21 Greatest American Composers in Musical History (Must Hear)

American composers have played a pivotal role in shaping the global music landscape, contributing to a wide array of genres from classical and jazz to film scores and musical theater. These composers have captured the spirit of America, blending diverse cultural influences and pioneering new styles that reflect the nation’s dynamic history and character.

From the iconic melodies of George Gershwin and the patriotic anthems of John Philip Sousa to the innovative sounds of John Cage and Philip Glass, American composers have left an indelible mark on the world of music.

This article explores the lives and legacies of the greatest American composers, highlighting their enduring contributions to the art form.

21 Greatest Composers from America That You Need to Know

These composers have each made significant contributions to the music world, influencing a wide range of genres and leaving a lasting legacy on both American and global music.

Here’s a list of 21 of the greatest American composers, known for their contributions to classical, jazz, film scores, and popular music:

#1 George Gershwin (1898–1937)

George Gershwin was a pioneering American composer and pianist known for his ability to seamlessly blend classical music with jazz influences. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gershwin began his career as a song-plugger in Tin Pan Alley before achieving fame with his Broadway musicals.

His most famous works include Rhapsody in Blue (1924), which became an iconic piece that symbolized the fusion of classical and jazz music. Gershwin also composed An American in Paris and the opera Porgy and Bess, which introduced the classic song Summertime. Gershwin’s innovative approach to music bridged the gap between popular and classical genres, and his work continues to influence composers and musicians across the world. His untimely death at the age of 38 left the world wondering what more he could have accomplished.

#2 Aaron Copland (1900–1990)

Aaron Copland, often referred to as the “Dean of American Composers,” was instrumental in creating a distinctly American sound in classical music. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Copland studied in Paris under Nadia Boulanger, where he was influenced by modernist techniques. He became known for works that evoke the American landscape and spirit, such as Appalachian Spring (1944), Rodeo (1942), and Fanfare for the Common Man (1942).

Copland’s music is characterized by its open, spacious harmonies and incorporation of American folk themes. His work in film scores, ballets, and orchestral compositions earned him widespread acclaim, including a Pulitzer Prize and an Academy Award. Copland’s influence on 20th-century American music is profound, and his works remain staples in the concert repertoire.

#3 Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990)

Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, and educator, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Bernstein studied at Harvard and the Curtis Institute of Music. He gained international fame as a conductor, particularly as the music director of the New York Philharmonic, where he introduced audiences to a wide range of classical and contemporary works.

As a composer, Bernstein is best known for his Broadway musicals, including West Side Story (1957), which combined classical music, jazz, and Latin rhythms to create a groundbreaking score. His other notable works include the operetta Candide (1956) and the symphony Jeremiah (1942). Bernstein was also a passionate educator, known for his Young People’s Concerts and his efforts to make classical music accessible to a broader audience. His legacy as both a composer and conductor continues to inspire musicians worldwide.

#4 John Williams (b. 1932)

John Williams is one of the most celebrated and prolific film composers in history, known for creating some of the most iconic scores in cinema. Born in New York City, Williams studied music at UCLA and Juilliard before beginning his career as a jazz pianist and studio musician. His collaboration with director Steven Spielberg led to some of his most famous works, including the scores for Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and Jurassic Park (1993).

Williams is also renowned for his work on the Star Wars franchise, composing the music for all nine of the main saga films, as well as the Indiana Jones series and the Harry Potter films. His music is characterized by its grand orchestral style, memorable themes, and ability to enhance the emotional impact of the films he scores. Williams has won five Academy Awards and numerous other accolades, making him one of the most successful composers in the history of film music.

#5 Samuel Barber (1910–1981)

Samuel Barber was an American composer known for his lyrical melodies and rich harmonies, making him one of the most beloved figures in 20th-century American music. Born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Barber showed early promise as a composer, entering the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of 14. His most famous work, Adagio for Strings (1936), has become one of the most performed pieces of American music, known for its deep emotional resonance and beauty.

Barber’s compositional output includes operas, such as Vanessa (1958), which won a Pulitzer Prize, and Antony and Cleopatra (1966), as well as orchestral works like the Violin Concerto (1939). His music, often described as neo-Romantic, is characterized by its expressive lyricism and structural clarity. Barber’s ability to convey profound emotion through his compositions has earned him a lasting place in the canon of American classical music.

#6 Duke Ellington (1899–1974)

Duke Ellington was a towering figure in American music, known for his contributions to jazz as a composer, pianist, and bandleader. Born in Washington, D.C., Ellington began his music career in the 1920s and quickly became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He led one of the most renowned big bands in jazz history, creating a vast body of work that included hits like It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing), Mood Indigo, and Sophisticated Lady.

Ellington’s compositions were groundbreaking, blending jazz, blues, classical, and popular music into a sophisticated and innovative style. He was also known for his ability to showcase the unique talents of his band members, creating compositions tailored to their strengths. Ellington’s influence on jazz and American music is immeasurable, and he is celebrated not only as a performer but also as one of the greatest American composers of the 20th century.

#7 Charles Ives (1874–1954)

Charles Ives was a pioneering American composer whose innovative approach to composition has made him a central figure in 20th-century music. Born in Danbury, Connecticut, Ives worked as an insurance executive while composing in his spare time, creating works that often went unrecognized during his lifetime. His music is known for its complexity, incorporating elements such as polytonality, polyrhythms, and quotes from American folk tunes, hymns, and marches.

Notable works include The Unanswered Question, Three Places in New England, and Concord Sonata. Ives’s ability to blend American musical traditions with experimental techniques laid the groundwork for future generations of composers, and he is now celebrated as one of the most original and influential American composers.

#8 Philip Glass (b. 1937)

Philip Glass is a leading figure in the minimalist music movement and one of the most influential composers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Glass studied at the Juilliard School and later in Paris with Nadia Boulanger. His early works, such as Einstein on the Beach (1976), are characterized by repetitive structures and a focus on rhythmic and harmonic development.

Glass’s music has reached a wide audience through his numerous film scores, including Koyaanisqatsi and The Hours, as well as operas, symphonies, and chamber music. His minimalist style, often described as “music with repetitive structures,” has had a profound impact on contemporary classical music and popular culture, making him one of the most recognized composers of his generation.

#9 Steve Reich (b. 1936)

Steve Reich is a seminal American composer who, along with Philip Glass, is a key figure in the development of minimalist music. Born in New York City, Reich studied philosophy at Cornell University before turning to music, where he was influenced by both Western classical traditions and non-Western music, particularly African drumming and Indonesian gamelan. His works are characterized by the use of repetitive patterns, phasing techniques, and gradual harmonic changes.

Notable compositions include Music for 18 Musicians (1976), Drumming (1971), and Different Trains (1988). Reich’s music has been widely influential across genres, impacting not only classical music but also electronic, pop, and experimental music. His innovative use of rhythm and texture has made him one of the most important composers of the 20th century.

#10 John Cage (1912–1992)

John Cage was an avant-garde composer and philosopher who profoundly influenced 20th-century music through his experimental approach to composition and sound. Born in Los Angeles, California, Cage studied with Arnold Schoenberg but soon developed his own path, rejecting traditional musical structures. He is best known for his composition 4’33” (1952), in which performers remain silent for four minutes and thirty-three seconds, challenging conventional notions of music and listening.

Cage also pioneered the use of chance operations in composition, as seen in works like Music of Changes (1951). Additionally, he experimented with prepared piano, altering the instrument’s sound by placing objects on or between the strings. Cage’s ideas about indeterminacy, silence, and the role of the composer have had a lasting impact on both classical music and broader artistic practices.

#11 Scott Joplin (1868–1917)

Scott Joplin, known as the “King of Ragtime,” was an American composer and pianist who played a crucial role in popularizing ragtime music at the turn of the 20th century. Born in Texas, Joplin was a classically trained musician who fused classical techniques with African American musical traditions to create a unique and enduring style. His most famous compositions include Maple Leaf Rag (1899) and The Entertainer (1902), both of which became iconic examples of the ragtime genre.

Joplin’s work laid the foundation for later developments in American music, including jazz. His compositions were rediscovered in the 1970s, leading to a revival of interest in his music and a posthumous Pulitzer Prize awarded in 1976. Joplin’s contributions to American music continue to be celebrated for their rhythmic innovation and cultural significance.

#12 Henry Mancini (1924–1994)

Henry Mancini was a prolific American composer and arranger, best known for his work in film and television music. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Mancini studied at the Juilliard School before serving in the Army during World War II. He gained widespread fame in the 1950s and 1960s with his distinctive scores for films such as The Pink Panther (1963) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), which featured the iconic song Moon River.

Mancini’s music is characterized by its melodic inventiveness and sophisticated orchestration, blending elements of jazz, pop, and classical music. Over his career, Mancini won four Academy Awards and twenty Grammy Awards, making him one of the most celebrated composers in Hollywood history. His work has had a lasting impact on film music, and many of his themes remain instantly recognizable.

#13 Jerome Kern (1885–1945)

Jerome Kern was a pioneering American composer of musical theater, often credited with helping to shape the modern American musical. Born in New York City, Kern began his career in London before returning to the United States, where he became one of Broadway’s most successful composers. His work on the musical Show Boat (1927) marked a significant turning point in American musical theater, blending serious themes with popular music and setting a new standard for Broadway productions.

Kern composed over 700 songs, including classics like Ol’ Man River, The Way You Look Tonight, and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. His music, known for its lyrical beauty and sophisticated harmonies, has become an integral part of the American Songbook. Kern’s influence on the development of American musical theater is profound, and his songs continue to be performed and cherished today.

#14 John Philip Sousa (1854–1932)

John Philip Sousa, often called “The March King,” was an American composer and conductor known for his military and patriotic marches. Born in Washington, D.C., Sousa began his musical career as a young apprentice in the U.S. Marine Band, eventually becoming its conductor in 1880. He composed some of the most famous marches in American history, including The Stars and Stripes Forever (1896), Semper Fidelis (1888), and The Washington Post (1889).

Sousa’s music became synonymous with American patriotism, and his marches are still played at parades, military ceremonies, and public events around the country. In addition to his marches, Sousa composed operettas, waltzes, and orchestral works. His influence on American band music is immense, and his legacy as one of the most significant American composers of patriotic music endures to this day.

#15 Morton Feldman (1926–1987)

Morton Feldman was an avant-garde American composer known for his minimalist and abstract compositions. Born in New York City, Feldman was a key figure in the New York School, a group of composers that included John Cage and Earle Brown. His music is characterized by its quiet dynamics, extended durations, and emphasis on tone color and texture over traditional melody and rhythm.

Feldman’s works, such as Rothko Chapel (1971) and For Philip Guston (1984), often create a meditative atmosphere, inviting listeners to experience sound in a new, introspective way. His innovative approach to composition has had a lasting impact on contemporary classical music, influencing a generation of composers interested in exploring the boundaries of sound and silence.

#16 Elliott Carter (1908–2012)

Elliott Carter was a leading figure in contemporary classical music, renowned for his complex and rhythmically intricate compositions. Born in New York City, Carter studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris and developed a style that combined European modernism with American experimentalism. His music is known for its use of metric modulation, where tempo shifts occur gradually within a piece, creating a sense of fluidity and dynamism.

Carter’s works, including his String Quartets and the Double Concerto for harpsichord and piano, are celebrated for their intellectual rigor and technical challenges. Over his long career, Carter received numerous accolades, including two Pulitzer Prizes, and continued composing well into his 90s, solidifying his reputation as one of the most significant American composers of the 20th and 21st centuries.

#17 Richard Rodgers (1902–1979)

Richard Rodgers was one of the most successful and influential composers in the history of American musical theater. Born in New York City, Rodgers first gained fame through his collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart, producing hit musicals such as Pal Joey (1940) and Babes in Arms (1937). After Hart’s death, Rodgers formed a legendary partnership with Oscar Hammerstein II, creating some of Broadway’s most enduring classics, including Oklahoma! (1943), The Sound of Music (1959), and South Pacific (1949).

Rodgers’s music is known for its memorable melodies, emotional depth, and seamless integration with lyrics. His contributions to musical theater have earned him numerous awards, including an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, making him one of the few individuals to achieve EGOT status. Rodgers’s work has had a profound impact on the development of musical theater, shaping the genre into a quintessentially American art form.

#18 Cole Porter (1891–1964)

Cole Porter was an American composer and songwriter known for his sophisticated, witty lyrics and elegant melodies. Born in Peru, Indiana, Porter was educated at Yale and Harvard, where he honed his craft before becoming one of Broadway’s most beloved composers. His musicals, such as Anything Goes (1934) and Kiss Me, Kate (1948), are filled with songs that have become standards of the American Songbook, including I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Night and Day, and Begin the Beguine.

Porter’s music is characterized by its clever wordplay, urbane humor, and intricate harmonies, reflecting his cosmopolitan lifestyle. Despite facing significant personal challenges, including a debilitating horse-riding accident, Porter continued to compose prolifically, leaving a lasting legacy as one of America’s greatest songwriters.

#19 Virgil Thomson (1896–1989)

Virgil Thomson was an American composer and critic known for his contributions to both modern classical music and music journalism. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Thomson studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger and became associated with the expatriate American community, including figures like Gertrude Stein. His music is noted for its clarity, wit, and incorporation of American folk elements, as seen in works like The Plow That Broke the Plains (1936) and Four Saints in Three Acts (1928), an opera with a libretto by Stein.

Thomson also served as a music critic for the New York Herald Tribune, where his writing influenced the direction of American music criticism. His dual legacy as a composer and critic has made him a pivotal figure in 20th-century American music, bridging the gap between European modernism and American vernacular traditions.

#20 John Adams (b. 1947)

John Adams is a prominent contemporary American composer known for his minimalist style and politically charged operas. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Adams studied at Harvard University before moving to San Francisco, where he became associated with the minimalist movement. His music is characterized by its driving rhythms, repeated patterns, and incorporation of popular and classical elements.

Adams’s best-known works include the operas Nixon in China (1987) and The Death of Klinghoffer (1991), both of which explore complex historical and political themes. His orchestral work Short Ride in a Fast Machine (1986) and the choral piece On the Transmigration of Souls (2002), a response to the 9/11 attacks, have also received widespread acclaim. Adams’s ability to blend minimalist techniques with expressive, narrative content has made him one of the most influential composers of his generation.

#21 George M. Cohan (1878–1942)

George M. Cohan, often referred to as the “father of American musical comedy,” was a composer, playwright, and performer whose work helped shape the development of American theater. Born into a vaudeville family in Providence, Rhode Island, Cohan began his career in show business at a young age. He is best known for his patriotic songs, such as Yankee Doodle Dandy, Give My Regards to Broadway, and Over There, which became anthems during World War I.

Cohan’s musicals, including Little Johnny Jones (1904) and George Washington, Jr. (1906), introduced a uniquely American style of musical theater, characterized by lively tunes, humorous dialogue, and a strong sense of national pride. Cohan’s contributions to the Broadway stage earned him the Congressional Gold Medal, making him the first person from the performing arts to receive this honor. His legacy as a pioneer of American musical theater continues to be celebrated in both the theater world and popular culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which American composer is known for blending jazz and classical music, famously composing Rhapsody in Blue?

George Gershwin is renowned for blending jazz and classical elements, with Rhapsody in Blue being one of his most famous works. His ability to bridge these genres has made him a key figure in American music.

Who composed the iconic film scores for Star Wars and Jaws?

John Williams is the composer behind the iconic film scores for Star Wars, Jaws, and many other classics. His work is celebrated for its memorable themes and grand orchestral style.

Which American composer is credited with creating the distinctly American sound in classical music, with works like Appalachian Spring?

Aaron Copland is credited with creating a distinctly American sound in classical music, most notably with Appalachian Spring. His compositions often reflect the American landscape and spirit.

Who is the “King of Ragtime,” known for composing The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag?

Scott Joplin, known as the “King of Ragtime,” composed The Entertainer and Maple Leaf Rag. His work was instrumental in popularizing ragtime music in the early 20th century.