William Grant Still

Composer

Birthday May 11, 1895

Birth Sign Taurus

Birthplace Woodville, MS

DEATH DATE Dec 3, 1978 (83)

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About

African-American composer who became the first black man to conduct a major orchestra. Over the course of his career, he drafted and executed some 150 musical compositions.

Before Fame

He attended the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he was given a scholarship.

Trivia

He obtained two Guggenheim Fellowships over the course of his career.

Family Life

He was born and raised in Woodville, Mississippi. He was married to Letitia George in 1847. They raised two children and one stepchild.

Associated With

He was once awarded an honorary doctorate from Howard University, which is where inventor Patricia Bath once studied.