Biography

Petros Loucas Chalkias was born on June 27, 1934 in Delvinaki, Pogoni, Epirus, Greece. He was an actor and composer, known for Innocent (1999), To oneiro tou Ikarou (2005) and Daphne Nikolaou: Krasi m' se pino gia kalo (2023). He was married to Maria Chalkia. He died on June 15, 2025 in Athens, Greece.

He returned to Greece in 1980, when he began recording albums, which enjoyed great success in his homeland and abroad.

In 1960, he immigrated to the United States , where he lived for 20 years, spreading the musical heritage of Epirus.

He studied the art of the clarinet from the age of 11 , despite the refusal of his father Pericles, who was one of the best musicians, and studied alongside Philippos Rountas (called "the best clarinetist of Zagori") with whose help he made his first public appearance at that age.

His father, Pericles Chalkias, went to America before World War II, where he gained great recognition as a clarinetist.

He began learning music from a young age alongside Epirotic clarinet teachers.