Carringer, Walter

Vocalist and music professor Walter Carringer was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 5, 1924, and grew up in Murphy, North Carolina. As a young man during WWII, Carringer spent 2.5 years in the United States Army, from 1943 to 1946. It was during his time in the military that Carringer's supervisors noticed his vocal talent and arranged for him to appear in USO shows and bond selling tours. He was urged by those who heard his tenor voice to pursue a solo career. After leaving the military, Carringer did just that-enrolling at Columbia University in New York City.

Carringer spent three years at Columbia, completing a B.S. in music in 1950. During this time he was the first student to appear in solo recital at Columbia's concert hall, McMillan Theatre. His senior year, Carringer auditioned for Robert Shaw, director of the famous Shaw Chorale, and was immediately hired. Carringer was granted special permission by Columbia to participate in a three-week tour as a soloist with the Chorale. For the next three and a half years, Carringer continued to sing with Robert Shaw's group.

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