It's a themral is a production of iHeart 3D audio.

For full exposure, listen with headphones.

It's both likely and tragic, that you've probably never heard this piece of music before.

It's the third movement of William Grant Still's Second Symphony, also titled Song of a New Race.

Still was one of the few black composers to successfully break through the classical music world

in the early to mid-20th century. Some would even say Still was the most important black

composer of his time. My grandfather William Grant Still is commonly known as the dean of African-American

composers. That's mostly because he has a very long list of firsts. Like he was the first

black man to conduct a major radio orchestra. That's Celeste Headley, a journalist. Last month,

the Atlanta City Council. Musician, author, radio personality. I'm Celeste Headley. This is on

Second Thought. Public speaker. According to Pew Research, about a third of American teenagers send more than a hundred texts a day. And among

many other things, an old friend and colleague of mine. I like your hair that length. And it

looks healthy. I actually use like proper shampoo now. I don't use like three in one.

That's awesome.

If 2% of that was because of me teasing you, then I'll take it.

As she spoiled for us just a minute ago, William Grant Still was her grandfather.

He was my favorite person. My father died when I was very young, like less than a year old, and so my grandfather stepped into that role for me.

I didn't quite realize he was famous until he died.

When Celeste and I worked together many years ago,

her grandfather often came up as a topic of casual conversation.

Both Celeste and I were trained classical musicians, so we spent a topic of casual conversation.

Both Celeste and I were trained classical musicians, so we spent a lot of time talking shop.

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