Ιωάννης Μαρκογιαννάκης

(1926 - 2017)

a.k.a. Μαρκογιάννης [Markogiannis] Cretan artist [Lute] Born at Σπήλι [Spili] St. Vaseilios, Rethemnos, Crete, Greece in 1926
Son of the famous Cretan Lyre player Γεώργιος Μαρκογιαννάκης (a.k.a. Μαρκογιώργη) Brother to Βαγγέλης Μαρκογιαννάκης He started playing Lute at the age of 8 with the help of his father, that later on he accompanied him until the end of his carrer. Back then Cretan Lyre players were accompanied by Mandolin and Bulgari until early 20's. Before him only Στάυρος Ψυλλάκης (Ψύλλος) from Episkopi, Κουρκουλός Prine and Γιάννης Μπερνιδάκης (Μπαξεβάνης) from Malaki were playing the Lute along with the Cretan Lyre. He was nephew of of Αθανάσιος Σκορδαλός and they started to collaborate in 1936. In 1946 they wrote: the famous:« Μόνο εκείνος π’ αγαπά » continuing for 30 years.

He made collaborations with famous Cretan artists [especially Lyre players] such as: Αντώνης Καρεκλάς, Κώστας Μουντάκης, Λεωνίδας Κλάδος, Αλέκος Καραβίτης, Γιώργος Μουζουράκης from Παντάνασσα Νίκος Παπαδογιάννης, Πλακιανός from Καλύβες Αποκορώνου [Kalyves Apokoronas], Λυρατζαντώνης from Μέλαμπες, Γιάννης Γιουλούντας from Πρασές, Φραγκής from Τυμπάκι, Γαβρίλης from Πιτσίδια, Μανόλης Λουμπάκης or Μανώλης Λουμπάκης from Κρουσσώνα,Νίκος Μανιάς, [a=Psarantonis ] Κώστας Φωτάκης from Αποδούλου Αμαρίου, Νίκος Φακιδάρης from Πέραμα Ρεθύμνου, Ανδρέας Κορώνης from Γεράνι Ρεθύμνου, Ηρακλής Σταυρουλάκης from Επισκοπή Πεδιάδος, Παντελής Σταυρουλάκης from Χάρακας, Νίκος Κολιακουδάκης from Αποκόρωνας Ροδάμανθος Ανδρουλάκης, Μιχάλης Βαβουράκης from Κρύα Βρύση, Νίκος Ντουρουντουδάκης from Μυριοκέφαλα Αλέκος Πολυχρονάκης, Γιώργος Αυγενάκης from Σπήλι. In 1960 he started his collaboration with Σπύρος Σηφογιωργάκης with whom they gave many live performances and earned distinctions.
Died at his birthplace Rethemnos in March 29th 2017.