He is one of the world's most influential and prolific composers. But for Philip Glass, it was a long road to success.

For decades, he worked as a plumber and a taxi driver before he started to earn a living from his music at 41.

Since then, the 78 year old has written dozens of operas and more than 50 film scores, and says he has no intention of slowing down.

Philippa Thomas has been speaking to the man who's known as one of the founding fathers of minimalism.

She began by asking him about the recent events in Baltimore, where he grew up.