Brian Eno

Despite his repeated definition of himself as a "non-musician," Brian Eno has been making enduring records for over a quarter of a century now, and his influence continues to permeate popular and experimental music. His sound-oriented compositions have little to do with written notes, championing the arrangement of tones, melody and texture over mastery of instruments or songwriting. This very basic approach is evident in all aspects of his career, from his visionary melding of abstract rock and electronics on albums such as Another Green World all the way to the pure ambient explorations of his Music For Films series. As a producer, his name is synonymous with the best work of U2, Talking Heads and David Bowie. He remains a valued presence in 20th and 21st century popular music, concentrating as much on theory and technology as he does on making music.