Ανδρέας Ροδινός

(1912 - 1934) Is condidered as the first Cretan Lyra player. He was born in Rethimnon, 1912. His father was from the village Atsipopoulo and he was a baker. His mother Hrisoula Mamagaki – related to the known composer Nikos Mamagakis - was from Frantzeskiana Metohia. He completed his elementary and secondary education in Rethimnon. He started playing the lyre when he was 13 years old and his teachers were Nikistratos and Piskopis. By the time he was 16, he had already formed his first band while teaming up with the famous amateur lute player Stavros Psillos. At the age of 18, he had become an excellent lyrist. He joined the army in 1933, however, a serious illness forced him to stay in bed for more than six months. At some point when he was feeling better his friends – Lefteris Gaganis and Giannis Baxevanis - persuaded him to record two instrumental albums with Giannis Bernidakis (Baxevanis) playing the lute. These recordings were saved due to the interest shown by Baxsevanis’ brother. Some of the songs included in the latter are the following: “Rethimniotikos Sirtos”, “Apokoroniotikos Sirtos”, “Kissamniotikos Sirtos”, and “Rethemniotika Pentozalia”; songs that are considered a landmark in the history of Cretan music. Due to his poor health, Andreas Rodinos then withdrew for a while at the Plateau of Nippous. Ten days after he returned to Rethimnon, he died holding his lyre. It was the 9th of February 1934. He was only 22 years old. Rodinos left us…! His myth, however, is still with us.