Force behind Greek music powerhouse Columbia records dies, aged 91

Record producer Takis Lambropoulos, credited with revolutionizing the Greek music industry in the 1960s and 70s from the helm of the Columbia Gramophone Company Greece, has died at the age of 91, it was announced on Friday.

Born in 1930 into a family of self-made entrepreneurs, Lambropoulos took over at the helm of Columbia Greece in 1958, bringing a whole new level of sophistication to the local industry.

Among his boldest moves was the idea to invite artists from different genres to contribute to his great experiment, including pre-eminent poets such as Yiannis Ritsos, Giorgos Seferis and Nikos Gatsos, hired to pen songs for new talent being signed onto the label - legends Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis and Stavros Xarchakos being among them.

He also invited famous local actors like Aliki Vougiouklaki, Elli Lambeti, Dimitris Horn and Melina Mercouri to...