Career
Gounis first came into public awareness in the early 1970s when he and several colleagues filmed and presented a series of experimental films. These films were the product of the informal largess of the University of Missouri - Saint Louis. During this period Gounis also began to publish his poetry in several alternative press outlets and read on KDNA FM radio.
Some of the participants in these readings later formed the nucleus of River Styx Magazine.
In March 1976, he initiated a weekly blues program on KCLC radio at Lindenwood College in Saint Charles, Missouri. In June 1976 he began to host and produce “Verbatim”, a monthly showcase of poetry and music
Poets Donald Finkel, January Garden Castro, Carter Revard and Michael Castro were some of the poets featured. In the early 1980s Gounis contributed to the work of the Soulard Culture Squadron
This group of poets and musicians performed throughout the historic Soulard area and published several poetry collections.
At the end of the decade and into the ’90s he took part in radio programs such as Office The Beaten Path, Poetry Beat and Literature for the Halibut on KDHX FM in Saint Louis, Missouri. Some of the transcripts of his interviews done in conjunction with these programs are available at the Washington University Department of Special Collections Olin Library. In summer 2005 Intangible Studios released the Civil Defense, Form Matters on which Gounis collaborated with musician Rich Kruse.
Some Of These Have Appeared, a chapbook of poetry was published spring 2007.
In the summer of 2010 Gounis" work appeared in Flood Stage: An Anthology of Saint Louis Poets. His second chapbook, Upgrading the Allusion was published by JK Publishing in April, 2011.
