses its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.
