Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson, the most celebrated singer of the 20th century, was an African-American contralto. When the DAR refused permission for her to sing at Constitution Hall in 1939, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the organization. She was born in Philadelphia PA - her father was John Berkley Anderson (c. 1872–1910) and her mother was Annie Delilah Rucker (1874–1964). She had 2 sisters - Alyse and Ethel (her sisters also became singers). Through her aunt (her father's sister Mary), she became active in her church choir at age 6 and then expanded to singing for a small fee in public. As a teen, she made more money and continued her "career". When she was 12, her father died after complications from a work-related accident. The family moved into her father's parents house (her grandfather was an emanciptated slave who had moved to Philly. Marian continued singing in her church choir and with the assistance of the local community, continued her education and singing activities. When she applied to an all-white music school, the Philadelphia Music Academy (now University of the Arts), according to Wikipedia she was turned away "because she was black. The woman working the admissions counter replied, "We don't take colored" when she tried to apply. Undaunted, Anderson pursued studies privately in her native city through the continued support of the Philadelphia black community, first with Agnes Reifsnyder, then Giuseppe Boghetti. She met Boghetti through the principal of her high school. Anderson auditioned for him by singing "Deep River"; he was immediately brought to tears. " Marian married James DePreist and they had a son, James Anderson DePreist, who became a noted conductor. She also married Orpheus H. "King" Fisher (who had initially proposed in high school). Throughout her career, Marian was lauded - and discriminated against. You can scroll down (under professions) to read about one noted instance. A woman of immense dignity and immense talent, Marian died of congestive heart failure.