Roland Hayes (1887 - 1977) - Find A Grave Memorial

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Roland Hayes

Birth:	Jun. 3, 1887 Curryville Gordon County Georgia, USA
Death:	Jan. 1, 1977 Boston Suffolk County Massachusetts, USA
Singer. Sometimes called "The Black Caruso", he was the first African-American classical singer to achieve popular success. After early study at Fisk University, Hayes moved to Louisville, then to Boston where he worked odd jobs while starting his career as a recitalist, singing lieder and arias by Schubert, Mozart, and others, as well as the spirituals he had learned as a child. He toured the country, but met with little success; he went to Europe in 1920, continued his studies, sang for King George V, and received wide acclaim. Returning to America in 1922, his career finally took off, and continued until his retirement in 1962. He was the first African-American performer to sing at Carnegie Hall; he sang there numerous times over the years, including his farewell concert. From 1950 until 1954, Hayes taught voice at Boston University. He received eight honorary degrees, and in 1924 was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. He left a large legacy of recordings, both of spirituals and classical songs. (bio by: Bob Hufford) Search Amazon for Roland Hayes

Burial: Mount Hope Cemetery Mattapan Suffolk County Massachusetts, USA
Maintained by: Find A Grave Originally Created by: Bob Hufford Record added: Jun 18, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 27654832