African-American composer, conductor, orchestrator, and arranger, and one of the few black Americans of his time to make a name for himself as a composer on Broadway, working largely for Florenz Ziegfeld and the Ziegfeld Follies. He was the first black to become a member of ASCAP. He was the musical director for Washington DC’s Howard Theatre; led the top army band in WWI; and was Fox Films’ musical director for three years in Hollywood. He orchestrated George Gershwin's one-act opera Blue Monday and was an important influence on Duke Ellington. Born October 8, 1885 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Died November 18, 1951 Farmingdale, New York. Also known as Bill Vodery.