Oscar-winning composer and electronic music pioneer Vangelis died at the age of 79.
Born Vangelis Papthanassiou in Greece, his career began playing in local pop and prog-rock bands. He later moved to London and released several albums with Yes singer Jon Anderson.
His breakthrough came in 1981, when he composed the iconic theme to Chariots of Fire, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Score. Other film scores by Vangelis include 1982’s Blade Runner, 1983’s Antarctica, and 1992’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise. In 1995, the International Astronomical Union named a minor planet after him – 6354 Vangelis, located between Mars and Jupiter.
