Andrew Frierson

Andrew Frierson (born March 29, 1929, Columbia, Tennessee) is an American operatic baritone and music educator. He was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve success and is viewed as part of an instrumental group of performers who helped break down the barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world. In 2000 he was the recipient of the Legacy Award by the National Opera Association, an award given annually to recognize the contributions made by African-American artists to opera in America.

Born in Columbia, Tennessee, Frierson was raised in Kentucky. He earned degrees in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School, and has taught on the voice faculties of Southern University and Oberlin College. At Juilliard he studied voice with Belle Julie Soudant; the teacher of opera singers Frances Bible and Gloria Davy. In his early career he was a member of The Belafonte Folk Singers with whom he performed and made recordings both with and without Harry Belafonte.

Frierson made his professional opera debut in 1958 as Cal in Marc Blitzstein's Regina with the New York City Opera; a role which he also recorded with the NYCO on disc for Sony. He continued to perform with the NYCO for the next six consecutive seasons, portraying such roles as Henry Davis in Street Scene, the King in Aida, the Messenger/the Shepherd in Oedipus rex, Schlémil / Wolfram/ Hermann in The Tales of Hoffmann, and the title role in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.

...
Wikipedia