H. Leslie Adams

African American composer H. Leslie Adams was known mostly for vocal music, including an opera, but also wrote instrumental music that was performed internationally. Many of his works incorporated elements of African American vernacular music. Born in Cleveland, he remained based there for much of his life except when seeking to further his education, and he devoted himself almost exclusively to composition. Adams died in Cleveland on May 24, 2024, at age 91. By the mid-2020s, some 20 of his works had been recorded.