Vangelis (Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, 1943–2022) was a Greek composer, performer, and electronic music innovator, whose lush, orchestral approach to synthesizers made him one of the most distinctive voices in late 20th-century music.
He was born in Agria, Greece, and taught himself piano and experimented with sounds from an early age.
Co-founded the progressive rock band Aphrodite’s Child (late 1960s) with Demis Roussos. Their 1972 album 666 became a cult classic of psychedelic/prog rock.
Vangelis Moved toward solo work in the 1970s, embracing synthesizers and orchestral textures, and developed a style that fused classical, choral, and electronic elements—often highly melodic and cinematic. His landmark solo albums are Heaven and Hell (1975) which included Jon Anderson (Yes); later used as the theme for Carl Sagan’s Cosmos; Albedo 0.39 (1976), a space-inspired concept album; China (1979), blending electronics with Asian themes, and Opera Sauvage (1979), an atmospheric soundtrack work.
His iconic Film Scores included Chariots of Fire (1981), which won the Academy Award for Best Original Score; title theme became a worldwide hit; Blade Runner (1982): dark, atmospheric, and futuristic—his most celebrated work, blending synth textures with noir-like mood; 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992), an Epic, choral-driven score, with the title theme becoming hugely popular. Other film work includes Antarctica (1983), Alexander (2004), and El Greco.
Vangelis worked extensively with Jon Anderson (of Yes) as Jon & Vangelis. Albums included Short Stories (1980), The Friends of Mr. Cairo (1981), and Private Collection (1983). He also collaborated with artists across classical, jazz, and pop worlds, always bringing his sweeping electronic sound.