Greek singer Demis Roussos: biography. Demis russos, biography, life story, creativity, writers, zhzl Russos solo career

Demis Roussos (1946-2015) is a Greek singer and multi-instrumentalist, born on June 15, 1946 in Alexandria (Egypt). During his life, he sold over 60 million copies of albums. This musician has been repeatedly called the "Greek Nightingale" for his amazing vocals. Girls and boys of all ages cried to his amazing love songs. The performer could give up to 150 concerts per year.

Childhood and love of music

The singer's creativity was inherited. His mother was a professional dancer in her youth, and her husband played the guitar perfectly. From childhood, they taught their son to folk music. The boy loved to hum Byzantine and Arabic tunes, he soon joined church choir... Demis stayed there for five years, during which time he fully mastered musical theory.

Demis was the first son of the singer Nelly and the engineer Yorgos. Later his brother Kostas was born. The family lived in prosperity, not long after the birth of their second son, they decided to move to Greece. The reason for this decision was the Suez Crisis. Parents had to leave all their savings in Alexandria. They started new life in the mid 60s.

Roussos studied at the Athens College of Music. There he was taught to play the double bass, organ and trumpet. Later, the young man repeatedly performed in musical groups. They played on ships and in hotels in Athens, and the audience consisted mainly of tourists. The first collective, founded by Demis and his cousin, was called "Idols". He managed to gain popularity not only in Greece, but also in many European cities.

In groups, Roussos always played on musical instruments... It wasn't until the late 1960s that he first appeared on stage as a vocalist. The audience was delighted with the performance of old songs, soon the musician began to sing on a regular basis. In 1966, a song was written especially for him. In 1968 the singer created new project We Five, with whom he hoped to conquer Europe.

After the military coup in Greece, the guys decided to go to London. But they did not manage to get through customs, so they had to change plans urgently. The musicians went to Paris, where they managed to meet with the heads of the recording studio.

Nobody wanted to work with aspiring performers without a contract. The band members filmed a small basement where the song Rain & Tears was written. They were able to record it in a studio that was immediately closed as a result of the strike. Suddenly, the song took first place on the chart. The band began to be recognized on the streets, they were invited to perform throughout the south of France. Producer Lou Reinsner started to promote the band, he suggested changing the name to "Aphrodite's Child".

Solo career

Roussos' group enjoyed success, they earned good money with the musicians. But for the singer, creativity was always in the first place. He wanted to create an original interesting musicthat could compete with foreign markets. Demis has repeatedly offered to stop touring in order to sit in the studio to record the album. His wish was fulfilled, as a result the band released the disc "666". She became the last in the history of the group.

In 1971, due to disagreements with colleagues, Roussos decided to pursue a solo career. In November of the same year, his solo album was released. It was followed by the single We Shall Dance. It was recognized as a world hit in the summer of 1972, entered all the charts and remained at the top for a long time.

Until 1975, the artist managed to record three albums. His popularity was so great that Roussos was included in the Guinness Book of Records. Albums of this singer were selling at an incredible speed. He recorded songs in English and French, toured all over the world with concerts.

Other achievements

Roussos' music has played in the films Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire. The singer also wrote a book about his weight loss. This topic has always brought discomfort to Demis, he never managed to lose weight. It turned out to be done only in 1985, after the terrorists were freed from two weeks of captivity.

Demis's last album was released in 2009. At that time, he constantly traveled from Germany to France and back. In adulthood, the singer began to get sick often, his immunity was weakened. On the night of January 25, 2015, Roussos died in a hospital in Athens. On that day, elections were held, so his death was announced only on January 26.

Favorite wives of the musician

Roussos was a famous heartthrob. In total, he was married three times. The singer met his first wife at the beginning of his career. Monique became his faithful friend, supported the musician in everything. They got married, and their daughter Emily was born. But later difficulties arose because of Demis's annoying fans. Monique could not stand it, so she took her daughter and left for France.

The artist did not suffer for long, he soon consoled himself in the arms of the "woman of his dreams" Dominic. After the wedding, she bore him a son, Cyril. The heartthrob was happy, but could not refuse casual ties with fans. Despite all the declarations of love for his wife, he repeatedly cheated on her. The wayward Dominic did not want to forgive the betrayal, she filed for divorce and left for Chicago. The son stayed with his father, later his grandparents took up his upbringing.

After breaking up with Dominic, the singer fell in love with the American model Pamela. They met by chance in a bookstore, and the romance began almost immediately. A few months after they met, the couple was captured. They flew in an airplane that was hijacked by terrorists. After his release, Roussos proposed to his beloved, but this marriage soon fell apart.

In 1994 Demis met yoga instructor Maria-Teresa. The woman was French, she fell madly in love with the charming singer. Later he said that it was Maria who remained in his life longer than anyone else. She threw everything and went to Greece with her beloved. The relationship was not formalized, the couple chose to live in a civil marriage.

In an interview, Roussos said that the ideal of a woman does not exist for him. The only condition was unrequited love for him. The singer wanted to see a passionate and devoted girl next to him, he was extremely jealous. At the same time, Demis himself could not boast of loyalty. At the sight of attractive fans, he lost his head, over and over again wasting time on meaningless intrigues.

Already in adulthood, the artist fell in love with Elena Kurakova. At that time, the girl was only 22 years old, but this did not prevent her from agreeing to a marriage proposal. The wedding never took place, the reasons are unknown.

To the 70th anniversary of the birth of DEMIS RUSSOS

Demis Roussos had, truly, a completely unique voice and here no singer in the world could compete with him. The second equally unique voice had the great Polish singer Anna German, who was loved and appreciated much more in the USSR than in her homeland.

Demis Roussos. Hits of different years

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DEMIS RUSSOS - MAN - AN ERA!

The great Greek performer was born in Alexandria, Egypt on June 15, 1946. His real name is Artemios Venturis Roussos.

In his memories, he forever preserved a living memory and love for his hometown: “Alexandria is a city with a Greek spirit, built by Alexander the Great (Macedonian), with a large Greek community and a strong Orthodox Patriarchate of the same name.

When I think back to my childhood, pictures of childhood memories sometimes give me the feeling that I am watching a film based on the novels of Agatha Christie ...

From Alexandria I carried my love for the stage. This love was a tradition in our family. Both my father and my mother suffered from it. We wanted to make people happy. "

His parents - George and Olga - were famous Greeks in Egypt: his mother was a famous singer, and his father, although he was an engineer by profession, played the classical guitar.

Little Demis studied music and was a member of the Byzantine church choir in his native Alexandria. When the Suez Crisis erupted under Nasser, his family lost all their property and had to return to Greece.

Already in Greece, his passion for music at the age of 17 led him to the then famous group Idols, where he met Vangelis Papafanasiou (known worldwide as Vangelis) and Lucas Sideras, with whom he would later create the rock group Aphrodite's Child (“ Child of Aphrodite ").

The group became widely known in 1968 during the Paris Spring with the song "Rain & Tears". The music for the group was written by Vangelis Papafanasiu - he also played the keys, and the tenor Demis played the double bass and was the main performer.

Demis' specific tenor, who was often called "the fat man with a thin voice," helped the group gain worldwide fame. From 1968 to 1971, their singles consistently occupied the first place in the European charts for three years.

Demis Roussos himself believed that the success of the group ensured the correct "timing": "All Paris was on fire, suffocated from tear gasand we sang ... Rain & Tears. "

Demis Roussos (Aphrodite "s Child) - Rain And Tears

The band recorded several singles, three of which were worldwide success. The most significant was their latest single - their "swan song" - titled "666 - Apocalypse of John", which is considered one of the classics in progressive rock music.

Demis began his solo career in 1971 with the single "We shall dance", which was not very successful. But the breakthrough came a couple of years later with the song "Forever and Ever", which took first places in the charts of many countries in 1973.

Demis Roussos - My friend the wind, 1973

The songs “My Friend The Wind”, “My Reason”, “Velvet Mornings”, “Goodbye My Love, Goodbye”, “Someday Somewhere” and “Lovely Lady Of Arcadia” brought worldwide fame to the singer.

Photo of the joint tour from Joe and Demis magazine SALUT LES COPAINS, 1973

Demis Roussos and Joe Dassin, 1973

In collaboration with Vangelis Papafanasiu (Vangelis) in 1970 the disc "Sex Power" was released (sometimes this record is referred to the group Aphrodite's Child), and in 1977 - "Magic".

But their most successful and famous collaboration was the song "Race to the End" from the Oscar-winning movie "Chariots Of Fire".

Demis Roussos's songs were released in many languages \u200b\u200bof the world, in many countries of Europe and Latin America. In total, he recorded 42 albums, and their combined sales exceeded 70 million!

In 1982, his book "A Question of Weight" was published, in which the singer talks about his victory over being overweight: he managed to lose 50 kg in 10 months, having dropped his weight from 147 kg to 97!

After a long period of struggle with depression, which he suffered for over 10 years, Demis Roussos returned to the scene in 1993 with the album Insight, also known as Morning has Broken.

In the following years, the singer continued his career, performing all over the world with concerts and recording discs.

In 2003, he performed in front of the leaders of 40 countries at a concert in St. Petersburg on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city.

In 2010, Demis Roussos starts a world tour from Athens to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his professional career.

Demis Roussos and Charles Aznavour

In September 2013, France awards the Greek singer with the Legion of Honor, the country's highest honor.

Rewarding Demis Roussos with the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor

A peculiar tribute to the singer was expressed by the Russian astronomer Timur Kryachko, who gave his name to the asteroid of the solar system discovered by him (279226 Demisroussos - 2009 UR103).

Demis Roussos stood out sharply against the background of the prevailing Western style and his original voice, and unique stage image, and a special manner of contact with the audience, unlike other prototypes of the Western style.

The style of clothing, behavior, thick, fluttering beard - all this fascinated the viewer even before the singer began to sing - and he had no choice but to completely surrender to the power of the unique voice of his favorite.

An interesting incident happened with the singer in June 1985 Demis Roussos, together with his future wife Pamela, flew from Athens to Rome on TWA flight 847.

The flight was hijacked by Lebanese terrorists and the plane made an emergency landing, first in Beirut and then in Algeria. The singer had to spend several days on board with the terrorists.

Having learned that Demis Roussos was among the hostages, they not only asked him for an autograph, but also celebrated his birthday on June 15 and released him a couple of days later one of the first.

The popularity of the singer in Arab countries was not prevented even by the enormous popularity of this Greek in Israel, where he often toured and recorded one of his hits "Golden Jerusalem".

His popularity was immense in Russia, and Demis Roussos reciprocated.

In one of his interviews in Moscow, he said: “ Russia is my second homeland. I love your audience very much and I love coming to Moscow.

It seems to me that I already know this city very well, and all the same, on every visit I discover something new for myself, I always discover what to do and what to see in my free time, although I never plan any obligatory program in advance.

I also really like Russian cuisine, although I don't really know much about it, to be honest. I love dumplings and pancakes and, of course, your famous black caviar, ”he said.

As for food, he admitted that it takes an important part in his life: "For me, the main thing is music, food and women, and in that order."

In the Egyptian city of Alexandria, where his father worked as a contract architect. Demis's family was musical, his mother was a singer, and his father played the classical guitar.

Demis Roussos was educated at the Athens College of Music, where he studied trumpet, double bass and organ.

In the mid-1960s, he played with various bands in Athens on ships and in hotels, entertaining tourists and visitors. In these groups, Demis Roussos acted as both a trumpeter and a bass player. But only in the group We Five did he manage to demonstrate his singing abilities to the public.

Together with others famous musicians Roussos founded the group Aphrodite's Child. In 1968, after a military coup in Greece, the group moved to Paris, where they achieved success thanks to the song Rain & Tears. In 1971, Demis Roussos left the group to pursue a solo career.

In the late 1970s, the singer was actively involved in solo projects. Demis' first solo album, On The Greek Side Of My Mind, was released in November 1971. In March 1972, his second solo single, No Way Out, was released, but it failed. However, his third single, My Reason, became a worldwide hit in the summer of 1972.

A second solo album was recorded and released in April 1973. It was in 1973 that Demis found himself at the pinnacle of success in Europe, Latin America and Canada and gave concerts all over the world.

In 1974, during his first concert at the Ahoy Hall in Rotterdam, Holland, he performed his first single, Someday Somewhere.

In 1975, Demis' three albums Forever And Ever, My Only Fascination and Souvenirs topped the top ten albums in England.

In 1977, Roussos recorded a French album. The song of the same name with the album title Ainsi Soit-il became a hit. In 1977, Demis's album Magic was released. The song Because from this album became a mega-hit in many countries, including France.

In the 1970s, the popularity of Roussos was so great that the singer's name hit the Guinness Book of Records for the number of records sold.

In 1978, Demis went to the United States. Despite the fact that both the That Once A Lifetime single and the Demis Roussos album achieved success in the United States, the tour did not meet high expectations.

In the 1980s, Roussos gave 150 music programs a year. In 1982, the album Attitudes was released.

On July 14, 1985, the singer flew by plane to Rome and was taken hostage by terrorists along with other passengers. Demis was held hostage for seven days in Beirut.

In 1987, Roussos recorded a Christmas album, in 1988 - Time, in 1989 - Voice and Vision. The music albums released in 1992 - The Story of ... and X-Mas Album - were very successful.

In total, the singer has a little less than three dozen records, which are invariably popular with listeners all over the world.

The artist toured extensively, his concerts gathered an audience in many countries. Roussos first visited Russia in 1986, after which he repeatedly came to the country with concerts. In 2012, his concert was dedicated to the 45th anniversary creative activity singer.

Demis Roussos has passed away.

Roussos was married three times and had two children from different marriages - daughter Emily and son Cyril.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources