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