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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZAPHRODITE'S CHILDGreek pop trio formed '63: Demis Roussos, Evangelos Papathanassiou (b 15 June 1947, Velos; d 17 May 2022, France) and Lucas Sideras (b 5 December 1944, Athens). All came from musical families and played several instruments. Greece was more resistant to Anglo-US pop styles at this time than any other country in Europe; on their way to London '68 they were signed to Philips by Pierre Sberre in Paris, who produced 'Rain And Tears'; the 17th-century German song sung in English was a massive hit in France, Italy, Turkey, made top ten in Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Lebanon; no. 30 UK; did not make the Greek top 20; nothing in USA. Hits in southern Europe followed, including 'It's Five O'Clock' and 'Spring, Summer, Winter And Fall' (both '70). 666 two-disc album did well on the Continent but UK success eluded them. They split up in the mid-'70s; Roussos became a successful solo crooner; Evangelos teamed with Jon Anderson (see Yes) as Jon and Vangelis: LPs Short Stories and Friends Of Mr Cairo '80-1; singles 'I Hear You Now' and 'I'll Find My Way Home' both made the top ten. He then became a composer of synthesized film music as Vangelis: theme single and soundtrack LP from Chariots Of Fire topped many charts '81 including the USA. He was sued by EMI on behalf of Stavros Logarides over a similarity of the Chariot theme to the latter's TV theme 'City Of Violets'; EMI lost '87. His other UK hit LPs included Heaven And Hell and Albedo 0.39 '76 on RCA, Soil Festivities and Mask '84-5, like Chariots on Polydor. |