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Vangelis was a pioneering Greek composer of electronic, ambient, orchestral, and film score music, renowned for his atmospheric soundscapes and innovative use of synthesizers. A largely self-taught musician, Vangelis rose to prominence in the progressive rock band Aphrodite's Child before achieving global fame as a solo artist and film composer. His iconic scores for "Chariots of Fire" (winning an Academy Award) and "Blade Runner" cemented his status as a master of evocative electronic music. He remained a prolific and influential figure until his death.

• Despite achieving massive success with synthesizers, Vangelis reportedly avoided them early in his career, preferring acoustic pianos, believing synthesizers at the time were primitive.
• His Oscar win for "Chariots of Fire" was notable; he didn't attend the ceremony, reportedly disliking the competitive nature of awards. He famously improvised the main theme in a single take.
• Vangelis maintained a famously reclusive and private lifestyle, rarely giving interviews and working primarily from his own Nemo Studios in London.
• He collaborated with Jon Anderson (lead singer of Yes) on several successful albums as "Jon & Vangelis" in the early 1980s.
• Vangelis composed the "Mythodea" symphony specifically for NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey mission, performed at the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens.
• He passed away in France on May 17, 2022, due to heart failure following a battle with COVID-19, as confirmed by his medical team and announced by his close friend and artistic collaborator.