Chrysanthos Theodoridis

Chrysanthos Theodoridis, or simply Chrysanthos (Greek: Χρύσανθος Θεοδωρίδης; 22 December 1934 – 30 March 2005) was the most well known and renowned Pontic Greek singer and songwriter. He was born in Oinoi, Kozani to a Pontic Greek family. He became a symbol for the people from Pontos worldwide. He was called "the nightingale of Pontos" due to his high-pitched melodic voice. He died of a heart attack in Greece in 2005.

Early Life

Chrysanthos Theodoridis, was born to Pontic Greek refugees from Pezirkian Kiatsit in Kars (today northeastern Turkey) on December 22, 1934 in Oinoi, Kozani, Greece. His childhood was marked by poverty, as both of his parents worked in agricultural jobs to support the family. After completing primary school, he attended the Valtadoro High School in Kozani. In 1949 his father was murdered by a gang which led to his family moving to Drapetsona, Piraeus, Athens. There he enrolled in the well known Ionideio School. It was around this time that he began contributing to cultural programs on an Athens radio station. It was also around this time that he began learning the art of Pontic music with established musicians and teachers of Pontic music such as renowned lyra player Nikos Papavramidis, and theatrical performers such as Nikos Spanidis.

Musical Career

In 1954 at the age of 20, Chrysanthos recorded his first album with Pontic lyra player Nikos Lazaridis. After completing his military service in 1959, he moved to Thessaloniki with a view to continuing his musical career. It was here that he began his association with the 'Patriarch' of the Pontic lyra, Giorgos "Gogos" Petridis. Both were blessed with an incredible talent; Chrysanthos with a unique, high pitched voice of great range, and Petridis a rare proficiency with the Pontic lyra. The musical duo performed and recorded together and were the first to bring Pontic music to Greek nightclubs. Chrysanthos also contributed to the cultural center Efxinos Leschi Salonica and later the Faron Pontion Salonica.

So unique was his voice that interest grew from other quarters of the Greek music scene. Chrysanthos was soon receiving invitations to perform entekhno (a form of rhythmic and melodic Greek orchestral music) to a wider Greek audience and in 1975 moved to Athens to explore this path. He appeared with Nikos Xilouris, Mariza Koch and composer Christodoulos Halaris at the Aposperida boite. In 1976 he appeared in performances with Halaris and Xilouris throughout all of Greece. In 1979-80 Chrysanthos appeared with Halaris at the Lycabettus (a well known open-air amphitheater in Athens) in performances of Perses, Romanos o Melodos and others. In 1980 he took part in the Festival d'Avignon in France and performed in three other cities in southern France. He performed in many other countries including Germany, Australia, United States, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden.

Chrysanthos released over 30 albums and CD's throughout his 50 year music career and wrote the lyrics to many of his songs.  One of the last CD's he released was with famous Greek singer Stelios Kazantzidis who was also of Pontic Greek descent.

Later Life and Death

In 1967, he married Anastasia Pachatouridou, who accompanied him until the end of his life.

In 1996, after a 20 year career in Athens, Chrysanthos returned to northern Greece and settled in Salonica. He died in Polichni a district of Salonica in 2005 aged 71. His funeral was attended by thousands of people throughout Greece. In 2022, a bust of Chrysanthos was unveiled in his hometown Oinoi, Kozani in Greece.