Published
Thu, May 19, 2022, 18:20
- The electronic music pioneer scored films like Blade Runner, Chariots Of Fire and Alexander.
Vangelis died at age 79 this week, as confirmed by the Associated Press.
His cause of death has not been disclosed, though according to reports, he died at a French hospital on Tuesday. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis broke the news on Twitter, saying that Vangelis was "the protagonist of electronic sound."
Vangelis, real name Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, was internationally known as an electronic music pioneer and a prominent composer and scorer of films, including influential soundtracks like Blade Runner and Chariots Of Fire (for which he won an Academy Award in 1982).
Vangelis started his career in rock bands, including the popular progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child, who broke up after the release of their 1972 classic, 666. Around this time, he began scoring films, and started a prolific solo career in 1973 that would help revolutionize perceptions of electronic music.
He released over 20 albums on major labels like Polydor and RCA, as well as specialty imprints such as Deutsche Grammophon and Decca. He also put out a handful of collaborative New Age albums with former Yes vocalist Jon Anderson, following rumours that he would replace keyboardist Rick Wakeman in the influential progressive rock band. (He never joined.)
His work, especially with Chariots Of Fire and Blade Runner, helped to mainstream synthesizer music and define a sci-fi aesthetic that still remains popular today. He kept busy up until the time of his death, most recently putting out an album inspired by the NASA probe Juno's journey to Jupiter.
A number of electronic music figures have paid tribute to Vangelis on social media.