Eileen Tate Cline was born on June 25, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. Her family valued education. Music became her way to improve the world. Her mother, Inez Duke, was a pioneering teacher of Negro History. Her father, Herman Tate, led in the community and worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He was also active in the international Coop Movement. Cline’s parents urged their children to break limits. Cline shone in academics, ballet, piano, and sports. She started at the University of Chicago Laboratory School and entered college at fifteen. Cline earned two degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, a master’s from the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. from Indiana University as a Danforth Fellow. Her Ph.D. dissertation on piano competitions is widely regarded as the top source on the topic.