Yakov Andreyevich Eshpai (Russian: Я́ков Андре́евич Эшпа́й; 30 October [O.S.
18 October] 1890 in Kokshamary – 20 February 1963 in Moscow[1]) was a Russian composer and music teacher.
He studied under Georgi Conus at the Moscow Conservatory.
He is partly noted for his work concerning the folk music of the Mari people.
He was the father of the better-known composer Andrei Eshpai, and the grandfather of the filmmaker Andrei Andreyevich Eshpai.