William Grant Still

1970-1974

1970

Dean Dixon (1915-1976) returns to the U.S. after living in Europe since 1949. He conducts the New York Philharmonic summer concert series.

The Cuban composer/conductor Tania León (1943- ) premieres her ballet, Tones.

Pearl Bailey (1918-1990) stars in her own television series on ABC-TV.

Miles Davis records his innovative and influential album, Bitches Brew

Rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) dies of an overdose of drugs in London.

1971

The University of Arkansas awards William Grant Still an honorary doctorate.

Louis Armstrong dies in New York City.

1972

Opera/South presents Ulysses Kay's The Juggler and William Grant Still's Highway No. 1, U. S. A.

Kathleen Battle makes her solo debut in Brahms' Requiem at Spoleto, Italy.

World premiere of Scott Joplin's opera Treemonisha in Atlanta, Georgia.

1973

Pepperdine University and the New England Conservatory of Music each award William Grant Still an honorary doctoral degree.

Bernice Johnson Reagon (1942- ) forms the singing group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

First issue of the periodical, Black Perspective in Music

Scholar/choirmaster Horace Clarence Boyer (1935- ) records the gospel-music album Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.

The piano music of Scott Joplin is revived for the hit movie The Sting

1974

Premiere of William Grant Still's opera A Bayou Legend by Opera/South.

The Peabody Conservatory awards William Grant Still an honorary doctorate.

William Grant Still cited as "a distinguished Mississippian" by the governor of Mississippi.

Duke Ellington dies in New York City.