Grace Bumbry

About

Mezzo-soprano opera singer whose career spanned fifty years and included singing in Don Carlo and Ernani. She was the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009. She was one of the most successful singers to transition from mezzo-soprano singing to soprano. 

Before Fame

She won a contest that granted her a scholarship to Boston University. She was Venus at Bayreuth, casted by Wieland Wagner. 

Trivia

She helped pave the way for African-American opera singers. She was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. 

Family Life

She was born into a family of modest means; her father worked as a railroad porter and her mother was a housewife. 

Associated With

She and Aretha Franklin both are considered leaders in their musical genres, setting a precedent for African-American women in the industry.