Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, was an English black composer, his father came from Sierra Leone in Africa, I think he was a doctor who came over to England met and fell in love with a nurse, and it was in London that Samuel was born. He showed early talent but because of his dark complection was frown upon by his tutors, but was still supported in his study of music, because of his talent.

Samuel took up the study of the Violin, piano and went on to study composition at London's Royal College of Music.