MUCH loved Greek Cypriot composer Marios Tokas, who died on Sunday, will be laid to rest in Athens today.
The 54-year-old died during the early hours of Easter Sunday after losing a nine-month battle with cancer.
President Demetris Christofias, who was a close friend of the composer and is believed to have visited him only weeks before his death, as well as Education Minister Andreas Demetriou, will attend the funeral. The latter will delivery the eulogy.
Journalists’ Union president Andreas Kannaouros and House Education Committee president Nicos Tornaritis on behalf of House president Marios Karoyian, will also attend the funeral.
A significant presence in the Greek music scene, Tokas will be remembered by all who knew him and those whose lives he touched with his much-loved lyrics and music.
In the words of the Education Ministry: “The death of Marios Tokas is a great loss for the music scene of Cyprus and Greece, which he has served with great success and devotion.”
Tokas was born in Limassol on June 8, 1954.
From an early age he exhibited a talent in music writing and in 1978 he released his first album entitled “Ta tragoudia tis pareas”, which earned him an early critical acclaim. This was followed by another great success, “Mikra Erotika”, sung by Antonis Kalogianis.
Distinguished for his countless hits which established his reputation as a great composer, Tokas also wrote songs for other household names in the Greek music industry including Demetris Mitropanos, Yiannis Parios, Manolis Mitsias, Haris Alexiou and Demetra Galani. His works include religious albums, folk albums, soundtracks to television shows, and Greek music.
Every summer he offered free concerts to all 18-year-old new conscripts ahead of their compulsory National Guard service.
Tokas is survived by his wife and three children.
IN A written statement yesterday, Christofias said Tokas’ death had deprived the island of “a great creator of modern culture”.
He said: “From an early age Marios has been involved with music, which he associated with the cultural sensitivity that characterised him. He was a man who cherished the ideals of social justice, taught to him by his father, poet and journalist Kypros Tokas.”
Christofias referred to Tokas’ early pieces of music which had involved “borrowing the lyrics from his father’s poems which talked about relations between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and the desire for a common, peaceful country and peaceful cohabitation”.
Tokas was also inspired by the peoples’ struggle for freedom, as well as by love and could be described as a “composer of love”, the president said.
“Personally, I have lost a close, long term friend and fellow fighter. His music and songs will keep us company forever,” he added.
The Education Minister said Cyprus would honour its composer by giving young people incentives to follow in his steps.
Among other things a scholarship would be given to young people who wanted to study music and a Limassol music school would be named after him. More decisions will be announced during his speech at the funeral, Demetriou said.
The Journalists Union expressed its grief, describing Tokas as “an excellent human being, a fighter of freedom, democracy, human rights and social justice… With his music and cultural work, Marios Tokas enriched Cypriot and Greek music and culture and made them proud of the national cultural heritage,” it said.
Political parties on the island and various organisations, including the Federation of Cypriot expatriate communities, also issued statements praising Tokas’ great contribution to the world of music and to his country.
