Alkinoos Ioannidis

Alkinoos Ioannidis (Αλκίνοος Ιωαννίδης)
Alkinoos Ioannidis, December 2008
Background information
Born	(1969-09-19) 19 September 1969 (age 47)
Origin	Nicosia, Cyprus
Genres	Entehno
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Universal Music Greece (1993-present)
Website	http://www.alkinoos.gr/

Alkinoos Ioannidis (Greek: Αλκίνοος Ιωαννίδης; born September 19, 1969) is a Greek-Cypriot composer, lyricist, singer, and orchestrator.

He was born in Nicosia on 19 September 1969. His artistic family, with a painter father and poet brother was a source of inspiration for him. He first wanted to study drums, but couldn't due to the lack of a drum teacher in Nicosia. Instead, he studied guitar.

For the first 20 years of his life, he lived in a Nicosia suburb. After his military service, he went off to Greece to study theatre. He also entered the School of Philosophy, University of Athens, which he later gave up. He was more successful in his theatre studies where he played some major roles in well known Greek tragedies such as Alcestis.

At the age of 23 he recorded his first album called Stin Agora Tou Kosmou (Greek: Στην Αγορά Του Κόσμου, In The World's Market) with lyrics and music written by Nikos Zoudiaris. This demo tape eventually reached the hands of a well known singer, Dimitra Galani. She instantly became fond of their music and Alkinoos' voice and helped them get a record deal.

Alkinoos and Zoudiaris followed with another album called Opos Mistika Kai Isicha (Greek: Οπως Μυστικά Και Ήσυχα, As Secretly and Quietly). Both albums turned gold.

From 1993 to 1997 he toured frequently in support of other artists, including one of the most important female figures of Greek music, Eleftheria Arvanitaki. He also carried out one solo tour. Ioannidis rarely appears to give interviews or take part in television shows. His primary public appearance consists of concert tours that he gives every year in locations around Greece and Cyprus.