Fuck This Rap Shit, I Listen To Classical: The Legendary Leontyne Price Appreciation Post.

I’m really into opera. Really, really, REALLY into opera. It might have something to do with my intensive upbringing in music, or it might have something to do with the fact that I like that real shit. All I know is that I adore Diva Leontyne Price, one of the greatest opera singers of all time, ever. A powerful and bassy soprano, she is within the top 5 of my personal favorite opera singers, somewhere above Maria Callas and tied with Victoria De Los Angeles.

She gets personal points for her story, which includes growing up in a powerfully segregated deep south (Mississippi) to some great parents who traded in their Phonograph (waow) so that they could buy Mary Violet (awe, real names) an upright piano as a child. Singing in several churches, it wasn’t until a church pastor and family friend noticed her brilliant voice (and impressive piano skills) when Leontyne decided that she would go to school to study music full-time. After Paul Robenson gave her the co-sign (kind of a big deal) she enrolled at Juliard, and success started rolling in from there. Along with Marian Anderson (her name alone makes me want to write something about her), Price basically started kicking in the door and waiving the .44 on all types of racial stereotypes and boundaries, becoming the first African American woman to sign/perform with the MET Opera House, first African American woman in a televised opera, and several other asskicking achievements that I cant recall at this time. Then there is the something like 20 Grammys, The Kennedy Awards, The Presidental Honors and other lifetime achievement awards shes won during her 85 (!!!) years on earth.

I want to say it while she is alive. Thank you for being an inspiration growing up. Positive role models are an endangered species at this point; it was nice to grow up in an era where your talent was appreciated to the fullest. You are amazing and sometimes I sit in the shower and try to reproduce your Aria to no avail, but it sure does feel great to try. I sit around and listen to Highlights (download) and Christmas with Leontyne Price (download) all the time, for no general reason. You are a legend, thank you for everything you have done. Eternally indebted.

Now here’s the part where I sit around and watch YouTube clips for the next 30 minutes.

…at 75 years old, still singing (and looking) better than you.

NEA Interview from 2010. At the age of 83. AND SHE STILL SOUNDS BETTER THAN YOU.

Respect the legends.