make sure everyone can hear you.

If you are going to think black, think positive about it. Don't think down on it, or think it is something in your way. And this way, when you really do want to stretch out, and express how beautiful black is, everybody will hear you.

Leontyne Price

On January 27,

1961, world renowed opera singer, Leontyne Price, makes her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Born February 10, 1927, in Laurel, Mississippi in the United States) is an American operatic soprano. She is best known for the title role of Verdi's Aida. Born in the segregated Deep South, she rose to international fame during a period of racial change in the 1950s and 60s, and was the first African-American to become a leading prima donna at the Metropolitan Opera.    -- courtesy, blackfacts.com & wikipedia



Also on this day,

In 1972, Gospel music legend Mahalia Jackson died, in Evergreen Park, Il. An African-American gospel singer with a powerful, distinct voice, Mahalia Jackson became one of the most influential gospel singers in the world and is the first Queen of Gospel Music. She recorded about 35 albums (mostly for Columbia Records) during her career, and her 45 rpm records included a dozen "golds"—million-sellers. She had a contralto voice range. -- -- courtesy, blackfacts.com & wikipedia