Roland Hayes

Roland Hayes was the first black male to win acclaim in America and Europe as a lyric tenor and composer. Critics lauded his abilities and linguistic skills demonstrated with songs in French, German and Italian. A native of Georgia and the son of ex-slaves, his family moved to Tennessee when he was thirteen. He obtained his basic music training in Chattanooga with Arthur Calhoun and at Fisk University in Nashville. Later he studied with Arthur Hubbard in Boston and with George Henschel and Amanda Ira Aldridge in London, England.