William Grant Still, born on May 11, 1895, in Woodville, Mississippi, and passed away on December 3, 1978, is renowned as a trailblazing composer in the landscape of American classical music. Often referred to as the "Dean of African-American Composers," Still broke significant barriers in the world of classical music and was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout his career, he strived to integrate the cultural influences of African American and Afro-Caribbean music into the fabric of the classical tradition, creating a unique and evocative sound.

Growing up in a time of racial segregation, Still pursued his passion for music and achieved numerous historic milestones. He studied at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and under the tutelage of prominent composers like George Whitefield Chadwick and Edgard Varèse. Still went on to become the first African American to conduct a professional symphony orchestra in the United States, and his compositions were among the first by an African American to be performed by major orchestras. His notable works include "Symphony No. 1, 'Afro-American'," which infused blues progressions and rhythms into a classical symphonic structure. He also composed operas, including "Troubled Island," with a libretto by Langston Hughes. Still was an essential voice in American music, using his platform to advocate for social justice and civil rights through the power of his art.

Genres

African-american Classical

American Modern Classical

Early Modern Classical

Harlem Renaissance

Related Artists

Duke Ellington

John Coltrane

Miles Davis

Thelonious Monk

Adolphus Hailstork

Aaron Copland

Max Roach

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Louis Armstrong

Nina Simone

Ella Fitzgerald

Count Basie

Latest Release

Still: Songs & Piano Music

William Grant Still•

Hartmut Höll

Album - 27 Tracks - Released July 23, 2024