Frederick Tillis (1930 - 2020) received a B.A. in 1949 from Wiley college in Marshall, Texas, an M.A. (1952) and Ph.D. (1963) from the University of Iowa in music composition. His teaching positions included: The University of Massachusetts, Kentucky State University, Grambling College, and Wiley College. Tillis developed an eclectic style using black music elements, African and Eastern idioms, serialism and other Europen styles. His works include: "Ring Shout Concerto," "Hallelujah," "Spiritual Cycle," "Freedom," "Designs for Orchestra," "Music for Alto Flute, Cello, and Piano," and "Quintet for Four Woodwinds and Percussion." He was a Danforth Associate (1969), United Negro College Fund Fellowship recipient, and recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation Grant (1978). His works are available from American Composer's Alliance.
Source: Perkins Holly, Ellistine. Biographies of Black Composers and Songwriters; A Supplementary Textbook. Iowa:Wm. C. Brown Publishers, 1990.
