Composers born on January 17

Take a focused look at the composers born on January 17. Dive into curated bios, achievements, and cultural milestones verified by our editors.

• 1952 Ryuichi Sakamoto

  Ryuichi Sakamoto was a renowned Japanese composer, pianist, record producer, and actor. As a pioneering member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), he was influential in electronic music and pop culture globally. Sakamoto was also celebrated for his solo work, including acclaimed film scores and collaborations across genres. [bio]