Demis Roussos

Demis Roussos ( Alexandria , 15 as June as 1946 – Athens , 25 as January as 2015 ) was a renowned Greek singer born in Egypt.

His real name was Artemios Ventouris Roussos.

He published about thirty albums throughout his career, with songs in Greek, French, German, English or Spanish.

Summary

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• 1 Biographical synthesis
  • 1 Childhood and youth
  • 2 Artistic trajectory
  • 3 Personal life
  • 4 Success of your group
  • 5 Work towards 2000
  • 6 Death
• 2 Complete discography
  • 1 Solo
• 3 Sources

Biographical synthesis

Artemios Ventouris Roussos was the son of an expatriate Greek family, his parents Olga and George were also of Greek origin. The name Demis is part of a custom in Greece, in which the newborn adopted the first name of the paternal grandfather (Artemios), and Demis is the diminutive of Artemios.

Childhood and youth

His childhood developed in a Muslim city as part of an Orthodox community and from a very young age he showed an inclination for folk music, he experienced Byzantine and Arab influences, that is why he is part of the choir of the Byzantine Greek Church of Alexandria and sings in it. For 5 years as a soloist, he studied music theory and learned to play the guitar and the trumpet.

Artistic trajectory

In 1961 the Roussians had to leave the country due to the Suez affair and returned to their homeland, Greece . The young man’s musical inclinations reach such a point that his mother decides to find the best music school in Athens for him , forming his first group The Idols at the age of 17, made up of his cousin Jo, Natis Lalaitis, Nikos Tsiloyan and Anthony, where Demis He is known for playing guitar and bass.

For a short time Demis has to replace the singer of the group, with this he conquers the public with his voice. This was a great impulse to the idea of ​​being independent and ensuring his own life, so from that moment groups and clubs became part of his daily life playing the international hits of the time with Lucas Sideras and Argyris Koulouris .

In 1966, Vangelis Papathanassiou discovered Demis’s unique voice while he was performing a song with his group where he sang more and more often as a soloist. A large music market would have been outside the borders, other horizons and new opportunities to propose their music would only be possible outside the country, so At the end of March 1968 Demis left the group and together with Lucas they took the train to travel to London, once there, Vangelis would meet them days later, but the reality is different when the customs agents of Douvres, the English border, discover in the young people’s luggage photographs, tape , for which they are forced to abandon the trip.

On their return they settle in Paris , shortly afterwards it is necessary to do something soon, because their savings begin to decrease day after day, that is why they decide that only a recording can get them out of trouble, that is how they manage to meet with the great leaders of an international Phonogram conference taking place at the time. They manage to sign a contract for a period of 6 years that, although drastic, was the only possibility they had to get out of trouble and thus be able to record, although without thinking it was actually the realization of their wishes.

“Rain and tears”, song composed by Vangelis and lyrics written by Boris Bergman, a young author presented by the record company was born while they were rehearsing in a 4 square meter basement. Under these conditions, the recording of the single is carried out, and although the recording studio closed due to the general strike weeks later, “Rain and Tears” is number 1 on the international chart of successes, and although suddenly there were not many differences Not long after, job proposals began to arrive, thus opening the doors of success.

In June they sing at the Olympia for a week as the opening act for the Sylvie Vartan show, which is a real triumph. Summer is spent singing in the clubs of southern France , so the success continues to grow. Hundreds of thousands of copies of the first recording are sold and through Demis’s voice many other hits are released such as “It’s five o’clock”, “I want to live”, “End of the world” and “Spring summer winter and fall”.

Personal life

At the family level Demis and his family wanted to have a real home; so they buy a villa at Maison-Laffite, on the outskirts of Paris . After two years, the Roussos’ mansion is completely built and decorated, painted white, in the style of the 30s , similar to American colonial houses. In 1975, according to his program, he traveled to the 5 continents with 5 tours of 45 days.

On September 15, 1975, at 3:35 a.m., the long-awaited son was born by Demis and Dominique, his wife. Very proud, the father sees in Cyril the heir of the Roussos. In 1978, the album “Demis Roussos” made in the United States was published . And in June of the following year the Roussos settle near Malibu where they rent a magnificent mansion by the sea. In this year, Demis takes time off, he had already tried to make a diet in order to lose weight, since his weight reached 147 kilograms, in June 1980 he began a plan and 10 months later he lost 50 kilograms. In this same year, on May 19, his new one comes out and with him will be number 1 in all Hit-Parades: “Man of the world”.

Demis roouss

The album consists of his new single “Lost in love” released in England and the Netherlands but also “I need you” a single released in France , Italy and Spain . This new album is made up of songs by Barry Mann, Harry Nilsson, Francis Rossi and various other artists from the world of pop music. “Lost in love” is a hit in England , the Netherlands and Belgium. “Sorry” ranks very well in the Hit-Parades in England, “I need you” in France, Italy and Spain. “San Pedro’s children” with the song “Sorry” on side 2 comes out in Germany after “Lost in love”. The album “Man of the world” is finally released in 4 different versions: France: side 1 “Man of the world,” Slacham dance “,” Lost in love “,” Miss you nights “,” Little girl “,” I need you ”,“ I ‘give my life ”. Side 2: Sorry, Had to run, San Pedro’s Children, The weeding song, Love is away, We’re over. It’s the same in England except for side 2: “How glad I am you came” instead of “Had to run.” In Spain: side 1 “Señora”, Spanish version of “I need you” and on side 2: Wedding song instead of “Wedding song”. In Italy: face 1 “Credo” replaces “I need you”, face 2 Nascera (Higway home) instead of “Had to run”.

In September he performed in England and in clubs around London, followed in October by a tour of Argentina , also in Italy he obtained a gold record for having sold 150,000 copies of the album “Universum”. At the end of February 1981, Demis was in France : he participated in the International Record and Music Publishing Market in Cannes and appeared on a special television show. After a tour that runs from June 17 to July 16 , 1981 in Australia , he gives a grand tour of Europe , starting fromNovember 16 to December 15, 1981 with 27 concerts of which, 6 in England, the rest given in Holland , Belgium , France , Switzerland . In France “La course infinie” is released as a single, the French version of “Race to the end”.

The Spanish version “Tu Libertad” is also published. Véronique Skawinska, a friend of Vangelis , writes a book in which she gives details about the Demis regime; will be published in autumn 1981. In August 1981, Demis takes advantage of the holidays in Greece to prepare a new album in September and October 1981. In November of that same year, Vicky Léandros records an album in duet with singers like Johnny Halliday , David Soul and Demis. This duo with his compatriot was released as a single in Holland and Switzerland in December 1981.

Made in March 1982, the new album entitled “Demis” is created, which is released in the UK , the Netherlands , Germany and in many other countries around the world. In order to fulfill his contracts on television and radio presentations in order to broadcast his new album Demis decides to settle in London; There he rents a flat for six months. In the autumn of 1982, the single “Follow me” and the album “Attitudes” were released in France. In 1983 the single “Jay” was released, followed in 1984 by the album “Reflection” produced by his friend Vangelis, which brings together well-known songs from different artists. In 1985 the single “Amis pour la vie” was released.

That same year of 1985 will be marked by an exceptional event in the life of Demis. On June 14, he is the victim of a plane hijacking while traveling with his wife Pamela. So you think you can help create a better world with what you know best: music. He decides to record again and go on stage. In 1986, the single “Island of love” was released, followed in 1987 by another single “Quand je t’aime”. In 1988 the album “Le grec” dedicated to his mother came out, in which there are two of his compositions “The beauty of your eyes” and “Futureless forever”.

Success of your group

The group manages to place itself in number 1 in Germany , Holland , Belgium , France and Italy , they manage to make 239 appearances on television. For Demis this was also an important period in his personal life, at this same stage he married Monique with whom he had a daughter, Emilie. Some time later the group goes through a critical moment, among other aspects due to the time it takes to record a new album 666On the other hand Vangelis not being totally satisfied and after a discussion with Lucas decides to leave the group and make more serious music to enter the English and American markets, so he leaves the tours and dedicates himself to studio music, for what separation from the group is imminent. A year after the break, the album would be considered a classic masterpiece of that time. Demis begins a solo career, being helped by the record house Phonogram.

Shortly after, inspired by folkloric themes, Demis realizes his dream. Two months of continuous work in the recording studio are enough to create his first solo work, that is how Fire and Ice was born in November 1971, where in twelve songs the author refers to love, life and death. With his first single We Shall Dance in the summer of 1971 which happens to be one of the biggest hits not only in France , but also in Europe . In the following year with trips to Spain , Italy , the Netherlands , Greece and Germanyhis international career is reaffirmed. In June of that same year the album My Reason was released, which in a few weeks climbed to the highest place in sales of singles in France.

In the month of September he is internationally consecrated with a show in Olympia where he reveals his talent. In Brazil he is heard by 30,000 people at a Rio Festival where he sings “Velvet mornings”, a song specially created for the occasion by Lakis Vlavianos. In 1973 Demis’s visit to South America allowed him to give many concerts.

In that same year his second album Forever and ever was conceived , which is composed of songs of great successes, in a year as a soloist he manages to sell two million records, but the famous Demis Roussos has only just begun. In 1974, he triumphed in Germany with his new album My only fascination .

In 1000 days, Demis gave 380 concerts in 18 countries, traveled 400,000 kilometers by plane, 100,000 by car, participated in 120 television programs, 180 radio programs, 3 song festivals, MIDEM  1973, recorded 40 songs, that is, three albums with 600 hours spent in the studio, received 15 gold records and sold approximately 9 million records.

Work towards 2000

In 1990 two singles Poésie and Même si are published . The Christmas album , recorded in the early 90s, is considered the best-selling album of classic Christmas songs, as well as several tours in France in numerous French churches that take over from these eternal songs. In 1993, Insight was published in which one can find, among other things, “Spleen”, a poem by the Frenchman Charles Baudelaire taken from his book The Flowers of Evil . In 1995, Demis publishes In Holland , a symphonic album and Immortel .

In 1996 Serenade is published ; It is a collection of western classical opera works; in 1997 Mon île was released , a new CD composed of ethnic music , whose most important theme is “Dinata”. In 1998 The Phenomenon is published, which brings together 4 CDs and offers 30 years of Demis Roussos’ career. A DVD consisting of a photo gallery is also made and gives us the opportunity to discover Aphodite’s Child’s time and a moving rendition of “Race to the end.” We can also enjoy the song “On écrit sur les murs” in which Demis plays bass again. Made in the year 2000, it releases a new CD entitled Auf meinen Wegen, recorded in German, English and Italian.

In June 2001 Universal publishes a very luxurious compilation composed of 20 songs. In 2002, Demis gave numerous concerts in Europe : Munich , United Kingdom (Southend, Northampton, Hull, High Wycombe, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin, Norwich, Chatham, Reading, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester, Basingstoke, Croydon, Nottingham, Stoke-on-Trent, Bristol, Cardiff, Bournemouth, Guildford, Eastbourne). He gave several concerts on the island of Cyprus ( Nicosia and Larnaca). In early 2003, two concerts took place in Montreal and Québec .

Death

He died of pancreatic cancer the 25 of January of 2015 , at age 69 at his home in the city of Athens (Greece) . The news of his death was given the following day, January 26, so that this did not coincide with the historic election day lived on January 25 in Greece, in which the candidate of the left, Alexis Tsipras , was proclaimed first minister with a large majority ^[1]

Complete discography

• Aphrodite’s Child
• End of the World (1968)
• It’s Five O’Clock (1969)
• 666 (1972)

In solitary

• On the Greek side of my mind (1971)
• Forever and ever (1973)
• My only fascination (1974)
• Auf Wiedersehen (1974)
• Souvenirs (1975)
• Happy to be … (1976)
• Die Nacht und der Wein (1976)
• Kyrila (1977)
• The Demis Roussos magic (1977)
• Ainsi soit-il (1977)
• The super 2 LP (1977)
• Demis Roussos (1978)
• Universum (1979)
• Man of the world (1980)
• Roussos live! (1980)
• Demis (1982)
• Attitudes (1982)
• Reflection (1984)
• Senza tempo (1985)
• Greater love (1986)
• The story of … (1987)
• Come all ye faithful (1987)
• Le grec (1988)
• Time (1988)
• Voice and vision (1989)
• Insight (1993)
• Demis Roussos in Holland (1995)
• Immortel (1995)
• Serenade (1996)
• Mon île (1997)
• Auf meinen Wegen (2000)
• Live in Brazil (2006)
• Demis (2009)
• When I’m a kid