Aaron Copland was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1900. He came from a Jewish family with roots in Lithuania. His father had moved to the United States from Russia. Growing up, Aaron lived in a shop run by his parents and developed an interest in music early in his life. He began composing music while still a child and decided to become a composer after hearing a symphony when he was sixteen years old. During the 1930s, Copland changed the style of his music to reach a larger audience. He wrote popular pieces such as "El Salón México" and "Billy the Kid." In the 1940s, he created well-known works including "Appalachian Spring" and "Fanfare for the Common Man." Despite facing political challenges in the 1950s, Copland continued his work as a composer. In the 1960s, Copland turned more towards conducting, remaining an active figure in classical music. He influenced musicians and audiences with his leadership and compositions. Aaron Copland died in 1990 and is remembered as a significant American composer who left a lasting impact on music.