Composers are people who write music. A strong distinction is made between composers, lyricists and performers in such genres as classical and jazz music. In other genres, such as popular and folk music, the term "songwriter" means someone who authors both music and lyrics, and is more common than "composer." If a songwriter also performs, he or she is called a "singer/songwriter."

This page includes a list of composers sorted by various genres.

For composers of classical music and opera see:

• List of classical music composers
• List of 20th century classical composers
• List of 21st century classical composers
• List of opera composers

See also: List of uncategorized composers

Film

See also Film.

• Burt Bacharach, (born 1928)
• Elmer Bernstein, (1922-2004)
• John Barry, (born 1933)
• Carter Burwell, (born 1955)
• Daniel Elfman, (born 1953)
• George Fenton, (born 1950)
• Philip Glass, (born 1937)
• Elliot Goldenthal , (born 1954)
• Jerry Goldsmith, (1929-2004)
• Ron Goodwin, (1925-2003)
• Bernard Herrmann, (1911-1975)
• Joe Hisaishi
• Maurice Jarre, (born 1924)
• Rolfe Kent , (born 1963)
• Francis Lai, (born 1932)
• Michel Legrand, (born 1932)
• Albert Hay Malotte (1895-1964)
• Henry Mancini, (1924-1994)
• Cliff Martinez, (born 1954)
• Ennio Morricone, (born 1928)
• Michael Nyman, (born 1944)
• Edward Shearmur , (born 1966)
• Howard Shore, (born 1946)
• Alan Silvestri, (born 1950)
• John Williams, (born 1932)

Ragtime

See also Ragtime.

• William Bolcom, (born 1938)
• Zez Confrey
• Ben Harney, (1872-1938)
• Scott Joplin, (1867-1917)
• Joseph Lamb, (1887-1960)
• Artie Matthews, (1888-1958)
• Billy Mayerl, (1902-1959),
• Ernesto Nazareth, (1863-1934)
• David Thomas Roberts
• James Scott, (1885-1938)
• Wilber Sweatman, (1882-1961)

Jazz and Blues

See also Jazz and Blues.

• Count Basie, (1904-1984)
• Dave Brubeck, (born 1920)
• John Coltrane, (1926-1967)
• Duke Ellington, (1899-1974)
• Herbie Hancock, (born 1940)
• Krzysztof Komeda
• Jelly Roll Morton, (1890-1941)
• Charles Mingus, (1922-1979)
• Thelonious Monk, (1920-1982)
• Charlie Parker, (1920-1955)
• Bob Powell, (born 1961)
• Billy Strayhorn, (1915-1967)
• Fats Waller, (1904-1943)
• Clarence Williams, (1893-1965)

Orchestra

See also Orchestra music .

• Burt Bacharach, (born 1928)
• Glenn Miller

Vocal

See also Vocal music.

• Jacques Brel, (1929-1978)
• Georges Moustaki
• Sydney Nicholson, (1875-1947)

Pop and Rock

See also Pop music and Rock music.

• Paul Anka, (born 1941)
• Charles Aznavour, (born 1924)
• Irving Berlin, (1888-1989)
• Billy Bragg, (born 1957)
• Brian Eno, (born 1948)
• George Gershwin, (1898-1937)
• Ira Gershwin, (1896-1983)
• Mick Jagger, (born 1943)
• Jean Michel Jarre
• Elton John, (born 1947)
• John Lennon, (1940-1980)
• Paul McCartney, (born 1942)
• George Michael, (born 1963)
• Joni Mitchell, (born 1943)
• Mike Oldfield, (born 1953)
• Roy Orbison, (1936-1988)
• Dolly Parton, (born 1946)
• Neil Sedaka, (born 1939)
• Chris Smith, (1879-1949)
• Albert Von Tilzer, (1878-1956)
• Harry Von Tilzer, (1872-1946)
• Frank Zappa, (1940-1993)

Folk and Country

See also Folk music and Country music.

• Joan Baez
• John Denver
• Bob Dylan

New Age

See also New Age music.

• Enya
• Kevin Kern
• George Winston
• Yanni

Other classifications

• List of Dutch and Flemish composers
• List of Italian composers
• List of Polish composers
• List of Indian composers
• List of Indonesian composers
• List of female composers
• List of famous gay, lesbian or bisexual composers
• List of composers of African descent
• List of soundtrack composers
• List of video game musicians
• National Academy of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of Fame