Trivia

He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2005.

Contracted polio while on a State Department-sponsored Asian tour in 1962, leaving both legs paralyzed. He continued his career, conducting in a wheelchair.

First African-American conductor of the Houston Symphony.

Nephew of Marian Anderson.

He was director emeritus of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School's conducting program.

In 1965, he became assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic. In 1971, he was named associate conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, D.C.), by Antal Doráti. He was the music director of the Oregon Symphony from 1980 until 2003. He also led orchestras in Quebec, Monte Carlo, Tokyo, and Sweden, and made more than 50 recordings.

Black conductor who broke racial barriers in foreign and US orchestras.

Received the National Medal of Arts, the USA's highest honor for artistic achievement, from President George W. Bush in 2005.