Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a prominent Black composer and conductor who lived from 1875 to 1912. He was born in London to a Sierra Leonean father and an English mother. Coleridge-Taylor gained international recognition for his musical talents and is best known for his choral works, particularly his cantata trilogy "The Song of Hiawatha" based on the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Coleridge-Taylor faced racial discrimination during his lifetime, but he persevered and continued to create groundbreaking music that showcased both his African and European influences. He was a trailblazer for Black musicians in classical music and remains an important figure in Black history for his contributions to the arts.