Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Johnny Leandros was born in Hania on the island of Crete, Greece, and spent part of his childhood in Egypt, where his family lived for several years. From a young age he developed a strong passion for music, learning to play both the guitar and the bouzouki, and he became an accomplished and versatile musician. His early exposure to different cultures and languages contributed to his ability to speak Greek, Arabic and English, with some knowledge of Spanish and Italian.
He later settled in South Africa where he completed his education and initially pursued a career in banking. However, music remained central to his life, and he eventually turned professional, joining the South African band Black Ice. With them he performed all over South Africa and neighbouring countries, and also travelled to Europe where he found success especially among Greek communities.
The highlight of his musical career came with the release of the album “Somewhere in Athens” in 1989 on Little Bee Records (catalogue # TRP 7). The album, produced by Buddy Vaughn and Johnny Gibson, showcased both his vocal and instrumental talents and included a mix of popular songs, as well as the title track which was composed by Johnny himself.
Beyond music he had a lifelong dedication to martial arts, achieving the rank of 4th Dan in karate and gaining experience in various forms of self-defence and weaponry. He was also the author of the book “I Left My Heart Behind”, published in 2011, which was inspired by his love of Indian (Bollywood) films.
Johhny Leandros passed away a few years ago, leaving behind a legacy as a multifaceted entertainer, musician, and creative artist.
This song is from the album “Somewhere in Athens”, released in 1989.
Johnny Leandros was born in Hania on the island of Crete, Greece, and spent part of his childhood in Egypt, where his family lived for several years. From a young age he developed a strong passion for music, learning to play both the guitar and the bouzouki, and he became an accomplished and versatile musician. His early exposure to different cultures and languages contributed to his ability to speak Greek, Arabic and English, with some knowledge of Spanish and Italian.
He later settled in South Africa where he completed his education and initially pursued a career in banking. However, music remained central to his life, and he eventually turned professional, joining the South African band Black Ice. With them he performed all over South Africa and neighbouring countries, and also travelled to Europe where he found success especially among Greek communities.
The highlight of his musical career came with the release of the album “Somewhere in Athens” in 1989 on Little Bee Records (catalogue # TRP 7). The album, produced by Buddy Vaughn and Johnny Gibson, showcased both his vocal and instrumental talents and included a mix of popular songs, as well as the title track which was composed by Johnny himself.
Beyond music he had a lifelong dedication to martial arts, achieving the rank of 4th Dan in karate and gaining experience in various forms of self-defence and weaponry. He was also the author of the book “I Left My Heart Behind”, published in 2011, which was inspired by his love of Indian (Bollywood) films.
Johhny Leandros passed away a few years ago, leaving behind a legacy as a multifaceted entertainer, musician, and creative artist.
This song is from the album “Somewhere in Athens”, released in 1989.
