Flora Batson
| Flora Batson | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Flora Batson |
| Also known as | The Double-Voiced Queen of Song |
| Born |
April 16, 1864 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | December 1, 1906 (aged 42) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | light opera, popular music |
| Years active | 1885–1906 |
Flora Batson (1864–1906) was a popular and well-known black concert singer, nicknamed "The Double-Voiced Queen of Song" because of her soprano-baritone range. She was also called "the colored Jenny Lind" in the press.
Batson was born in Washington, D.C. on April 16, 1864. She began singing at a young age, in her church choir. In 1885, she began touring with the Bergen Star Company and became internationally known. She was a contemporary of Marie Selika Williams, Madam Flower "Bronze Melba", and Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones. She performed with Jones in 1885 in Providence, Rhode Island and was sometimes considered her rival. She married John Bergen in 1887 and their interracial marriage was fodder for tabloids. Bergen promoted Batson's career and rivalry with Jones, even dubbing Batson "The Real Patti" in response to Jones' promotion as "The Black Patti." Supported by Bergen's management and touring company, she performed all over the world, including performances for royalty and religious leaders.
After Bergen's death in 1896, she toured with a variety of singing companies. She sang duets with Gerard Millar in the South before the War Company. They also toured together in Australia in 1899 and 1900 with Orpheus McAdoo's Georgia Minstrels and Genuine Alabama Cake Walkers.
Batson died in Philadelphia on December 1, 1906.
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