Popular Rembetika singer Agathonas died in his sleep at the age of 65. He had represented Greece in the 2013 Eurovision song contest.
Agathonas Iakovidies was one of main personalities in the rembetiko, as he dedicated his life to the preservation and spread of this particular musical genre, even managing to raise it to the stage of Eurovision.
The cause of his death is not yet known but it is most likely a heart attack as he was found dead in his bed.
Born in 1955, in Evangelismos, Lagada province, Thessaloniki, to refugee parents from Asia Minor refugees, his music was rich and had a strong aroma of Asia Minor. His love for music led him to learn to play, completely alone, all the strings used in rebetika songs: guitar, baglama, oud, bouzouki, tzoura, mandola and mandolin.
He had performed live all over Greece and while he was also invited for solo concerts, almost all over Europe in the USA and Australia.
His participation in Eurovision, in 2013, together with koza mostra, with the song “Alcohol is free”, left the best impressions despite getting 21st place.
