Budapest, Hungary: Bela Bartok Statue

Here's the first statue I've seen of a songwriter who had a piece covered by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. 

Bela Bartok (1881 to 1945) is one of Hungary's two greatest composers; you can flip a coin with Franz Liszt about the winner. In fact, Bartok probably ranks as one of the most important composers of the 20th century. His study of folk music was crucial in building such a reputation. He went into the countryside in Eastern Europe, and recorded the music he heard. That eventually influenced his compositions.

After a very successful career, the world's problems started to get in the way for Bartok. He was very anti-Nazi, and refused to play concerts in Germany once that group took power in 1933. As his views became less and less acceptable to the Hungarian government, he and his wife opted to move to New York City. There Bartok eventually was diagnosed with leukemia in 1944, and he died a year later. Only 10 people attended the funeral.