American pianist and composer (died 1965)

Henry Cowell

Henry Dixon Cowell was an American composer, writer, pianist, publisher, teacher, and the husband of ethnomusicologist Sidney Robertson Cowell. Earning a reputation as an extremely controversial performer and eccentric composer, Cowell became a leading figure of American avant-garde music for the first half of the 20th century — his writings and music serving as a great influence to similar artists at the time, including Lou Harrison, George Antheil, and John Cage, among others. He is considered one of America's most important and influential composers.