Vangelis

Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, known to the world as Vangelis, was born on March 29, 1943, in Agria, Greece. He grew up in Athens, where his musical journey began in the 1960s as a member of the rock bands the Forminx and Aphrodite's Child. The latter's album, 666, released in 1972, is celebrated as a classic of progressive-psychedelic rock. Vangelis later moved to Paris, where he gained recognition for his scores in Frédéric Rossif's animal documentaries, marking the start of his illustrious career as a film score composer.

In 1975, Vangelis relocated to London, establishing Nemo Studios, his personal recording facility. During this period, he released a series of influential albums for RCA Records, including Heaven and Hell, Albedo 0.39, Spiral, and China. His collaboration with Yes vocalist Jon Anderson from 1979 to 1986 resulted in several successful albums under the name Jon and Vangelis, further solidifying his reputation in the music industry.

Vangelis reached the pinnacle of his career in the 1980s and 1990s, with his score for Chariots of Fire winning an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The film's main theme topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, while his score for 1492: Conquest of Paradise garnered a Golden Globe nomination. His compilation albums, including Themes and Portraits, achieved significant commercial success, and he composed the official anthem for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In his later years, Vangelis collaborated with NASA and ESA on various music projects, including Mythodea, Rosetta, and Juno to Jupiter, his final studio album released in 2021. Vangelis passed away on May 17, 2022, at the age of seventy-nine, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in electronic and film music, having composed and performed over fifty albums throughout his remarkable career.