Vassilis Stavrakakis is one of Crete's foremost singers. He comes from an historic Cretan family which has given Cretan music many of its greatest singers and instrumentalists. He is also the cousin of Mitsos Stavrakakis, widely considered to be Crete's foremost poet of the tradition of mantinada, a rhyming couplet verse of 15 syllables which forms the core of Cretan song lyrics. Vassilis has for more than 30 years been the voice of his cousin's unique poetry. He is well known by lovers of Cretan music for his tireless performances, which often go on all night, as well as for the distinctive Cretan texture of his voice. He has worked together with Ross Daly for 25 years during which time they have together produced songs which have become an essential part of the Cretan musical repertoire today.