Roland Hayes

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Performinginacountryrifewithracismandsegregation,thetenorRolandHayeswasthefirstAfricanAmericanmantoreachinternationalfameasaconcertperformerandoneofthefewartistswhocouldselloutTownHall,CarnegieHall,SymphonyHall,andCoventGarden.HistrailblazingcareercarvedthewayforahostofAfricanAmericanartists,includingMarianAndersonandPaulRobeson.PerformingtheAfricanAmericanspiritualshewasraisedon,Hayes'svoicewasmarkedwithauniquesonoritywhicheasilynavigatedFrench,German,andItalianartsongs.Amulticulturalistbothonandoffthestage,hecountedamonghisfriendsGeorgeWashingtonCarver,EleanorRoosevelt,EzraPound,PearlBuck,DwightEisenhower,andLangstonHughes.ThisengagingbiographyspansthehistoryofHayes'slifeandcareerandthelegacyheleftbehindasamusicianandachampionofAfricanAmericanrights.Itisanauthentic,panoramicportraitofamanwhowasascomplexasthemusicheperformed.