René Louis Becker was a French-American composer, organist and pianist. Becker's father was an organist at Chartres and Strasbourg Cathedrals.
René Louis went to the Strasbourg Conservatory from 1896 to 1904. His teachers were organist Ernst Münch, Liszt student Fritz Blumer, composer Carl Theodor Somborn, and Swiss organist Adolf Gessner. Becker emigrated from Alsace in 1904 and went to St. Louis in the U.S. In St. Louis, Becker taught piano, organ, and composition. In 1912 he accepted an organist position at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Alton, Illinois. Beginning in 1930, he was organist at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit and later at St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn.
Becker's work is influenced by Johann Sebastian Bach and French organ virtuosos such as Alexandre Guilmant and Charles-Marie Widor. It includes more than 180 organ works, including three organ sonatas, as well as 15 masses, 25 works for piano, and 35 motets.
The composer, who was largely forgotten in Europe in the 20th century, was rediscovered only as of 2011.