Dimitri (1949, full name Dimitri Tambossis) is a Greek singer/songwriter who, born in Budapest in Hungary, moved to Greece in 1958. In 1963, while still in high school, he plays the guitar and sings with the band “The Sharks”, “Cinquetti”, “Storks” and “Artomics”. After releasing two solo singles in Greece, Dimitri decided to travel in the footsteps of Aphrodite's Child and move to Paris, to try his luck there... As he remembered: “with 4 dollars in my pocket, a suitcase and many dreams”. When Aphrodite’s Child finish the recording sessions of “666” in the beginning of 1971 and Vangelis is no longer interested in touring, the band informally splits up.
Lucas Sideras, together with Dimitri Tambossis, Lakis Vlavianos and Harris Chalkitis form a one-time collaboration as the group "Eros" and release the single, ‘Rain Train’ b/w ‘I Can See It’, the B-side written by Dimitri. While Vangelis remains in the Parisian studio to master what is to become Aphrodite's Child final album "666", the band tours through Europe consisting of Demis Roussos, Lucas Sideras, Lakis Vlavianos, Harris Chalkitis and... Dimitri Tambossis!
After the tour with Aphrodite's Child Dimitri co-writes the song ‘And I Cry’ for Lucas Sideras' first solo album "One Day" (1972). Ready for a solo career, his first single ‘Pour Soul’ b/w ‘Muscle Hands’ (1972) is an instant success and reaches the first place in the French charts! While in France, Dimitri recorded and released eleven singles, two of which are confirmed to have Vangelis' input.
While the first single ‘Sing All You Can’ b/w ‘The Land’ (1974) has Vangelis' musical direction, on the second single ‘Pretty One’ b/w ‘Rolly Miss Rolly’ the first song is a new composition by Vangelis. According to Dimitri, Vangelis plays on all four songs. Also playing with Dimitri and Vangelis on all of the songs except ‘Pretty One’ is the Greek band Socrates, with whom Vangelis would later work in London to produce their album "Phos" (1975).
Dimitri continued releasing successful singles in France and toured through Europe to perform his hits. In 1979 he returned to Greece where he worked with Stamatis Spanoudakis to create his first solo album titled “Dimitri Tambossis”. From 1983 to 1993 Dimitri toured through the United States and Canada, after which he returned to Greece, only to occasionally travel back to the United States.
After working at the Sofitel Capsis hotel on the Greek island of Rhodes until 2010, Dimitri now lives in Athens, Greece, together with his wife Elli.
- ‘Sing All You Can’
Written by Stanislas Beldone (Gerard Fallec) and Robert Rupen. - ‘The Land’
Written by Dimitri Tambossis.
Musical direction and orchestration by Vangelis O. Papathanassiou.
- ‘Pretty One’
composed by V. Papathanassiou.
Lyrics by Dimitri Tambossis. - ‘Rolly Miss Rolly’
Written by Dimitri Tambossis.
Sound Engineeer: Dominic Pencet.
7” single
- 1974 Sing All You Can / The Land (Mercury 6011064) France/Spain/Italy/Portugal
- 1974 Sing All You Can / The Land (Polydor 2001 514) West-Germany/Austria
- 1974 Pretty One / Rolly Miss Rolly (Mercury 6011067) France
LP
- 1974 "As 14 Mais Da Difusora vol. II" (Fontana 6338.382) Brazil (includes 'Sing All You Can')
- 1974 "Special Pop Party" 2LP (Philips 6612046) France (includes 'Pretty One')
These songs were never issued on CD.
Recording studio
These songs are recorded in Studio Des Dames in Paris, France.
Links