Avissinos Giorgos

Georgos Sfakianakis known as ‘Avissinos’ was born on the 1st of March, 1931 and comes from a rural Cretan family. He grew up in Skalani where he continues to live till this day. He got his nickname ‘Avissinos’ from his teacher who found it appropriate given his dark complexion.
His relationship with music started from a very young age. By the age of 15, the self taught Georgos Avissinos had already become a talented violinist who played at his father’s traditional coffee shop in Skalani. It was there that his fans from Heraklion used to gather every night to hear Giorgis, as they still sometimes call him, play. Avissinos also played Cretan music at wedding receptions that is until he had to join the Greek army.
However, even while serving at the 19th infantry regiment, he did not part his music and with his violin he entertained his fellow footmen. After he completed his national service, he opened his first music hall in Skalani in 1960 that helped him become popular to the wider Cretan public as well as nationwide.