Vangelis, born Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou in 1943 in Greece, was a pioneering composer and musician renowned for his influential work in electronic, progressive, and orchestral music. Rising to fame in the 1970s after early success with the bands the Forminx and Aphrodite's Child, he became internationally acclaimed for his film scores, most notably the Academy Award-winning music for Chariots of Fire and the iconic soundtracks for Blade Runner, 1492 Conquest of Paradise, and the documentary series Cosmos. Vangelis also collaborated with artists like Jon Anderson and Irene Papas and released dozens of solo albums that shaped the landscape of modern electronic music. Known for his distinctive synthesizer-driven style, he was celebrated for blending technology with classical influences, often arranging complex works as a solo performer. With a career spanning more than fifty years and over fifty albums, Vangelis remains a towering figure in both film and electronic music. He passed away in 2022 in Paris.