People, Locations, Episodes

Martina Arroyo, Classical Vocalist born

*Martina Arroyo was born on this date in 1936. She is an Afro Puerto Rican operatic soprano and educator.  She was born in New York City, the younger of two children of Demetrio Arroyo, originally from Puerto Rico, and Lucille Washington, a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Her older brother is a Baptist minister. The family lived in Harlem near St. Nicholas Avenue and 111th Street. Her […]

Sylvia Williams, Curator born

*Sylvia H. Williams was born on this date in 1936. She was a Black museum director, curator, art historian, and scholar of African art.    Sylvia Louise Hill was born and grew up in Lincoln, Pennsylvania. Her father was a professor of English and dean at Lincoln University. She married Charlton Williams, but the couple never had children. Williams held art history […]

Helen Walker-Hill, Musicologist and Pianist born.

*Helen Walker-Hill was born on this date in 1936. She was a white Canadian pianist and musicologist who specialized in honoring the music of Black women composers. Helen Siemens was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She received her early musical training from her mother, Margaret Siemens, and continued piano studies with Emma Endres Kountz in […]

Don Cherry, Jazz Artist born

This date marks the birth of Don Cherry in 1936. He was an African American musician.

Donald Eugene Cherry was born in Oklahoma City, and raised in Los Angeles. He started on trumpet in junior high school and began working with Ornette Coleman in 1956. The Coleman quartet moved to New York City in 1959, creating controversy and making revolutionary albums for Atlantic until it disbanded in late 1961. Shortly thereafter, Cherry worked with a wide array of musicians in this country and Europe: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Steve Lacy, George Russell, and Albert Ayler.

James DePreist, Classical Musician born

*James DePreist was born on this date in 1936. He is an African American performer, composer, arranger, and conductor of music and poet.

Grace Bumbry, Opera Singer born

This date celebrates the birth of Grace Bumbry, an African American opera singer, in 1937.

She was born Grace Ann Bumbry in St. Louis, Missouri. She studied music at Boston University, Northwestern University, and the Music Academy of the West. She has has performed as both a soprano and a mezzo-soprano. While at Northwestern she became the student and protégé of Lotte Lehmann, a famous German-born opera diva.

Shirley Bassey, Singer born

*Shirley Bassey was born on this date in 1937. She is a Black British singer.

Melvin Edwards, Artist, and Teacher born

*Melvin “Mel” Edwards was born on this date in 1937. He is a Black contemporary artist, teacher, and abstract steel metal sculptor. He has also worked in drawing and printmaking. Early life and education Melvin Eugene Edwards, Jr., was born in Houston, Texas, to Thelmarie Edwards and Melvin Edwards Sr, and was the eldest of […]

Robert Thompson, Painter Artist born

On this date in 1937, Robert Louis Thompson was born. He was an African American painter and one of the youngest black artists of his day to gain fame in the United States.

Simon Estes, Classical Vocalist born

*The birth of Simon Estes in 1938 is marked on this date. He is an African American classical concert vocalist.

Ernie Barnes, Artist and Athlete born

*Ernie Barnes was born on this date in 1938. He was an African American Neo-Mannerist artist and former professional football player.

Mercedes Ellington, Dancer born

*Mercedes Ellington was born on this date in 1939. She is a Black Dancer and choreographer.  Mercedes Ellington was born in New York City to Ruth Silas Batts, trumpet player and conductor Mercer Ellington, son of composer and bandleader Duke Ellington. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, Louise Petgrave Silas and Alfred Silas, who enrolled her in dance […]

Marian Anderson Sings at the Lincoln Memorial

*On this date in 1939, Marian Anderson sang before a (then) record crowd and radio audience on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Bobb Vann, Artist born

*Bobb Vann was born on this date in 1939. He is a Black artist, teacher, and lecturer. Vann was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Timothy and Eleanor (Ashford) Vann. He started drawing at age six and, after high school, attended the Philadelphia College of Art from 1959 to 1962. Vann worked as a designer […]

Barbara Chase-Riboud, Artist, and Author born

*Barbara Chase-Riboud was born on this date in 1939. She is a Black visual artist and sculptor, novelist, and poet. Barbara Chase was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the only child of Vivian May Chase, a histology technician, and Charles Edward Chase, a contractor. Chase displayed an early talent for the arts and began attending the […]