The life and career of the African-American composer William Grant Still qualifies as the quintessential American success story. Often referred to as the dean of African-American composers, Still rose from humble beginnings to work as an arranger while studying composition with Chadwick and Varèse. An active participant in the Harlem Renaissance, Still embraced African-American forms such as the blues, spirituals and jazz in addition to other ethnic American genres. The Afro-American Symphony established his reputation worldwide, and remains his most popular and most recorded work. His brooding tone poem Africa is part of a trilogy of works depicting African-American roots while In Memoriam is a poignant tribute to the sacrifices of African-Americans during the Second World War.