September 17, 1956 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Sever
An Ageless Artist
Tenor Roland Hayes Remains A Foremost Singer
By BETTY GOSS t~
ROLAND HAYES, the greatest
male concert singer of his race,
the first and oldest member of his
race upon the concert stage in
this country, lifted his tenor voice
to echo through Rackham Audi-
torium this summer,
The concert singer is becomin~
white as to hair, but there is a r,^
vitality in his warm brown skin "
and luminous hazel eyes that be-
lies the hair and his self-acknowl-
edged sixty-nine years. His hands
are one with his voice in that these
are his most expressive instru-
ments. When talking, as when
singing, his hands become alive
and seem to pull forth the words
or the notes.
Queried concerning the young
people of the music and concert
world today, Mr. Hayes spoke
briefly. There can be no compari-
son between his own early strug-
gles and those facing youth today. MR. HAYE;. "IT IS COMBOS HATHER THAN CONCERT."
He reminds one that there have
been two great wars, one small one Hubbad became interested in the an Afro-American, and a man stuff though. He lives In Boston Auditorium. They worked as one.
and a great economic depression youngman of tenacity- proud of his heritage. most of the year arranging his Mr. Boardman had never touched
since he began his singing career HAs an artist today, he is still a beautiful Afro-American religious that particular piano. Mr. Hayes
shortly after the turn of the cen- THE DEBUT look place In Bos folksongs and other music which
tury.ton, in Symphony Hall, No- great man, Before his concert inh was not cognizant of the accou-
titey.toss, ppealasto him. He has an ocr,-
Roland Hayes believes that the umber of 1917. The people of Bos- Rackham building he comment- sional singer whom he assists as sties. Yet, there was resonance in
emphasis today is upon h susa- ton warmed to his tenor and his ed, "There's nothing to see tonight. mentor, tutor or with the wisdom all tones and the beauty of Mr.
tional rather than upon the classi- umaer of presenting himself and I just hope that the audience will that is his. Annually he goes on Hayes diction was clear and clean.
cal in all musical fiehds. the composers' works. They ap- hear enough good music." small tours where he does not have There is still a dreamlike sub-
pioved to this tune of $2,000 'hich
"It is combos rather than con- made possible his trip to England OLAND HAYES today reminds to physically exhaust himself, stance to the tenor's voice. One
rt," he said. In his opinion the m. h l remembers so many things listen-
foremost singer today is Adele In London, Sir George Henschel the music losers o fmoREGINALD BOARDMAN flew in ing to him.
Addison. Regardless of race or no- became his mentor. Sir George was the great stes who no lsnger sin- from Chicago the evening of The voice may not be the same,
tor, hers is the voice of the true to be his friend and teacher They either do not because they the recital in Ann Arbor to accom- but Roland Hayes is still the artist.
artist,' the tenor averred First throughout his seven years of stu- sing with the angels, they cannot, pany Mr. Hayes. Few in the audi- He remains one of the greatest
and foremost, Holand Hayes is, dy in England and on the Conti- or for reasons of their own, they ence were aware of the fact that American tenors on the concert
himself, an artist. Then, he is ar nent. will not, neither Boardman nor the soloist stage. And above all, Mr. Hayes is
American of African descent. No An early concert in London Mr. Hayes is made of different had ever appeared in Rackham a cultured gentleman.
one has ever been able to get Mr. found the British audience cold to ,
Hayes to make a controversial young Mr. Hayes of America. His a
statement with political overtones. reception by the audience andd rit-a
For example, when asked for an ics at that 1920 recital would haveri
opinion of Paul Robeson, he spoke :Mturned lesser men away from mus- I3W rfO r *i *) I I U.'
of Robeson the folk singer and act- ic as a vocation and profession.
or, not of Robeson, the figure of
ishrusiiosal dspat .'in tste OL DON in 1922 iked thin sing
international dip1.1Iv ee
mt the mna , H e staid. lit tit as tsesh sissy had
beendisapprovinga it 1920 Thad
Yet, one is not allowed to forget suts were brilliant and Roland T
thatt Elaid ia's iisAtticaen Hayes left England for the con-
No more does one overlook the fact tinent
that Africa is the country of his It wa itesseaa' on thi cona
foreiathers. Born to parents who
head knsa bondse its G'orat' artinent that gave Mr. Haves his pol-
ntis this prserty of a lomished concert manners, his ex s-
slave ownerMr. Hayes early years ite diction in French and German
were fraught with legends of the t A ia hmss nh sr
War Between the States. Once,
Hayes owned the 600-acre farm Among his teachers, masters and
where he was born, but after the tutors during this period were
deire.ssian he lost hi. hsldin's in sotma of thn greit ones whos
Georgia and went to Boston to names are all but forgotten. Miss
make his home. Ira Aldridge. Victor Beigel and Dr.
Theo Lierhammer were some who
Me.H Bays' began siinsug at sea' taught the maturing singc his
eheen in his atia Souathd ahe stage presence. trained his voice
as a heard rand' uta ed "by ms ntruted him in Chansons and
-ttuce iiei hnosadamn. sofnay r-ac." ut it 'otansin iderand the isuanesof phirass
Boston that he first received pub- that is an essentialof hiso rte
lie encouragement. Arthur Hub-
bard of Boston was his teacher, hi singes
tutor and his guide for eight years. N the mid-twenties, 1926 and
From the time he started singing. 1927, American audiences were
and became interested in using his to hear one of their own return to
voice for something worthwhile this country in triumph. Carnegie
until 1999 he worked, sved, sing Hall heard the richness of his I
in choirs. During this period Mr. tones. To the audiences of this
country his decorum set him
This is liss Goss's first ar.. apart inmmediatehy. Here at last
ticle for the Magazine Section was a culutsred artist of American
A veteran writer with 24 years parentage. An American in the
of experience, she has been traditional sense of the word, one s
published by both newspapers who in the established pattern of
and magazines. At present, the success stbry had lifted him- ,

Miss Goa is enrolled in the self by his bootstraps and become
o irnalism department where one with the greats.
he is working toward a degree. Yet, Roland IIayes remained
and reinaas aman of thie people
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