Zacharias Pinakoulakis was born in Heraklion, Crete in 1954. He began his musical studies at the Heraklion Conservatory. He worked as a drummer in Crete, Thessaloniki and Athens, with musicians such as George Fillipidis, Andreas Mniestris and Christoforos Krokidis. In 1984 he continued his musical studies in the USA, at the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago Musical College and Chicago State University. He was a student of Phil Gretau and Jeff Stittley (jazz drums), Ed Poremba (classical percussion) and the Brazilian drummer of Some Brasil Louis Antonio (latin drumming). He also attended seminars by Mark Walker (Paquito D'Riveira), Dave Weckl (Chick Corea), Dennis Chambers, Steve Gadd and Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny Group).

In Chicago he performed repeatedly as a drummer at Crystal Palace, Jimmie's Lounge, Deni's Den, Roosevelt University, American Conservatory of Music, etc. In Greece he worked as a studio musician, played with various jazz bands and taught drums. He collaborated with musicians such as Thanasis Zervas, George Kontrafouris, Kostas Konstantinou, Antonis Ladopoulos, etc.