I grew up in South East London UK and started playing firstly on home made guitars, constructing them with my older brother David - also a keen player - in the early 60s when "The Shadows" were rising to fame.  I was 11 when we played our first gig for pay.  Within a few years, our group "The Invaders" made TV on "Ready Steady Win".  In the years following I played semi-professionally in various bands, on guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo, etc.  Then in 1999 I WENT TO CRETE!

That was the beginning of a whole new musical experience - I HEARD CRETAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC being played at the Kalh Kardia taberna in Xania, by Aspasia Papadakh (the first ever professional female Cretan Lyra player) and the Cretan Laouto being played by her brother Pavlos Papadakhs.  We sat eating a meal whilst they played, and I was enchanted by this strange, mystically oriental music with such action and drama from just two acoustic instruments.  I got to hold the laouto for a photo and began to play, Aspasia joined in, and we played for some while.  They thought I could play, and must be from another island (I was!).  The next holiday I had my first laouto made by Papalexakhs in Rethymno, and was playing it with the Papadakhs family at the Kalh Kardia.

After that I became their "Mathitis" and played every night possible, and hours each day at home.  I later also played at Zorbas with Petros Karmpadakhs in Aghia Marina, and at various functions around Xania.  Now I am asked to play in London with the Minotavri Dance Group... who knows what the future has in store!

Site authored by Basilis' sister, Flaouterakh

(c) Janette Walker 2006