Demis Roussos

[caronz]

Remember Demis Roussos? - My friend the Wind, Forever & Ever, My only Fascination, Goodbye My Love, Goodbye

He looks far better now than he did then

Goodbye My Love, Goodbye


My Only Fascination

[caronz]

MY Friend the Wind



Artemios Roussos was born on June 15, 1946 in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. As George and Olga’s first son, he was of Greek extraction

At the age of ten, he was intrigued by Jazz and learnt to play the trumpet. The young boy also attended the choir of the Greek Byzantine church of Alexandria and sang for five years as a soloist.
During the Suez Canal crisis, his family left Egypt and immigrated to their homeland, Greece. Artemios then had to work to support his family. During the day, he attended school and at night, he played the trumpet in various clubs in Athens. Two years later, his first band was formed known as « The Idols ». The band had a singer and Artemios played the Bass Guitar and sang backing vocals as well. One day, something happened that was about to change his life story. As the singer needed to rest, he asked Artemios to replace him for a few songs. That night, when Artemios started singing the « House Of The Rising Sun » and « When A Man Loves A Woman », the audience was amazed. From then on every night, Artemios was asked to sing again and again

And so, in the year 1971, Demis Roussos was. A couple of months later, Demis met with his old friend of the « We Five », Lakis Vlavianos. Lakis was then going thru an inspiring period of his life and wrote many songs which Demis recorded and made a string of number one hits all over the world: « Forever And Ever », « My Friend the Wind », « Velvet Morning » etc, etc… As his second child was born in 1975, Cyril, Demis toured the globe with his second wife and child for eight years. In Brazil, he packed a stadium of 150 000 people. An event that was achieved in that particular stadium twice only. Once by Franck Sinatra and once by Demis Roussos. Demis sold enough records to gain a name in the Guinness Book of records among the personalities of show business in the 70’s and the eighties. He was awarded more than a hundred golden, platinum, and diamond albums and cassettes. His unique dressing style was often considered eccentric but Demis was following his instinct which told him that the music he was performing should match with the combination of looks between the glorious Byzantine Empire and the Arabic Caftan.

In 1978 he took his family to an area of the world, where he was unknown, Malibu Beach, California. There, Demis lost 120 pounds in weight
He returned to Europe and lived a quieter life between England and Greece, alone with his son Cyril. On June 14 1985, wile he was travelling from Athens to Rome, an event occured that put a decisive turning point on his life and career and emphasized his feelings and thoughts about man-kind. That day, Demis’ TWA airplane was hijacked by terrorists and Demis and many other victims were held hostage. After two days in that plane praying, Demis was held three days in the prison of Beyrouth with his third wife Demis said he never understood so well the importance of the nations living in peace and how precious life is when you see death so close.

In 1986 Demis toured the USSR for three weeks and was invited to join important scientists, writers and artists at the forum for peace and disarmament which took place in the Kremlin, in Moscow, in February 1987. During a tight TV schedule in Chili, Demis insisted on fitting in a visit to the Earth summit in Rio, in order to get a clearer picture of the environmental problems, which are a main concern for Demis. Demis Roussos Christmas album, recorded in 1987, is considered to be one of the most saleable classic album ever recorded and by special request Demis toured the major cathedrals of France during the holiday season. From then on, Demis was a regular visitor of the charts again in the world with singles, such as « Quand je t’aime » and « On écrit sur les murs », and albums, such as « Voice and Vision » and « Immortel ».

In 2008, Demis lives in Greece by the sea. After being one of the most talented singer of his century, Demis is still working on
more magic to offer, with the blessing of music and god...