Origins

Musician. Teacher. Writer.

Niko Lalangas

Niko Lalangas was born in Athens, Greece and grew up in New York's Hudson Valley. Music ran in the family — his grandfather was an accomplished classical guitarist, and on his mother's side, his great-uncle Tony Hanges was a celebrated singer in the era of Frank Sinatra, recording many songs including Sinatra's I Concentrate on You. Niko later re-recorded that song as a duet with his late uncle; it appears on his album Free Your Soul.

He picked up the guitar at 18 and was earning a living from music by 20 — teaching, gigging, and building a full-time career before finishing college. Over the following decades he performed in virtually every setting imaginable: bars, clubs, country clubs, hotels, festivals, private events, corporate functions, and weddings. He was equally at home fronting a cover band or playing solo, and spent years on the New York theater circuit, performing in productions including Grease, Rent, Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, Pippin, Godspell, and Bye Bye Birdie, among others.

Beyond the stage, Niko worked as a session player at studios across New York, including The Hit Factory in Manhattan. He donated his time to churches, hospitals, teen centers, and organizations like The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. His music appeared on regional television across NY, NJ, CT, and PA, and he co-hosted a segment for the pilot of In Tune: The Guitar Show.

Since relocating to North Carolina in 2009, Niko has continued performing, teaching, recording, and writing. He has played festivals and venues across the state, appeared on local television and podcasts, and released original music that blends rock, blues, and everything in between.

2006