Greek-born singer, composer, and lyricist Leo Leandros (born Leandros Papathanasiou) passed away at the age of 102, November 1, leaving behind a remarkable musical legacy that bridged Greece and the international stage.
Born on August 23, 1923, in Astakos, western Greece, Leandros moved to Germany in the 1950s, where he built a prolific career as a composer and producer under the names Leo Leandros and Mario Panas.
Though he began as a performer, Leandros later set aside his own singing career to focus on his daughter Vicky Leandros, who rose to global fame. His most celebrated achievement came in 1972, when he co-wrote and produced her winning Eurovision entry “Après Toi” (“Once You’re Gone”), a song that became one of the contest’s enduring classics.
Throughout his career, Leandros composed and produced for major international artists including Julio Iglesias, Demis Roussos, and Nana Mouskouri, blending Greek melodies with a distinctly European pop sensibility. His lyrical and melodic style helped shape the popular sound of post-war Europe, and his works have sold over 120 million records worldwide.
In recent years, Leandros made headlines when, in August 2024, he publicly objected to his daughter’s performance at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, arguing that his contributions as a composer had been omitted from promotional materials. In a written statement, he called the omission “a slight to both the composer and the works themselves,” while nonetheless wishing his daughter success and respect for his artistic legacy.
Before his international success, Leandros was also known in Greece as the first performer of Panathinaikos FC’s anthem, composed in 1958 by Giorgos Oikonomidis and Giorgos Mouzakis.
With his passing, Greece and the broader music world bid farewell to a multi-talented artist, producer, and mentor—the man behind some of Europe’s most timeless melodies and one of Greece’s most successful musical exports.
