The great composer Mimis Plessas has passed away – On October 12, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday

The great composer Mimis Plessas has passed away. On October 12, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday.

He composed music for 104 films and 70 theatrical performances, for which he received numerous Greek and international awards. His works have been conducted by some of the world’s largest orchestras, while his compositions have been recorded in the USA, the UK, France, the Netherlands, and Spain.

He was married to Loukila Carrer, with whom he had a daughter in 1998. His son from a previous marriage is the composer Antonis Plessas.

“You won’t be by my side, Star of My Life… You will always be within me and protect me until we meet again, My Soul. Our shared journey of LIFE has come to an end until we reunite. Grateful for everything… Thank you for everything… I will love you forever…” wrote his wife, Loukila Carrer, on X.

Since October 10, a big tribute had been prepared at the “Pallas” theater for Mimis Plessas, in honor of his 100th birthday.

In June, during a special ceremony at the Presidential Mansion, the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, awarded the Order of Honour, posthumously, to composer Giannis Markopoulos, lyricist and writer Lefteris Papadopoulos, and composer Mimis Plessas, who were present at the ceremony.

Mimis Plessas was born in Athens on October 12, 1924. He attended the Leonteios School and later studied Chemistry at the School of Physics and Mathematics at the University of Athens. He continued his studies in the USA. At a young age, he became the first piano soloist at the National Radio Foundation. In 1952, at the age of 28, he was awarded the first prize for music by the University of Minnesota, and the following year he ranked as the fifth-best pianist in the USA. In 1952, he began composing music, and from 1956, he worked as both a conductor and a composer.

Mimis Plessas also composed the music and songs for the television series Ta Paidia tis Niovis (The Children of Niovi). He conducted many of the world’s largest orchestras, performing his works, and was recognized for his contributions to theater in Paris in 1958, as well as for his work in cinema in Edinburgh and the USA in 1964 and 1965, respectively. These were followed by numerous Greek and international honors.

In 2010, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Patras, while he also held a doctorate in Chemistry from Cornell University in the USA.

In 2016, on the 50th anniversary of his debut in the recording industry with the album Rantevou ston Aera (trnsl. “Rendezvous in the Air”) for the film of the same name by Giannis Dalianidis, Plessas presented his final full work Diaphanos Stavros (trnslt. “Transparent Cross”), performed by Thanos Olympios. The album went platinum.

Major Honors and Recognitions

Mimis Plessas received numerous awards both in Greece and internationally. In total, he was honored with six awards in Greece (Athens and Thessaloniki, 1959, 1963, 1964, and 1967) and seven international awards (Barcelona in 1960, Warsaw in 1962, Belgium in 1963, Italy (Alto Monte) in 1964, the USA in 1965, Paris in 1968, and Tokyo in 1970). He also received both gold and platinum records.

Notable achievements include:

• 1951: He won the first music prize from the University of Minnesota.
• 1952: He was named the fifth-best pianist in the USA.
• 2000: He was honored for his 50-year contribution to Greek music and culture by the City of Athens, receiving the “Gold Medal of the City” during a grand symphonic concert at the Athens Concert Hall.
• 2001: He was awarded the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix for his contribution to culture, by the President of the Republic.
• 2002: He was honored for his 50 years in the Greek music scene at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus by the Ministry of Culture.
• 2004: He was named “Person of the Year” by the Minister of Culture during a ceremony recognizing personalities for their contribution to global culture.
• 2006: He was awarded by the Academy of Personalities for his lifetime contribution to culture.
• 2024: He was awarded the title of Senior Commander of the Order of Honour for his cultural contributions, by the President of the Republic.

Throughout his long career, Mimis Plessas discovered or established with his songs many well-known singers and actors through his songs, including Zoë Kouroukli, Nana Mouskouri, Jenny Vanou, Yovanna, Marinella, Rena Koumioti, Giannis Voyatzis, Fotis Dimas, Giannis Poulopoulos, Tolis Voskopoulos, Stratos Dionysiou, and many others.

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