Biography
Lavrentis Mahairitsas (1956-2019) was a Greek singer and composer, one of the most important contemporary musicians of rock and artistic folk song. He was born on November 5, 1956 in Nea Ionia, Volos. His father was a composer and director of the state orchestra of ERT. They moved to Athens due to the obligations of his father, who died in 1966, when Lavrentis was 10 years old. In his 20s, he created the band L.J. Band, while also working in the warehouse of a record company, in which in 1978 they released their first album with English lyrics.
In 1983, the band's second album, P.L.J. they renamed themselves with some changes to "Termites" and started writing their songs with Greek lyrics. The group recorded 4 records before disbanding in 1989. From 1989, Mahairitsas began a solo career in Greek song as a composer and performer, creating songs that have remained classics, such as "Didymoteicho Blues", "Poso se Thelo", " And what am I asking for', 'There in the South', 'A Turk in Paris', 'Little Titanic' and many more.
He died in his sleep on September 9, 2019 at his holiday home in Pteleos Pelion, where he was attending.