Thanos Mikroutsikos (Greek: Θάνος Μικρούτσικος) (1947- ) was born in Patras, Greece and is one of the leading composers of popular and classical music in his home country. He studied music theory and piano at the Patras Philharmonic Society and at the Greek Conservatory and continued under Yiannis A. Papaioannou. While studying music he graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Athens. 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Patras, view from the port Patras (Modern Greek Πάτρα, Ancient Greek Πάτραι Pátrai, Latin Patrae) is the third largest city of Greece, and the capital of the Achaea prefecture of Greece and of the Region of West Greece. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... A grand piano A piano is a musical instrument which is classified as a keyboard, percussion or string instrument, depending on the system of classification used. ... Patras, view from the port Patras (Modern Greek Πάτρα, Ancient Greek Πάτραι Pátrai, Latin Patrae) is the third largest city of Greece, and the capital of the Achaea prefecture of Greece and of the Region of West Greece. ... The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greek: Εθνικόν και Καποδιστριακόν Πανεπιστήμιον Αθηνών), usually referred to simply as the University of Athens, is the oldest university in the region of the eastern Mediterranean and has been in continuous operation since its establishment in 1837. ...

He blends a lot of musical traditions in his work, from popular to electronic. He has composed a lot of songs based on poems by Greek and foreign poets, such as Euripides, Aristophanes, Constantine P. Cavafy, Giorgos Seferis, Yannis Ritsos, Odysseas Elytis and Nikos Kavvadias as well as Bertolt Brecht, Nazim Hikmet, Wolf Biermann and Maurice Maeterlinck. He has also written operas, symphonic music, chamber music and music for the theatre and cinema. A statue of Euripides Euripides (Greek: Ευριπίδης) (c. ... Bust of Aristophanes Aristophanes (c. ... Cavafy, around 1900 in Alexandria, Egypt Constantine P. Cavafy, also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes (Greek Κωνσταντίνος Π. Καβάφης) (April 29, 1863 - April 29, 1933) was a Alexandrine poet who is among the 20th centurys most important literary figures, though he is relatively little known in the English... Giorgos Seferis (Γιώργος Σεφέρης) (February 19, 1900 – September 20, 1971) was one of the most important Greek poets of the 20th century. ... Yannis Ritsos (May 1, 1909 - November 11, 1990) was a Greek poet. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Nikos Kavvadias (Greek: Νίκος Καββαδίας) (1910 – February 10, 1975) was a Greek poet and writer; currently one of the most popular poets in Greece. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Portrait of Nazim Hikmet Nazım Hikmet Ran (November 20, 1902 – June 3, 1963) was a Turkish poet and dramatist, who is widely regarded as the best-known Turkish poet in the West and his works have been translated into several languages. ... Wolf Biermann (15 November 1936 -) is a German singer-songwriter and former East German dissident. ... Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck, Belgian author Count Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck (August 29, 1862 - May 6, 1949) was a Belgian poet, playwright, and essayist. ...

One of his most popular works was the setting to music of poems by Nikos Kavvadias in his albums Grammes Orizonton (Horizons' Lines) and Stavros tou Notou (Southern Cross). Some of the music was originally written for a TV series, the theme of which was marine. The songs were liked and he went on to the studio to record some more many of which were included in the aforementioned albums. Nikos Kavvadias (Greek: Νίκος Καββαδίας) (1910 – February 10, 1975) was a Greek poet and writer; currently one of the most popular poets in Greece. ...

Thanos Mikroutsikos has also been involved in Greece's political life since the 60's. During the turbulent years of the military junta (1967-1974), he was persecuted by the regime for his anti-dictatorial activities and ideas. When the junta collapsed he continued being actively involved in politics, especially in the first years after the restoration of democracy. After the elections of October 1993 he was appointed by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) which formed the new government, as Alternate-Minister of Culture with late Melina Mercouri as minister. In 1994 after the death of the latter he was appointed minister of culture. He remained at this position until 1996. His brother is the popular TV host and musician Andreas Mikroutsikos. Party logo The Panhellenic Socialist Movement, better known as PASOK (Greek: Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα, Panellinio Sosialistiko Kinima, ΠΑΣΟΚ), is a Greek social democratic political party. ... Melina Mercouri on Never on Sunday Melina Mercouri (Μελίνα Μερκούρη; Athens, Greece, October 18, 1920 – New York, New York, March 6, 1994) was a Greek actress and political activist. ...