The world-famous Greek composer Vangelis Papathanasiou, commonly referred to simply as 'Vangelis', has died aged 79.
The composer became one of the most famous music writers in the world throughout his lifetime, particularly in the field of movies, where he composed the scores for major films such as Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. The soundtrack to Chariots of Fire remains one of the most well-known and critically acclaimed movie soundtracks in history.
The composer was said to have been hospitalised in France with Covid-19 shortly before his passing, but it is not clear if he died from the disease.
Vangelis was born in the Greek town of Agria in Thessaly but grew up in Athens and held a strong interest in music from a very young age, composing short pieces from the age of 4. This was in spite of the fact that Vangelis did not have formal musical training, and would never study music academically at any point during his life.
Vangelis would later comment that not having music training allowed him to develop his own ideas and techniques that may not have otherwise been embraced. He would go on to be regarded as a pioneer of electronic, progressive, and ambient music genres.
As a young man, Vangelis created soundtracks for Greek films but then moved to Paris and founded the Greek progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child, with Greek musicians Demis Roussos, Loukas Sideras, and Anargyros "Silver" Koulouris.
After the band split in 1971, Vangelis returned to creating music for films, and in 1981 Chariots of Fire was released, launching him to global stardom.
The film, now more famous for its music than its story, tells the story of Scottish runner Eric Liddell who famously refused to run in the 1924 Paris Olympics as the race was held on a Sunday, contrary to his Christian beliefs.
[Based on reporting by: Greek City Times]
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