55 Facts About Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson performed a wide range of music, from opera to spirituals.

Marian Anderson was an important figure in the struggle for African-American artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid-twentieth century.

In 1939, during the era of racial segregation, the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Marian Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall in Washington, DC The incident placed Marian Anderson in the spotlight of the international community on a level unusual for a classical musician.

Marian Anderson sang before an integrated crowd of more than 75,000 people and a radio audience in the millions.

On January 7,1955, Marian Anderson became the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.

Marian Anderson participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, singing at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Marian Anderson was awarded the first Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963, the Congressional Gold Medal in 1977, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, the National Medal of Arts in 1986, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.

Marian Anderson's father sold ice and coal at the Reading Terminal in downtown Philadelphia and eventually sold liquor.

Marian Anderson therefore earned an income caring for small children.

Ethel married James DePreist and their son James Marian Anderson DePreist was a noted conductor.

Marian Anderson credited her aunt's influence as the reason she pursued her singing career.

At the age of 10, Marian Anderson joined the People's Chorus of Philadelphia under the direction of singer Emma Azalia Hackley, where she was often a soloist.

When Marian Anderson was 12, her father received a head injury while working at the Reading Terminal before Christmas 1909.

Marian Anderson's grandfather had been born a slave and was emancipated in the 1860s.

Marian Anderson relocated to South Philadelphia, the first person in his family to do so.

When Marian Anderson moved into his home, the two became very close, but he died just a year after the family moved there.

Marian Anderson became a member of the Baptists' Young People's Union and the Camp Fire Girls, which provided her with some, though limited, musical opportunities.

Undaunted, Marian Anderson pursued studies privately in her native city through the continued support of the Philadelphia black community, first with Agnes Reifsnyder, then Giuseppe Boghetti.

Marian Anderson met Boghetti through the principal of her high school.

Marian Anderson auditioned for him by singing "Deep River"; he was immediately brought to tears.

In 1925, Marian Anderson got her first big break at a singing competition sponsored by the New York Philharmonic.

Marian Anderson continued her studies with Frank La Forge in New York.

The organization's representatives, Ray Field and George Arthur, encouraged Marian Anderson to apply for a Rosenwald Fellowship, from which she received $1500 to study in Berlin.

Marian Anderson went to Europe, where she spent a number of months studying with Sara Charles-Cahier and Geni Sadero before launching a highly successful European singing tour.

Marian Anderson met Jean Sibelius through Vehanen after he had heard her in a concert in Helsinki.

Marian Anderson created a new arrangement of the song "Solitude" and dedicated it to Anderson in 1939.

In 1933, Marian Anderson made her European debut in a concert at Wigmore Hall in London, where she was received enthusiastically.

Marian Anderson, accompanied by Vehanen, continued to tour throughout Europe during the mid-1930s.

Marian Anderson became a favorite of many conductors and composers of major European orchestras quickly.

Marian Anderson became her manager and persuaded her to return to America to perform.

In 1935, Marian Anderson made her second recital appearance at The Town Hall, New York City, which received highly favorable reviews from music critics.

Marian Anderson spent the next four years touring throughout the United States and Europe.

Marian Anderson was offered opera roles by several European houses, but Anderson declined all of them due to her lack of acting experience.

Marian Anderson did record a number of arias in the studio, which became bestsellers.

Einstein's first hosting of Marian Anderson became the subject of a play, "My Lord, What a Night," in 2021.

Marian Anderson last stayed with him months before he died in 1955.

On June 15,1953, Marian Anderson headlined The Ford 50th Anniversary Show, which was broadcast live from New York City on both NBC and CBS.

On January 7,1955, Marian Anderson became the first African-American to sing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Marian Anderson traveled 35,000 miles in 12 weeks, giving 24 concerts.

Marian Anderson was active in supporting the civil rights movement during the 1960s.

Marian Anderson performed benefit concerts in aid of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Congress of Racial Equality.

That same year, Marian Anderson concluded her farewell tour, after which she retired from public performance.

Marian Anderson often narrated Aaron Copland's Lincoln Portrait, with her nephew James DePriest conducting.

Marian Anderson's achievements were recognized with many honors, including the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club Award of Merit in 1973; the United Nations Peace Prize, New York City's Handel Medallion, and the Congressional Gold Medal, all in 1977; Kennedy Center Honors in 1978; the George Peabody Medal in 1981; the National Medal of Arts in 1986; and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1991.

Marian Anderson was awarded 24 honorary doctoral degrees, by Howard University, Temple University, Smith College and many other colleges and universities.

On July 17,1943, Anderson became the second wife of architect Orpheus H "King" Fisher in Bethel, Connecticut.

Marian Anderson constructed a three-bedroom ranch house as a residence, and she used a separate one-room structure as her studio.

Marian Anderson was known to visit the Danbury State Fair and sang at the city hall on the occasion of the lighting of Christmas ornaments.

Marian Anderson gave a concert at the Danbury High School, served on the board of the Danbury Music Center, and supported the Charles Ives Center for the Arts and the Danbury Chapter of the NAACP.

In 1992, Marian Anderson relocated to the home of her nephew, conductor James DePreist, in Portland, Oregon.

Marian Anderson died there on April 8,1993, of congestive heart failure, at the age of 96.

Marian Anderson is interred at Eden Cemetery, in Collingdale, Pennsylvania.

The life and art of Marian Anderson has been commemorated by writers, artists, and city, state, and national organizations.

The Marian Anderson Award was established in 1943 by Anderson after she was awarded the $25,000 from The Philadelphia Award in 1940 by the city of Philadelphia.

Marian Anderson used the award money to establish a singing competition to help support young singers.