Robert Ashley

Robert Ashley
Robert Ashley in 2010
Robert Ashley in 2010
Background information
Birth nameRobert Reynolds Ashley
Born(1930-03-28)March 28, 1930
OriginAnn Arbor, Michigan
DiedMarch 3, 2014(2014-03-03) (aged 83)
Genres
Occupations
  • Composer
  • vocalist
  • writer
Years active1959–2014

Robert Reynolds Ashley (March 28, 1930 – March 3, 2014) was an American composer, who was best known for his television operas and other theatrical works, many of which incorporate electronics and extended techniques. His works often involve intertwining narratives and take a surreal multidisciplinary approach to sound, theatrics and writing, and have been continuously performed by various interpreters during and after his life, including Automatic Writing (1979) and Perfect Lives (1983).