Born: 22 August 1862

Died: 25 March 1918

Nationality: French

Debussy stands as one of the most influential composers in Western music history, a pivotal figure who basically dragged classical music into the modern era. He's best known for pioneering what became known as Impressionist music—though he'd hate hearing you call it that. Debussy actually bristled at the term when people applied it to his work, preferring to distance himself from the label despite his obvious association with the movement.

His impact on composition was enormous. He fundamentally changed how composers thought about harmony, tone color, and structure itself, moving away from the rigid rules that had dominated for centuries. His influence ripples through music to this day, whether in classical, jazz, film scores, or experimental work.