Leontyne Price
The African-American I have chosen is Leontyne Price. She was raised in the colored section of Laurel, Mississippi. She has been described as a "lirico-spinto" soprano. Her rock-solid vocal technique and purity and her dramatic flair have been combined to create a mix suitable both for the opera and concert stage. She first started singing at area social events. After attending Central State University, she went to Julliard. While attending Julliard, she appeared in revivals of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess and Four Saints in Three Acts, by Virgil Thomson. …