Stavros Xarchakos

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Stavros Xarchakos (Greek: Σταύρος Ξαρχάκος, IPA: [ˈstaˑvro̞s̠ k͡sarˈxaˑk̠o̞s̠], born March 14, 1939) is a Greek composer and conductor.

He was born in Athens, where he studied at the Athens Conservatoire. He emerged in the Greek music scene around 1963, composing music for the theatre and cinema. Among his collaborators was lyricist Lefteris Papadopoulos.

In 1967 he went to Paris to study with Nadia Boulanger. He stayed there for four years, and went on to study with David Diamond at the Juilliard School of Music.

While he mainly composed in the style of Greek Popular music, Laïka, he also composed in the classical music genre.

His musical output comprises 42 albums, 21 film scores and music for 15 TV productions.

Internationally he is known as the composer for the Rembetiko music score, and composing the music for the 1983 BBC TV mini series, "The Dark Side of the Sun".

He served director of the National Orchestra of Greek Music.

He was later involved in politics, elected Member of the Greek Parliament twice, before becoming a MEP.