Born in Brooklyn, New York. He never married. Worked as a composer after 1920. Called "the dean of American composers."

Copland wrote the ballets Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid and Rodeo. He wrote the film scores for Of Mice and Men and Our Town. He won an Academy Award for the score for The Heiress in 1948. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. He died in North Tarrytown, New York.

Copland was honored with a Congressional gold medal as "a leading spirit in the development of American Music." Obverse was by Michael Iacocco. Reverse was by Jim Licaretz. Bronze copies were offered to the public in two sizes, 3 inch (USM 695) and 1.5 inch (USM 696). legal ref: Public Law 99-418, 100 Stat. 952

bio: ConAut 5R; EAB; IntWW 90-91; WAB; WW 90; WWA 90

obit: CB 52 Jan 1991; NYT 12/3/90; Newsweek 12/17/1990