Greek ‘Kaftan King’, Demis Roussos Passed Away At 68
Greek singer, Demis Roussos, who had his heyday in the 1970s and 1980s passed away at age 68. His last remaining days were spent at the Igia clinic, Athens Greece until his death on Monday. The cause of his death was not revealed from the initial press releases, the Sydney Morning Herald said.
Demis Roussos started his musical career being a member of the band Aphrodite's Child with fellow Greek musician Vangelis. Later on, he established a solo career and forged his own style with his melodic soprano voice. His songs are also said to get inspiration from traditional Greek melodies and folklore.
French-Greek TV personality Nikos Aliagas said in an earlier interview with AFP that Roussos is one of the greatest voices that Greece has ever produced.
"Along with Nana Mouskouri, he is one of the two biggest Greek pop music artists. They are the two great voices that put Greece on the map. We had known each other since I was a kid. He broke through borders and made his country proud," the TV personality said.
Reports on BBC reminisced the singer's achievements including the special place of his classic hit song 'Forever and Ever' said to have sold more than 60 million copies in the UK charts in the 70s.
He is known for his outrageous kaftan robes which earned him the title 'kaftan king' which sometimes lead him to funny remarks as being labeled as 'the singing tent'.
In an interview in 2002, the singer just shrugged off these remarks saying that he like wearing the robes.
"Designers from all over the world used to make them for me. I had some very dramatic designs. People liked them, I liked them and I felt great in them.It was fantastic. It was funny. When I was on stage there were always women in the front row who'd try and look up my kaftan," he once said.
The mid 70s is the peak of Roussos' career when his record sales of 30 million albums in Europe is said to be in competition with the Beatles. However, he did not click in the United States with tracks in his album, "That Once In A Lifetime" never reaching at least in the Top 20 in the Billboard.
The singer experienced a horrible experience when he was taken as a hostage by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. He was on his way to Rome that time when the militant groups hijacked the plane his boarding.
Together with other forty passengers, the pop star spent five days in Beirut and had spent his 39th birthday in the militant camps.
Meanwhile, Nana Mouskouri, Roussos has expressed his condolences for the late popstar, Billboard said. On a radio interview with French radio RTL, the Greek singer said, "He had a superb voice, he traveled in the world ... he loved what he was doing.He was an artist, a friend. I hope he is in a better world."
