By Amberose Healton
“What are the chances that a poor kid from the seaside town of Kalamata, Greece, who doesn’t read music but taught himself to play piano at eight, who doesn’t dance, doesn’t sing, doesn’t write lyrics, doesn’t conform to any particular music style, is fiercely independent, and doesn’t want to play the show business ‘game’ – what are the chances that this kid will ever succeed, much less become a composer and performer revered in every corner of the globe?”
-----Yanni
The book “Yanni in Words,” by Yanni, provides a very personal journey through his life. He starts out telling about his parents, Felitsa, his mother, and Sotiri, his father. He talks about his childhood in Kalamata, a small seaside town in Greece and how he became a swimming champion in Greece at the age of fourteen. He then discusses how he was sent to America for college, and his Rock ‘n’ Roll years, and finally, his independent composing years. He tells you about many frustrations and obstacles he faced, he openly talks about the effects of a broken heart when he had to leave Sherry, and how he drew away from music for a year. He talks about the long period of depression, how he healed from it, and finally, about his latest life.
Yanni talks much about his mother Felitsa, and his father Sotiri. He dedicates his book to his parents. Then he talks a little about how they met, and he also introduces his reader to his brothers and sisters. He talks of the pranks he pulled as a child, some incredibly funny. One incident he recounted was when he built a rudimentary Arc Light in his Formica-topped table. “The fun part is putting something metal through the arc; it’s so hot that even metal will instantly melt and drip. Some got on the table in my bedroom and burned a hole in the Formica top. It’s not easy to do that to Formica; it’s even more difficult to explain it to your mom,” he said. Then he talks about how he loved to blow things up. He would make small bombs out of string and gunpowder, and set them off. “I’m lucky I still have my fingers,” says Yanni.
Yanni then talks about how he became a swimming champion at fourteen. He had never really trained that much, but he was always in the water, as his family lived next to the ocean. He entered a race, and beat the others by six lengths. Then he was entered into a second race against the champions in Athens. Again he won, breaking the national swimming record of Greece. When Yanni reached college age, his father sold their house to get the money to send him. Yanni’s first experience with fast food grossed him out. “I almost threw up after my first fast-food experience,” he commented.
He talks freely of how he became a composer, how his career was kicked off, and where he went on tours. He even discusses his relationship with Linda Evans, and how she helped bring up his publicity. He discusses his times of depression and his darkest hours.
The book is a very personal and entertaining read. Yanni had some light humor sprinkled about here and there. I especially liked his story about the Chinese food – but you will have to read the book for yourself. If you are a Yanni fan, then I suggest you read this book.
Dude, there is always plenty of stuff to do at the TEEN ZONE!
Contact the Teen Zone at 566-2201 or email at teenzone@infoway.org.