Greek singer Demis Roussos, one of music’s most unlikely international superstars, had died aged 68.

Early hits like ‘Rain and Tears’ brought fame with bandmate Vangelis in the progressive rock group Aphrodite’s Child.

Solo success followed in the 1970s and 1980s with songs like ‘Forever and Ever’.

Some mocked his weight, his high-pitched voice and extravagant dress sense but, for fans, Demis Roussos had a magic formula.

“Instinctively I sang songs that are from the Mediterranean area, love songs,” he said in 2002.

“And it proved to be not only successful, but I was the first one to do it and it became like a fashion after that and many other artists did it as well. Julio Iglesias was one of them “.

Roussos, who also made headlines for being caught up in a 1985 hostage drama and for losing a lot of his weight, died of an undisclosed illness in an Athens hospital.