ASTORIA – Axiocom Productions presented a charming Tribute Concert honoring Manos Loizos as a virtual event live from Anemos Estiatorio in Astoria, June 17. Produced by Despina Axiotakis, the concert featured Tasos Karydison on guitar, vocalist Akis Papadosifos, vocalist Elena Chris, Yiannis Serreos on bouzouki, Damianos Dudu on violin, Maestro Pavlos Denesides on keyboard, Artistic Director Phytos Stratis, dancer Yorgos Vassiliou, and Harry Antoniou singing from Atlanta.

Axiotakis gave the welcoming remarks, thanking all those who helped organize the event and all the supporters who helped make the musical evening possible.

Among the hit songs composed by Loizos that were performed were S' Akoloutho, Ola se thymizoun, Tzamaika, Ah Helidoni mou, and De Tha Ksanagapiso. Vassiliou danced to Loizos’ famous instrumental composition, To Zeibekiko tis Evdokias.

One of the most important Greek composers of the 20th century, Loizos was born in Alexandria, Egypt to Greek Cypriot parents. At age 17, he moved to Athens where he had planned to study pharmacology, but instead focused on his music. A self-taught musician, he began recording in the 1960s and eventually collaborated with an impressive list of artists including Mikis Theodorakis, Haris Alexiou, George Dalaras, Vasilis Papakonstantinou, Manolis Rasoulis, and Giannis Kalatzis. Loizos passed away at the age of 44 in 1982 leaving behind a tremendous body of work and numerous hit songs which are still performed and beloved to this day.

The concert is available on YouTube: