George Dalaras

Most artists don't release 80 albums in a lifetime. Greek singer and guitarist Yiorgos (George) Dalaras has put out that many in 32 years, including the recent collection The Very Best of George Dalaras (Mondo Melodia) . Along the way, he's become a superstar in his homeland, the biggest-selling artist the country has known.

"I don't do everything for commercial reasons," he explained. "I produced some of those records to encourage young musicians or to participate in the works of friends. I do it spontaneously, I like to offer something different, it doesn't matter if it's a hit or not. It's more important to serve the music."

Born in 1950 to a family of musicians, Dalaras issued his first album in 1968. But in 1975, after the dictatorship that had ruled Greece crumbled, he achieved his first artistic success with Ta Rembetika, which revived the working-class, blues-like rembetiko form silenced by the government. The album went platinum, and "that was a very special moment for me," he recalled. "When I sang rembetiko, which had been censored and also forgotten, I was able to bring it back for the young people. Since then it's had a rebirth, and it's affected contemporary Greek music."

"I like to offer something different, it doesn't matter if it's a hit or not. It's more important to serve the music."

Following the common Greek practice of working with composers and lyricists, Dalaras has established himself as a true roots musician, working in many of the Greek forms, including the gritty laiko of songs like "Night."

Throughout the years he's remained politically active, highlighting problems between Greeks and Trusk in Cyprus, taking part in Amnesty International concerts, and in 1994 receiving the John F. Kennedy Prize for his humanitarian work.

"In Greece we express ourselves by being politically oriented and being socially aware in our art; it's our duty," he noted. "Politis is our word for citizen. So if a citizen is political, imagine how much an artist must be."

His musical curiosity has led him to collaborate with a number of artists, including Latin fusion guitar wizard Al Di Meola and flamenco guitarist Paco De Lucia, with whom he recorded "Hasta Siempre." To him it was a natural mix of Mediterranean musics, because "I am a guitarist, and Paco is a good friend. We've played together and recorded together, and had great responses from European audiences."

He's successful enough to rest on his laurels, but that's not going to happen. Already back in the studio, he's working on album number 89, with "an ethnic contemporary sound. Then I'll do a European tour, and go to New York in October for some shows."

A star with real integrity, Dalaras has remained true to his roots and his heart. "I've never gone for a commercial sound, or easy listening," he admitted. "I never wanted to do it, as a musician or as a human being. It's important for me that people have the option to listen to something different."

This article first appeared on Sonicnet.com

George Dalaras

"I like to offer something different, it doesn't matter if it's a hit or not. It's more important to serve the music."

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