Erik Satie was a French composer who lived from 1866 to 1925. He is best known for his avant-garde compositions and his influence on 20th century music. He was an important figure in the early 20th century Parisian avant-garde movement, and his works are often seen as precursors to later artistic movements such as minimalism, surrealism, and ambient music. Satie's most famous works include the Gymnopedies, Gnossiennes, and the ballet Parade.