Primous Fountain was raised in the Chicago South-side Housing Projects. He is a self-taught composer. Composing music is the only work Fountain has done for a living since leaving high school in Chicago. He has dedicated himself to music every day of his life. His work changed the perception of classical music forever. The Symphonies and other works he created sounded like no other composer´s. He sticks to his own style even in today’s difficult times and fights for his music, which is often not heard by people due to conventional prejudices.
As the young composer Primous Fountain had the premier of his ‘Manifestation’ by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Because of the huge public talk about the performance of Fountain’s music that concert had the most turn out in the history of the orchestra. One of the most remarkable and appealing aspect of this composer was the age: his “Manifestation” was composed when he was only 18.
Quincy Jones, the famed producer, impresario, was the first to recognize the genius young composer in his teens when he studied the manuscript of the young composer’s orchestra work ‘Manifestation’. This was before any of Fountain’s music was ever performed. Jones immediately became Fountain’s patron and mentor. This was the start of a close relationship between Jones and Fountain. Later Quincy Jones commissioned Fountain to compose his Second Symphony. This Symphony no. 2 was 10 years in the making and it then started a new period in the development in the music of the great composer.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra gave the first performance of Primous’s music when the composer was twenty years old. Then Arthur Mitchell, founder and director of the Dance Theater of Harlem, choreographed the ballet Manifestations, which became the signature ballet for this world renowned ballet company. There has been strong interest in his music for ballet, by Arthur Mitchell, Alvin Ailey, William Forsythe, San Francisco Ballet, among others.
At the age of 25, Primous was the youngest person in history to receive a Guggenheim Award. Shortly afterwards, he received a second one.
Fountain’s musical career has met the expectations of his early sponsors. His works has been performed by many of the major orchestras including the San Francisco, Chicago, Milwaukee, Buffalo, Minnesota, and Detroit Symphonies, with orchestral performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City.
Still full of dreams…
The ambitions of this giant are inexhaustible. It can be expected that in his ninth Symphony, he will once again remind us why he is considered an exceptional composer. He would also like to include works of a different nature than orchestral in his repertoire. This is exactly what he plans to demonstrate at his upcoming performances in Europe, which he is very much looking forward to. In pursuing his independent direction, we can expect an unconventional combination of world-class artists and classical music. However, the composer’s heart still remains loyal to America, where he feels at home and open to further cooperation with famous conductors and large orchestras.