William Warfield
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William Warfield was one of the great baritones of the twentieth century, known for a voice of exceptional richness. He is a consummate oratorio singer. He has appeared with great orchestras and great conductors, all of whom have applauded his musicianship. Television and film have recorded his triumphs as singer and actor. Critical opinion regards him as one of the great singer-actors of the 20th century.
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About
William Warfield or "William Caesar Warfield" in real life was born on January 22, 1920 in the Mississippi River town of West Helena, Arkansas. The oldest of five sons of "Robert Warfield", a Baptist minister, and "Bertha McCamey". His father moved the family to Rochester, New York, when the children were still quite young, seeking greater opportunities there, eventually becoming the pastor of Mount Vernon Baptist Church. William remembers singing in his father's choir as a child, and he studied piano at an early age. He attended primary and secondary school in Rochester, New York. In his senior year, he won the national Music Educators League Competition, giving him a scholarship to the U.S. music school of his choice. He majored in voice at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, graduating in 1942. He took four years off from his musical studies to serve in military intelligence in the U.S. Army during World War II, but returned to Eastman to begin work on a master's degree and become a teacher.
His first professional appearances were in theater, including a stint with the national touring company of the musical Call Me Mister, Dorothy Heyward's play Set My People Free, and Marc Blitzstein's opera Regina. He sang in churches and synagnogues, and developed a night club act, singing and playing piano.
From 1947 William Warfield appeared in New York theatres. By the time he was 30 years old, he had won rave reviews in a sensational debut at New York's Town Hall in March 1950. When he played at a Toronto nightclub, a Canadian stockbroker named Walter Carr heard him and gave him the financial backing for a New York City debut, a recital at Town Hall on March 19, 1950. A career singing opera was closed to him at the time as African Americans had yet to secure starring operatic roles. He easily became the baritone of choice for black-oriented roles, such as Porgy, Joe in the color film remake of Show Boat, and he made memorable non-singing performances on the Hallmark Hall of Fame as De Lawd in Marc Connelly's Green Pastures in 1957 and 1959.
In 1974 William became a teacher at the University of Illinois. In 1984 he was elected as President of the National Association of Negro Musicians, a post he held until 1990. His skill in developing the student's ability to convey the meaning of drama, poetry or music and its consequent correct phrasing, as being the key to achieving the technical solutions required for beautiful singing and recitation. In the course of a career that has spanned more than half a century, his incomparable voice and charismatic personality have electrified the stages of six continents and earned him the title of ‘America's Musical Ambassador.’
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Grammy Awards | Best Spoken Word Or Non-Musical Recording for "Copland: A Lincoln Portrait' |
News
Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for William Warfield.
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
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Singles
Compilations & Live Releases
Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Trivia
- In 1955, he was chosen by the Philadelphia Orchestra as their official soloist on the orchestra's first tour of Europe.
- During the 1980s was chair of vocal music for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's School of Music.
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | Opera | Vocal Music | Choral
