George Britton (musician)
| George Britton | |
|---|---|
| Born |
October 19, 1910 Reading, Pennsylvania |
| Died | February 12, 2010 (aged 99) |
George Britton (19 October 1910 - 12 February 2010) was an American singer, actor, and guitarist. A classical bass-baritone, he had an active performing career in operas, concerts, and musicals during the 1930s through the 1960s. As a stage performer he is best known for succeeding Ezio Pinza in the role of Emile de Becque in the original Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. He portrayed the role for two years opposite Martha Wright as Nellie Forbush.
Britton began performing concerts of folk music in the 1950s, accompanying himself on the guitar. In 1957 he cofounded the Philadelphia Folksong Society and the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 1962. In the 1960s his career moved primarily into performing folk music. He also taught guitar and voice at his studio, the George Britton Folk Studio.
Britton was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, to parents of Irish and Pennsylvania Dutch descent. He studied at Columbia University where he graduated with a music degree in 1932. He notably was awarded the Gold King's Crowns Award by the University his senior year. He pursued graduate studies in voice at the Juilliard School, studying voice with Anna E. Schoen-René, a student of Pauline Viardot-García and Manuel García, earning a master's degree in 1936. While at Juilliard he notably appeared in the New York premiere of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos and portrayed Etienne in the world premiere of Robert Russell Bennett's Maria Malibran opposite Helen Marshall in the title role and Risë Stevens as Cornelia.
...
Wikipedia