Innovative Composer and pianist, educated at Pomona College, he studied music with Fannie Dillon, Ruhan Buhlig, Lazare Levy, Henry Cowell, Adolph Weiss, Arnold Schönberg, and Edgard Varèse. He invented the concept of the "prepared" piano, and gave recitals in Europe and the United States. He joined ASCAP in 1955.