Cyprus Stamps SG 2023 (h) Michalakis Giasemidis musician 1923-2019 - CTO USED (n291)

 Cyprus Stamps SG 2023

Michalakis Giasemidis musician 1923-2019 

CTO USED

  Issue Date: 17 November 2023

Michalakis Giasemidis, musician (ΜιχαλακηςΓιασεμιδης) 1923 - 2019

Βorn in Koilani on 3rd November 1923, the seventh child of Chrysanthos and Anastasia. His father made lutes and violins. From a very young age he showed his love for music. When he was 5 years old, at his own insistence, his father constructed him a small violin and the boy began to play from morning to night. He was gifted and born for music. He was self-taught, studied a lot by himself and played with equal ease and skill, all kinds of music, classical, folk, jazz, rebetika, dance music, orchestral music. With his talent and dedication to music, he contributed to the establishment and prosperity of jazz music in Cyprus and he led local musical events to high levels. Whatever musical instrument happened to be in front of him, he took it in his hands and played it. He was a unique talent in improvisation, and a master (virtuoso) in execution. His contribution to the rescue and preservation of Cypriot folk music is one of the greatest services he offered to the country. From 1966 he collaborated with RIK and at the same time played in the most elite centres of the time with singers Sofia Vembo, Toni Marouda, Gounaris, Nana Mouschouri, Souli Sabah, Rena Vlachopoulou, Kalliopi Spyrou, Michalis Violaris, Doros Georgiadis.

He did orchestrations, composition - performances for theatrical schemes with great ease.

He was honoured by the State, by Unions, Municipalities, by the late Chief of the National Guard, Evangelos Florakis, by the Fotou Fotiadis Cultural Charitable Foundation which nominated him for the Guinness Award as a self-taught musician who played 30 instruments.

He possessed the knowledge of a well-educated musician who had acquired his knowledge little by little through his talent and dedication to his work, without any degrees.

The issue comprises of: a single stamp and a Post Office Offical FDC.
Available on Cyprus Stamps website: single stamp (MINT, or USED/CTO), Official FDC and as a Full Sheet of 8 stamps MINT condition (or CTO/USED subject to availability).

Design - Artwork: Nicos Ierodiaconou.