William Grant Still worked as an arranger for popular performers like W.C. Handy (composer of 'St. Louis Blues') and Artie Shaw, orchestrating Shaw's hit 'Frenesi'.
Composer Biography
William Grant Still, often called the 'dean of African-American composers,' was born in 1895 to a family of Negro, Indian, Spanish, Irish, and Scotch heritage.
Composer's Artistic Vision
William Grant Still's most distinctive works are nationalistic, incorporating African-American forms such as blues, spirituals, and jazz, as well as other ethnic American musics.
Composer Biography
William Grant Still achieved many 'firsts' for an African-American, including having a symphony performed by a major orchestra (New York Philharmonic) and conducting a major orchestra (Los Angeles Philharmonic).
Performer Biography
John Jeter, the conductor of the Fort Smith Symphony, received the 2002 Helen M. Thompson Award, given to an outstanding 'early career' music director in the United States.
Composer's Artistic Vision
William Grant Still, a deeply spiritual man, inscribed each of his works to God, whom he considered 'the source of all inspiration.'
Historical Context
William Grant Still actively participated in the 'Harlem Renaissance,' a cultural awakening of African-Americans in the 1920s.
