Mimis Plessas

Mimis Plessas (Greek: Μίμης Πλέσσας; born October 12, 1924) is a Greek composer born in Athens. He began his career in 1952 and has since written music for over 100 films, television and radio programs, and theatrical events. He has worked with such notable Greek singers as Giannis Poulopoulos, Marinella, Rena Koumioti and lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos. Prior to 1959 Mimis was a professor of chemistry at the Polytechnical in Athens. He received his PH.D. in a most interesting manner. He did it at Brown university by winning a piano competition. Much to the surprise of the judges, he asked for it to be in chemistry, not music. Mimis by 1974 had composed over 2000 compositions, conducted many of the worlds orchestras and worked with almost every major greek singer, including Yiannis Poulopoulos and Nana Mouskouri. In 1974 he appeared at Carnegie Hall with Poulopoulos. Mimis also worked in the folk arena with Athan Karras. Plessas combined the traditions of entehno and laïkó with considerable success making a notable his own style. His composition work O Dromos in 1969 (The Street) still remains the work with the most sales in the history of the Greek discography.

In 2001 he was honored with the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix.

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