Greek Singer Demis Roussos Passes Away Aged 68

Renowned Greek singer Demis Roussos, who came to prominence as part of 1970s prog psych outfit Aphrodite's Child, has passed away in Athens at the age of 68.

According to the ABC, Roussos' passing was confirmed in a statement issued by the Igia (Ygeia) Clinic, where the singer had been staying for treatment of an unknown illness.

The man who would become one of the 20th century's greatest Greek pop stars was born in Egypt on 15 June, 1946, the family relocating to Greece — his father's homeland — in 1961 during the Suez Canal crisis. 

In 1967, he joined forces with fellow musicians Vangelis Papathanassiou, known popularly as Vangelis, Loukas Sideras and Ahargyros Koulouris to form Aphrodite's Child, who in their short five-year career together would earn a reputation as one of Europe's foremost cult acts, their third LP, 666 (1972), receiving wide acclaim, as well as opening the door for several consequent entertainers to try their hand at this whole "concept album" thing Aphrodite's Child had cooked up for the album.

Also in 1972, Aphrodite's Child disbanded and Roussos branched out solo, a savvy move that saw the man rack up millions of album sales over the next four decades, leaving behind a litany of hit songs — My Friend The Wind, Mr Reason, Goodbye My Love, Goodbye, Forever & Ever, Velvet Mornings, Someday Somewhere and Lovely Lady Of Arcadia, among several others — though he underwent a reduction in output during the 1980s as he battled depression as well as being taken hostage by Lebanese militants during their take-over of TWA Flight 847 from Athens to Rome in 1985.

Roussos' final album was 2009's comeback effort Demis. His funeral will be held at the First Cemetery of Athens this Thursday, 30 January.