French composer and pianist Erik Satie was born #OTD in 1866.
In the 1880s he began composing works, mostly for solo piano, such as his Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes. He is known for his unconventional and innovative approach to music. He is often considered a precursor to movements such as minimalism, surrealism, and the avant-garde. Satie's work was influential to many 20th-century composers, including Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
