This prominent African-American composer, arranger, and educator was born William Levi Dawson and was credited with and without the middle initial throughout his long and accomplished career. Like many prodigal sons, and this artist can certainly be said to be one of the state of Alabama's greatest prodigies, Dawson's story begins with running away from home. He was 13 years old and was fleeing the life of a common laborer in the town of Anniston, Alabama, a decision that has been made by many residents over the years. Very few, however, had the motivations of Dawson, who got into the Tuskegee Institute and paid to complete his education there with whatever work he could find.

Eventually, he received degrees in both theory and composition from the Horner Institute of Fine Arts and the American Conservatory of Music. In 1931, Dawson set up the School of Music at Tuskegee, his activities there including a quarter of a century conducting the school's 100-voice choir. In both 1932 and 1933 this group headlined at grand openings of Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Tuskegee Choir also performed for several American presidents.

Over the course of his academic and performing career, Dawson developed into an authority on many aspects of Black gospel music. One of the results of his research was the creation of a library of his choral and orchestral arrangements that have been performed and recorded extensively. In many ways, the climax of his composing career was his "Negro Folk Symphony," premiered in 1934 by the Philadelphia Orchestra with none other than Leopold Stokowski waving the baton. Dawson received honorary doctorates from his alma mater as well as Lincoln University and Ithaca College. ~ Eugene Chadbourne, Rovi