About
Mezzo-soprano opera singer whose career spanned fifty years and included singing in Don Carlo and Ernani. She was the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009. She was one of the most successful singers to transition from mezzo-soprano singing to soprano.
Before Fame
She won a contest that granted her a scholarship to Boston University. She was Venus at Bayreuth, casted by Wieland Wagner.
Trivia
She helped pave the way for African-American opera singers. She was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Family Life
She was born into a family of modest means; her father worked as a railroad porter and her mother was a housewife.
Associated With
She and Aretha Franklin both are considered leaders in their musical genres, setting a precedent for African-American women in the industry.
