Jan Hammer is an OG synth guy; I suppose you could consider him proto-synthwave or something. Same thing with John Carpenter, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Harold Faltermeyer, Vince DiCola, and so on. Huge inspiration for many folks that work in this style, but before its time. This scene I'm referring to gets started in the mid 2000s, beginning to reference older style sounds and then gelling into an identifiable sound/aesthetic.
I also plan on at some point running through visual artists and TV/movies that apply here, but I'm gonna hit the music first.
And now, let's all listen to "Crockett's Theme" and have a piña colada -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfgf9HatIHI