I went to the Greek Festival in Mobile, AL. last fall and met George Skaroulis; he has a very friendly and warm personality. His music is emotionally charged and ambient and his Greek heritage blends through, giving it a enchanting atmosphere. He spent twenty years in the restaurant business, then broke out and went into music as an independent artist.
He is originally from Clearwater, FL, but lives in Atlanta, GA. He tells the tale of his youthful experience with piano lessons to
Maria Tzanakakis:
“When I was five years old, I would love to sit next to my mother while she played the piano. I would accompany her with my own improvisations, says Skaroulis. Eventually his parents arranged for him to take piano lessons. However, after just five weeks, it proved to be boring so he quit. I did not like the structure of piano lessons, Skaroulis continues. I wanted the freedom to play the music the way I felt it.”
To pursue his musical career he moved to Atlanta and worked as a manager of a downtown restaurant. Late one evening, Bradlee Hedrick enquired about the lonely piano and Skaroulis explained tht the pianist had finished; he played his own compositions to the enjoyment of Hedrick, who is a recording artist and producer.
Hendrick helped him release his first album in 1996, named Homelands, using his own record label, Evzone music.
His soft piano melodies take you on a gently undulating musical ride. But with the release of Second Nature he gets more into electronic keyboard, and has violin, vocals, synthesizer sounds, and real nature recordings on the CD.
Skaroulis’s emotionally laden music has enriched two PBS shows: Visions of Italy and Visions of Greece.
Other albums by this composer: Homeland, Numinous, Season Traditions, Generations, Second Nature, Athena, Forever Young and Sanctuary.
While at the Greek Festival, I bought Return To Homeland, which evokes the Mediterranean feeling and it will transport you into another culture.
References:
Wind and Wire
An interview with George Skaroulis
Bill Binkelman
Hellenic Voice
Interview: Inside George Skaroulis and His Music
by Maria Tzanakakis
http://www.evzonemusic.com/
Biography
George Skaroulis - Composer/Pianist
Hear his music at:
http://www.rhapsody.com
http://cdbaby.com
