Leo Leandros
Encyclopedia
Leo Leandros is a Greek
musician, composer and producer. Born in Astakos
, Greece
, Leandros left in the 1950s for Germany
to pursue a career in singing
and composing
. He had some success, but shifted his focus to his daughter, Vicky
, who had been singing from a very early age and turned out to be the real treasure. He became her manager, composer and producer when she was 13, and is responsible for her unique training and career. Under his pseudonym Mario Panas he was the co-composer (together with Klaus Munro) of Après toi
, the winning title of the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest
, which Vicky Leandros performed for Luxembourg
. Leandros composed and produced for many other artists such as Julio Iglesias
, Demis Roussos
, Nana Mouskouri
, among others. His compositions are very lyrical with interesting arrangements. He has composed some of the most beautiful melodies of Western popular repertoire, combining Greek sound with a European one. In 1983, he retired but returned exclusively to the studio in the early 1990s for 3 albums with Vicky Leandros. His albums have sold over 120 million worldwide. A low profile personality, Leandros avoids public appearances. In October 2005 though he appeared on German/Austrian TV as a surprise guest for his daughter who was celebrating her 30 year stage Jubilee . More than 8 million people watched the show.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
musician, composer and producer. Born in Astakos
Astakos
Astakos is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Xiromero, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located on the eastern shore of the Ionian Sea but small hills to the west of the town block...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Leandros left in the 1950s for Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to pursue a career in singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and composing
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
. He had some success, but shifted his focus to his daughter, Vicky
Vicky Leandros
Vicky Leandros is a Greek singer with a long international career. She is the daughter of singer, musician and composer Leandros Papathanasiou...
, who had been singing from a very early age and turned out to be the real treasure. He became her manager, composer and producer when she was 13, and is responsible for her unique training and career. Under his pseudonym Mario Panas he was the co-composer (together with Klaus Munro) of Après toi
Après Toi
"Après toi" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 performed in French by Greek singer Vicky Leandros, representing Luxembourg. The song was co-written by Leandros' father Leandros Papathanasiou, also known as Leo Leandros, under his pseudonym Mario Panas. This was Vicky...
, the winning title of the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1972
The Eurovision Song Contest 1972 was the 17th edition series. Monaco was unable to host this year's Eurovision as they were unable to provide the resources. They approached French TV, who agreed to produce the contest, but only if the contest was staged in France and not the planned Monte Carlo...
, which Vicky Leandros performed for Luxembourg
Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest
Luxembourg was one of the countries to participate in the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956.From their debut to 1993 Luxembourg competed frequently in the Contest, being absent from the contest once during this period...
. Leandros composed and produced for many other artists such as Julio Iglesias
Julio Iglesias
Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva , better known simply as Julio Iglesias, is a Spanish singer who has sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and released 77 albums. According to Sony Music Entertainment, he is one of the top 15 best selling music artists in history,...
, Demis Roussos
Demis Roussos
Artemios Ventouris Roussos is a Greek singer and performer, best known for being the main musical partner of movie soundtrack composer Vangelis and a string of international hit records as a solo performer in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri
Nana Mouskouri , born Ioánna Moúschouri on October 13, 1934, in Chania, Crete, Greece, is a Greek singer who has sold about 300 million records worldwide in a career spanning over five decades, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. She was known as Nána to her friends and...
, among others. His compositions are very lyrical with interesting arrangements. He has composed some of the most beautiful melodies of Western popular repertoire, combining Greek sound with a European one. In 1983, he retired but returned exclusively to the studio in the early 1990s for 3 albums with Vicky Leandros. His albums have sold over 120 million worldwide. A low profile personality, Leandros avoids public appearances. In October 2005 though he appeared on German/Austrian TV as a surprise guest for his daughter who was celebrating her 30 year stage Jubilee . More than 8 million people watched the show.