Award-winning Greek musician Vangelis passed away on May 17. 2022. He was 79 years old.
Evángelos Odysséas Papathanassíou, better known as Vangelis, was born on March 29, 1943, in Agria, Greece.
Vangelis initially played in a Greek pop band called The Forminx. After that, in 1967, he formed a progressive rock band named Aphrodite’s Child along with Demis Roussos (who later became a highly successful pop singer), Loukas Sideras, and Silver Koulouris.
Aphrodite’s Child released three albums, “End of the World” (1968), “It’s Five O’Clock” (1969) and the double album “666” (1972). “666” was the most progressive rock-leaning work of the three, a concept album inspired by the biblical Book of Revelation that became a highly sought after collector’s item among progressive rock fans. Aphrodite’s Child disbanded in 1972.
British progressive rock group Yes had conversations with Vangelis after its keyboardist, Rick Wakeman left the band. However, Vangelis decided to pursue a solo career.
By the mid-1970s, Vangelis had moved to London. He signed to RCA and released “Heaven and Hell” in 1975. This was a keyboard-fueled symphonic progressive rock album, recorded at Nemo, his personal studio in London. The epic album featured the English Chamber Choir (conducted by Guy Protheroe) and Vangelis’ first collaboration with Yes’ vocalist, Jon Anderson.
Next came an electronic music album inspired by space called “Albedo 0.39”, followed by Spiral (1977) and Beaubourg (1978).
In 1981, Vangelis composed the soundtrack for the Oscar-winning movie “Chariots of Fire”, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Vangelis also received praise for his mesmerizing electronic music soundtrack for the 1982 Ridley Scott cult movie “Blade Runner”.
Vangelis teamed up with Jon Anderson for three joint albums released under the name Jon and Vangelis: “Short Stories” (1980), “The Friends of Mr Cairo” (1981), and “Private Collection” (1983).
In 1988, Vangelis released “Direct”, his first album recorded in Athens, following his move back to Greece.
In 2017, Vangelis released a 13-CD boxed set titled “Delectus” that contained all of Vangelis‘ Vertigo and Polydor albums, including “Earth”, “L’Apocalypse Des Animaux”, “China”, “See You Later”, “Antarctica”, “Mask”, “Opera Sauvage”, “Chariots of Fire”, “Soil Festivities’ and ‘Invisible Connections”. Delectus also featured the Jon & Vangelis recordings as well as previously unreleased track.