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| Aquarell von Tony Mourtzis |
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Tony Mourtzis
was born in Perdika, a small fishing village on the Greek island of Ägina.
As a young person he attended a protestant missionary boarding school which was located far from home in the north of Greece. There he had his first encounter with music (piano and theory) and in the church choir he sang Händel and Bach.
Although it was forbidden he taught himself secretly how to play the guitar.
He learned the profession of typography which some years later he practiced for a longer period of time in Germany.
Shortly before he turned eighteen the headstrong young man run away to Athens because he said "I need freedom". He worked there for a while before he visited German friends for the first time in Berlin. In his luggage he had a guitar.
The only plan he had was to immigrate to America. There he wanted to play music and to sing spirituals and gospel songs in front of an audience. (The first songs he sang when playing the guitar were gospel songs).
Today Tony is not sad that things turned out differently. America has remained a dream. He spent two years in Berlin. After an intermezzo in Greece he came back to Germany in 1966. In Darmstadt he remembered his ägäian ancestors and established the group "ORFEO GRECO" in 1972.With this band he became well known, not only in Germany but also in Austria, Switzerland and other places where he is always welcome.
His work and his engagement over many years has been acknowledged and appreciated also by the press:
"....The Geek Orpheus Tony Mourtzis captivates the audience"
(Pforzheimer Zeitung)
"....Tony Mourtzis typifies with his appearance what one imagines when thinking about
Greek people: likeable and with a warm deep voice"
(Bündner Zeitung, Schweiz)
"...The Greek musicians with their lead singer and guitarist Tony Mourtzis who all live in Germany performed in the Alter Oper in Frankfurt/M.
Their music reflects the love they feel for Greece and the people - it is full of warmth, joy and the unbroken Mediterranean pride"
(Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung).
"....Since 1972 Tony Mourtzis performs with his band ORFEO GRECO in many places.
He is always welcome.
He is a man who opens souls with his music".
"....The music of ORFEO GRECO breathes the concentrated air of the Mediterranean Sea. It exudes a Mediterranean flavour that inspires day dreams. When Tony Mourtzis sings about Greek life issues in his partly sweet, partly harsh voice, people are allowed to dream".
(Oltener Tageblatt, Schweiz)
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