Tzouganakis Mihalis

Michalis Tzouganakis is a lute (laouto) player from Crete. He has brought about important changes to the cretan traditional song, not only with his interpretation of songs but also with the contemporary sounds he added, without distorting the traditional element.
Michalis Tzouganakis was born in Bergen, a town in Belgium, in an old immigrant district. Grew up amongst people and children of many different backgrounds (Turks, Greeks, Moroccans, Poles, Egyptians, Italians), which has been of great influence on the forming of his person, and of his musicianship. It is said he first picked up a lute (his brother’s) at the age of two, and started performing at four.
The Tzouganakis family returned to Chania, Crete when Michalis was nine years old. Before he is fourteen, he has become greatly involved in the music scene of the city, playing, performing and recording with important local musicians Giannis Sergakis and Vangelis Zacharioudakis. At fourteen Michalis meets the great cretan lyre (lyra) player Leonidas Klados, and is invited to work with him.