William Grant Still was born May 11, 1895 in Woodville, Mississippi to Carrie Lena Still and William Grant Still. Still's father died when he was only a few months old, so the family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. His mother remarried a few years later to Charles B. Shepperson. Both his mother and stepfather were interested in music and encouraged their children as well. Still began his musical education taking violin lessons and listening to opera recordings bought by his stepfather. The musical influence of his childhood greatly affected his musical path to success during the mid-19…
