John Cage Los Angeles 1987 © Paul SlaughterToday, September 5, is the birthday of John Cage, the American composer, who was born in 1912 and died, August 12, 1992. Cage was a pioneer of chance music, electronic music and non-standard use of musical instruments. Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential American composers of the 20th century. This photograph was taken during the Los Angeles Theater Festival in 1987.
