14 Facts About Flora Batson

Flora Batson was a popular and well-known African-American concert singer, nicknamed "The Double-Voiced Queen of Song" because of her soprano-baritone range.

Flora Batson was called "the colored Jenny Lind" in the press.

Flora Batson began singing at a young age in her church choir.

Flora Batson sang professionally at Storer College in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for two years before moving on at the age of thirteen.

Flora Batson was a more modern version of Marie Selika Williams, Madam Flower "Bronze Melba", and Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones.

Flora Batson performed with Jones in 1885 in Providence, Rhode Island and was sometimes considered her rival.

Bergen and Flora Batson did not have children together, but she did become the stepmother to his son, Gary.

Flora Batson died from uremia in Philadelphia on December 1,1906.

Flora Batson sang for two years with Storer College, Harper's Ferry.

Flora Batson then sang for one year in Red Path's Lecture and Lyceum Bureau, followed by one year of temperance work.

Flora Batson joined the company as a last-minute backup to soprano Nellie Brown, who had to cancel due to prior commitments.

Flora Batson sang before royalty and religious leaders such as Queen Victoria of England, Pope Leo the Eighth, Queen Emma of Hawaii and the Royal Family of New Zealand.

Flora Batson sang duets with Gerard Millar in the South before the War Company.

In March 1889, Flora Batson performed at the First Presbyterian Church of Vicksburg, now the Bethel AME Church, in Vicksburg, Mississippi.