CHRIS GHELAKIS,
1953-2023

Chris Ghelakis, a South African music pioneer who made the promotion and celebration of the country's music scene his life’s work, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 70.

Ghelakis was perhaps best known for his independent music brand Electromode, which he founded in 2001 by merging his CSR Records with Transistor Records. He sold the company to Ingrooves 20 years later, staying on as CEO when Universal Music Group put the label under the Virgin Music Group umbrella. In 2020 Electromode held the top 27 positions on Apple Music’s South African chart.

“In the short time we worked together it was evident that Chris was a music man through and through,” Nat Pastor and JT Myers, co-CEOs of Virgin Music Group, said in a joint statement. “His impact on the South African music business and his drive to expand opportunities for artists in his own country and abroad made him a true visionary. He will be missed by all of us at Virgin Music Group.”

When Ingrooves purchased Electromode, a 360-degree operation, its roster included more than 200 artists on multiple associated labels, including New Money Gang, Ambitouz Entertainment and Spirit Music.

Ghelakis began down his music path as a bassist in the 1970s and would go on to manage acts and work as a tour accountant and sound engineer before purchasing and running The Thunderdome in Johannesburg.

He most recently merged CSR Records with Idols SA judge and rapper JR Bogopa’s Feel Good Music to form Feel Good CSR, which Bogopa leads as managing director. The label has the rights to winners of the South African talent show.