Famed Greek musician Loukianos Kilaidonis has passed away, an announcement from his family revealed on Tuesday.
The 74-year-old composer, songwriter and singer passed away in his birthplace of Athens while in hospital due to heart failure following a respiratory infection in the early hours of Tuesday, reports Kathimerini.
Born July 15, 1943 in the district of Kypseli, Kilaidonis is survived by his wife, actress Anna Vagena and two daughters, Jasmine and Mary.
Music was not always Kilaidonis’ focus however, initially pursuing architecture and graduating from Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University and the National Technical University of Athens. But he would never come to practice architecture, turning his attention to his greater passion in the 1970s, and began writing songs across television, film and theatre, and worked with a long list of popular performers and as a result leaves behind a stunning legacy.
Renowned for launching Greece’s beach party culture in the 80s with parties across the Athenian coast, he also recorded more than 20 albums, including hit songs I’m a Poor and Lonely Cowboy, A day of a Mary, and The Hymn of Black Dogs.
He also wrote music for filmmakers the likes of Theo Angelopoulos, Pantelis Voulgaris and Vassilis Alexakis, and in 1999 founded music venue Metaxourgeio together with his wife.
With his music, sense of humour and humanity, Kilaidonis managed to appeal to all generations.