June 2, 1904, marked the death of British-African composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at just 37. Born to a Sierra Leonean father and British mother, Coleridge-Taylor was a musical prodigy who gained international fame for his Hiawatha\’s Wedding Feast trilogy. Despite facing racial discrimination, he earned admiration from both classical European and African American musical circles, even touring the U.S. by invitation of Booker T. Washington. His fusion of Western classical styles with African themes helped elevate Black identity in the arts. His legacy influenced a generation of Black composers, and his life continues to symbolize Black excellence in classical music.
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