Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou (born March 29, 1943; Greek: Ευάγγελος Οδυσσέας Παπαθανασίου IPA: [evˈaɲɟelos oðiˈseas papaθanaˈsiu]), is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis (a diminutive of Evangelos; pronounced /vænˈɡɛlɨs/ in English). He is best known for his Academy Award winning score for the film Chariots of Fire, and scores for the films Blade Runner and 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
Vangelis began his professional musical career working with several popular bands of the 1960s such as The Formynx and Aphrodite's Child, with the latter's album 666 going on to be recognized as a psychedelic "classic". In the 1970s, Vangelis formed a musical partnership with Jon Anderson, the lead singer of progressive rock band Yes, and the duo went on to release several albums together under the alias Jon & Vangelis. Towards the end of the 1970s, Vangelis composed music scores for several animal documentaries, including Opéra sauvage, the success of these scores moved Vangelis into the eyes of well known filmmakers. In 1981, he composed the score for the Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire. The soundtrack's single, "Titles", won Vangelis the Academy Award for Best Original Music Score and also reached the top of the American Billboard.
In a career spanning over 47 years, writing and composing more than 40 albums, Vangelis is generally regarded by music critics as one of the greatest composers of electronic music of all time.
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