Marian Anderson was born on February 27, 1897, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the oldest of three sisters. She showed an early love for music and joined the Union Baptist Church choir at just six years old, earning the nickname “Baby Contralto.” Her father, a coal and ice dealer, supported her musical interests and bought her a piano when she was eight. Since the family couldn’t afford lessons, Anderson taught herself how to play.
When she was 12, her father passed away, leaving her mother to raise the three girls. Despite this setback, Anderson stayed dedicated to her music. She continued singing in the church choir, practicing all the vocal parts—soprano, alto, tenor, and bass—until she mastered them.
Anderson’s big break came after studying with renowned teacher Boghetti. She won a contest organized by the New York Philharmonic Society, which led to a performance at Lewisohn Stadium in New York. In 1928, she performed at Carnegie Hall for the first time, and soon after, thanks to a Julius Rosenwald scholarship, she toured Europe.
By the late 1930s, Anderson had become internationally famous for her voice. She was invited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife, Eleanor, to perform at the White House, making her the first African American to ever receive such an honor.
Even though Marian Anderson had achieved great success, not everyone in America was ready to embrace her talent. In 1939, her manager tried to arrange a concert for her at Washington, D.C.’s Constitution Hall, but the venue’s owners, the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.), turned her down, claiming no dates were available. The real reason was their policy of only allowing white performers.
When the public found out about the rejection, it sparked an outcry, with Eleanor Roosevelt leading the charge. She invited Anderson to perform at the Lincoln Memorial on Easter Sunday instead. In front of a crowd of over 75,000 people, Anderson gave an unforgettable performance that was also broadcast live to millions of radio listeners.
Marian Anderson’s fame continued to grow over the years. In 1961, she performed the national anthem at President John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and two years later, Kennedy awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
After retiring from performing in 1965, Anderson settled on a farm in Connecticut. In 1991, she received a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of her incredible career.
She spent her final years in Portland, Oregon, living with her nephew. Marian Anderson passed away from natural causes on April 8, 1993.
