Harold Budd (1936-2020) is a musician, composer, and poet originally from Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Mojave Desert from a young age. According to several sources—such as L.A. Record and Musique Machine—Budd coined the term “soft pedal,” referring to his piano style.

He is a longtime friend and frequent collaborator of renowned ambient producer Brian Eno. As of 2019, the two have worked together on six different projects.