Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977

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Roland Hayes (1887-1977) was the first black classical singer to break the color barrier. Born in Curryville (Gordon County, Ga.), he started singing in the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Flatwoods (Ga.) which was founded by his mother. Hayes moved to Boston, Massachusetts to start his musical career, later farmed in Flatwoods, but returned to Boston where he died in 1977.

From the description of Roland Hayes papers, 1939, 1977 [microform]. (Shorter University, Livingston Library). WorldCat record id: 38727636

Roland Hayes (3 June 1887-31 December 1976) was a singer and one of the first African Americans to gain prominence as a classically-trained concert performer.

From the description of Roland Hayes correspondence and ephemera, 1927-1942. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702199720

Roland Wiltse Hayes was born on June 3, 1887 in Curryville Georgia. After the death of his father, when he was eleven, the family moved Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hayes loved to sing African-American spirituals in church and on the street for money. When he was 15 years old he was introduced the to African-pianist Arthur Calhoun. Calhoun exposed the Hayes to the music of Enrico Caruso, Nellie Melba and others. He later studied music at Fisk University. While at Fisk, Hayes became a member of the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Hayes later went on a tour with the Fisk Singers to Boston. After the tour, Hayes stayed in Boston to pursue he dream of becoming a classical concert singer. He later studied under of the great basso, Arthur J. Hubbard and absorbed the traditions of bel canto. He also took courses at Harvard University's extension school. In 1916, Hayes began to arrange and promote his own concerts around the country. He would continue this for the next four years. In 1920, Roland went to London. There, for the next five years, he studied German lieder under Sir George Henschel, noted composer, conductor and interpreter of the songs of Brahms and Schumann. After a year there, he gave a royal command performance for King George V and Queen Mary at Buckingham Palace. He continued to study under Dr. Theodore Lierhammer in Vienna, and Gabriel Faure, the French composer in Paris. Hayes was awarded the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Medal in 1924. Hayes later married Helen A. Mann and had a daughter named Afrika. He and his family had two prime residences in Brookline, Massachusetts, and a 600-arce farm in Curryville, Georgia. Roland's mother Helen had been a slave on the farm and it was also his birthplace. In 1942, Hayes and his family were involved in a racial incident that occurred in Rome, Georgia. His wife and daughter had been sitting in a whites-only section of a shoe store. They were thrown out of the store. Hayes confronted the store clerk, and he and his wife were arrested by the police. The incident made national news. After the incident, Hayes and his family eventually left Georgia and sold the farm. He later purchased a 56-acre farm and country home in West Newbury, Massachusetts. Roland Hayes successfully toured the United States and the World extensively for the rest of his life. He was critically acclaimed for his master of the vocal art and especially in lieder. In 1962, Hayes gave his farewell concert at Carnegie Hall. He later taught, mentored and financially supported young musicians to pursue their own dreams of becoming classical singers. Throughout his career, he had received many awards and accolades. This included numerous Honorary Degrees in Music and the Humanities. Roland Hayes died on January 1, 1977.

From the description of Roland W. Hayes papers, 1898-1980. (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 667621573

Epithet: tenor

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000750.0x00002c

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Papers of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1900-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn American Vaudeville Museum collection, 1845-2007, (bulk 1910-1940) University of Arizona Libraries, Library Special Collections
referencedIn Scott, Verna Golden, 1876-1964. Correspondence, 1919-1931. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Caliver, Ambrose, 1894-1962. Ambrose Caliver collection, 1912-1938. John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Once in a century [sound recording] : a tribute to Marian Anderson. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951. Serge Koussevitzky Archive, 1920-1976 (bulk: 1924-1951) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Brice, Carol, 1916-1985. Papers. 1905-1978. Tulane University, Amistad Research Center
referencedIn Johnson, Helen A. Helen Armstead-Johnson miscellaneous theater collections, 1831-1993. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Roland Hayes Letters, 1922-1971. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
referencedIn Johan Hagemeyer Photograph Collection, circa 1908-circa 1955 Bancroft Library
referencedIn Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Office of the President records, 1904-1980. Cheyney University, L. P. Hill Library
referencedIn Scott, Verna Golden, 1876-1964. Verna Golden Scott papers, 1919-1931. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Stidger, William Leroy, 1885-1949. Letters to William Leroy Stidger, 1917-1949. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Brawley, Benjamin Griffith, 1882-1939. Benjamin Griffith Brawley papers, 1917-1936. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Robert Worth Bingham Papers, 1856-1939, (bulk 1933-1937) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Jones, Thomas Elsa. Thomas Elsa Jones collection (1-71), 1925-1947 (bulk, 1926-1946). John Hope and Aurelia E. Franklin Library. Special Collections & Archives
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Roland Hayes papers, 1939, 1977 [microform]. Shorter University, Livingston Library, Rome Livingston Library
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1916-1981. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. [Letter] July 22, 1938, Curryville, Georgia, [to Verna] Arvey. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Ames, Jessie Daniel, 1883-1972. Black history ephemera, 1903-1977. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn White, Clarence Cameron, 1880-1960. Clarence Cameron White collection, 1872-1965 (bulk, 1930-1960). Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
referencedIn Benjamin H. Lehman Papers Bancroft Library
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1932. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Stuart, Alice Jackson, 1913-2001. Papers of Alice Jackson Stuart [manuscript], 1930-2001. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Vol. X (ff. 172). 1924 -1933.includes:f. 1 Noël Sullivan, of San Francisco: Letter to R. Quilter,: 1924.f. 3 Geoffrey Harding: Letter to R. Quilter,: 1924.ff. 4, 12, 16, 106 Raimund von Zur Mühlen, German tenor and teacher: Letters to R. Quilt..., 1924-1933 British Library
creatorOf Walker, William, 1809-1875. The Babe of Bethlehem : from William Walker's Southern Harmony (1835) / a setting for Roland Hayes by Sidney Robertson Cowell. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Edward Boatner papers, 1941-1980 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Lord, I can't stay away / R. Hayes. I am bound for the kingdom. Poor mourner's got a home at last / Klemm. Dere's no hidin' place down dere / Brown. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Lawrence, William, 1895-1981. William Lawrence papers, ca. 1919-1988. College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library
referencedIn Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. Papers, 1876-1955 (inclusive), 1900-1955 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Lawrence Brown papers, 1916-1972 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn Robeson, Paul, 1898-1976. A few words of appreciation to Roland Hayes : autograph manuscript signed : [n.p.], 1924 Nov. 8. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. [Letter] July 22, 1938, Curryville, Georgia, [to Verna] Arvey. HCL Technical Services, Harvard College Library
referencedIn Brown, Helen,. Helen Brown scrapbook, 1926-1941. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Hayes, Roland W., 1887-1977. Roland W. Hayes papers, 1898-1980. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. Roland Hayes correspondence and ephemera, 1927-1942. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Papers of Charlotte Hawkins Brown, 1900-1961 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Lawson, Raymond Augustus, 1875-1959. Papers, 1859-1976. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Edward Boatner papers, 1941-1980. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Helen Armstead-Johnson miscellaneous theater collections, 1831-1993 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
referencedIn The Moldenhauer Archives at Harvard University: Correspondence, literary manuscripts, sound recordings, and other material, 1873-2001. Houghton Library
referencedIn Lawrence Brown papers, 1916-1972. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Vol. IX (ff. 166). 1915 -1923.includes:ff. 1, 18, 57 Paul Rodocanachi, of Neuilly-sur-Seine: Letters to R. Quilter,: 1915-1916.f. 3 A[lbert?] Clinton Landsberg, poet: Letters to R. Quilter,: 1913-1924.ff. 5-9, 13, 26, 37 Alice Sophia Amelia Gr..., 1915-1923 British Library
creatorOf Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. I can't stay away / arr. Roland Hayes. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Verna Golden Scott Papers, 1919-1931 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
creatorOf Hayes, Roland W., 1887-1977. Roland W. Hayes papers, 1898-1980. Detroit Public Library, Detroit Main Library
referencedIn Hatch-Billops Collection of oral histories, [ca. 1965-1980]. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. Mary White Ovington papers, 1854-1948. Wayne State University. Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs
referencedIn Rogers, Fred. [Letter of recommendation for Francois Clemmons]. Saint Vincent College, Saint Vincent Library
referencedIn Marguerite Yourcenar additional papers, 1842-1996. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Museum of Vaudeville corporateBody
correspondedWith Arvey, Verna, 1910-1987 person
correspondedWith Bingham, Robert Worth, 1871-1937. person
associatedWith Boatner, Edward. person
associatedWith Boston Public Library. Special Collections. corporateBody
associatedWith Brawley, Benjamin Griffith, 1882-1939. person
associatedWith Brice, Carol, 1916-1985. person
associatedWith Brown, Charlotte Hawkins, 1883-1961. person
associatedWith Brown, Helen, person
associatedWith Brown, Lawrence, 1893-1972. person
associatedWith Caliver, Ambrose, 1894-1962. person
associatedWith CHARLOTTE EUGENIA (HAWKINS) BROWN, 1883-1961 person
associatedWith Chesley, Roland E. person
correspondedWith Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. corporateBody
associatedWith Cullen, Frank, 1936- person
associatedWith Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. person
associatedWith Friends of Roland Hayes. corporateBody
associatedWith Hagemeyer, Johan person
associatedWith Hammond, George Fiske, I. person
associatedWith Hatch-Billops Collection, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Hayes, Africa. person
associatedWith Hayes, Roland, 1865-1977 person
associatedWith Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. person
associatedWith Hayes, Roland, 1887-1977. person
associatedWith Hayes, Roland W., 1887-1977 person
associatedWith Johnson, Helen A. person
associatedWith Jones, Thomas Elsa. person
associatedWith Knight, Arthur Winfield, 1937- person
correspondedWith Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951 person
associatedWith Lawrence, William, 1895-1981. person
associatedWith Lawson, Raymond Augustus, 1875-1959. person
correspondedWith Lehman, B. H. (Benjamin Harrison), 1889-1977 person
associatedWith Maggid, Jerome. person
associatedWith McNeilly, Donald, 1945- person
correspondedWith Moldenhauer, Hans, collector. person
correspondedWith Ovington, Mary White, 1865-1951. person
associatedWith Robeson, Paul, 1898-1976. person
associatedWith Rogers, Fred. person
associatedWith Scott, Verna Golden, 1876-1964. person
associatedWith Seaman, Katherine. person
associatedWith Siragusa, Peter. person
correspondedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Stidger, William Leroy, 1885-1949. person
associatedWith Still, William Grant, 1895-1978. person
associatedWith Stuart, Alice Jackson, 1913-2001. person
associatedWith White, Clarence Cameron, 1880-1960. person
correspondedWith Yourcenar, Marguerite. person
correspondedWith Yourcenar, Marguerite. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Georgia
United States
United States
Gordon County (Ga.)
Subject
Singers
African American singers
Concert tours
Singers, Black
Sound recording industry
Tenors (Singers)
Occupation
Arrangers
Performer
Activity

Person

Birth 1887-06-03

Death 1977-01-01

Birth 1887

Death 1977

Birth 1987

Death 1977

Birth 1887

Death 1977

Active 1915

Active 1933

Birth 1865

Death 1977

Active 1917

Active 1949

Americans

Information

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Ark ID: w6xj0gst

SNAC ID: 85715828