Jean-Michel Jarre, born in 1948, is a French composer and producer widely recognized as a pioneer of electronic, ambient, and new-age music. Raised in Lyon, he was influenced early on by various art forms and studied piano, later drawing inspiration from experimental composer Pierre Schaeffer. Jarre achieved international fame with his 1976 album Oxygène and became known for his large-scale outdoor concerts featuring laser shows, projections, and fireworks. He has broken attendance records multiple times, including performing for millions at events in Paris and Moscow. Jarre was also the first Western musician invited to perform in China. By 2004, he had sold around 80 million records worldwide.