12 Facts About Herbert Witherspoon

Herbert Witherspoon was an American bass singer and opera manager.

Herbert Witherspoon was born on July 21,1873, in Buffalo, New York.

Herbert Witherspoon graduated from Yale University in 1895 where he had performed as a member of the Yale Glee Club.

Herbert Witherspoon worked in Paris with Jean-Baptiste Faure and Jacques Bouhy and in Milan with Francesco Lamperti and studied in London and Berlin.

Herbert Witherspoon made his singing debut in 1898 with a small company in New York, and soon was making many appearances in concert and in oratorios.

Herbert Witherspoon remained with the company until his retirement from singing in 1914, at which point he chose to concentrate on teaching.

Herbert Witherspoon made many recordings for the Victor Talking Machine Company between 1907 and 1917.

In 1925, Herbert Witherspoon became president of the Chicago Musical College.

Herbert Witherspoon died suddenly on May 10,1935, at the Metropolitan Opera House.

Herbert Witherspoon was barely six weeks into his term as general manager, when he collapsed at his desk from a heart attack while meeting with Met assistant manager, Edward Ziegler.

Herbert Witherspoon's will set aside money for the Library of Congress to buy music scripts to be donated in the name of Florence Hinkle, his second wife.

Herbert Witherspoon was succeeded as General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera by tenor Edward Johnson.