George Charonitis: Renowned Publisher and Music Journalist Passes Away

On the day of his name day, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, George Charonitis passed away at the age of 70. Charonitis was a renowned music composer for at least three decades at ‘Athinaorama’ and served as the publisher of the music magazine ‘Jazz & Jazz Magazine’ for twenty years. The news of his passing was shared on social media by friends and colleagues. “A day of mourning for music journalism. We lost the best child and an exceptional music journalist,” wrote one close friend. Another noted, “Credible, serious, with a simple and pinpointing style, jazz music became more accessible to an entire generation (perhaps more) through his writings.” Phoebus Delivoria made a poignant post bidding farewell, emphasizing the debt his generation owed to Charonitis for teaching them how to appreciate music deeply. Delivoria highlighted how Charonitis introduced his generation to the nuances of jazz and popular culture, making the inaccessible accessible. Through his work, he celebrated artists like Duke Ellington, Zappa, Gainsbourg, and Greek musicians such as Savvopoulos and Hatziyiannis. His passion extended even to soundtracks and British television series. Friends remember him not only for his intellectual contributions but also for his warmth and love for life.