William Grant Still was born on May 11, 1895 in Woodville, Mississippi who is an important conductor and composer. He was the first African American to have a major production, both a symphony (1931) and opera (1949) (Biography). Still went to study medicine first at Wilberforce University in Ohio, however, left college before college and turned his attention to music at Ohio Oberlin Conservatory of Music. To gain knowledge, Still “… spent time learning from George Whitefield Chadwick at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston; later, he was instructed by Edgar Varese” (Biography). To start his career and gain popularity, Still incorporated his African heritage and popular musical style to his expertise. This method helped to define himself and use it to his advantage to gain huge audiences and gave him a first big hit in his musical work. “His first big hit, and his best-known work to this day, is his first…