Roland Hayes
Tenor
On April 21, 1947, Roland Hayes appeared in concert at Columbus Avenue School. The performance was sponsored by the Second Baptist Church as part of a fundraiser for a church youth center.
Born in Georgia in 1887, Hayes shattered the color barrier in the world of classical music paving the way for Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, and Leontyne Price. He became one of the highest paid musicians of his time. In the 1920s, he gave a command performance for King George V and Queen Mary in London and another command performance in Spain for Queen Mother Maria Christian.
In 1950, Hayes began to teach voice at Boston University. On his 75th birthday, Hayes gave his farewell concert at Carnegie Hall. Hayes died in 1977.
Sources:
"Hayes Sings Tonight in Columbus School." Leader. 21 April 1947, pg. 17.
"Roland Hayes." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1993. Biography in Context. Web. 9 Nov. 2013.
"Roland Hayes Sings to Large Audience." Leader. 1 May 1947, pg. 5.
