William WARFIELD / Collection of Programs 1981

Description: Collection of Programs Author: WARFIELD, William Title: Collection of Programs Publication: Various: 1949-1981 Description: Softcover. A collection of 76 programs, flyers, postcards, and magazines related to the career of singer William Warfield, a baritone best known for his roles in *Show Boat* and *Porgy and Bess*, published between 1949 and 1981. The material ranges from postcards to quarto magazines and single sheet flyers to multi-page programs. Overall near fine or better, with scattered light toning, some general wear and a number of items with contemporary ink notations on their covers.Warfield was born in Alabama in 1920 but grew up in Rochester, New York where he graduated from the Eastman School of Music. After a stint in the Army during World War II, he was cast in several Broadway shows. He first gained wide appreciation after a solo performance at New York City's Town Hall theater in early 1950. The performance led to his casting in the 1951 MGM remake of *Show Boat*, with his rendition of "Ol' Man River" noted by many as the film's high-point. Warfield was then cast as the co-lead in the 1952 revival of *Porgy and Bess* which also starred Leonyne Price, his future wife and Cab Calloway. Warfield would tour extensively over the next several decades, before suffering damage to his voice. By the 1970s he began reducing his singing appearances and in 1975 became a full-time professor of music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, dying in 2004.Some of the most notable items in the collection are programs from Warfield's star-making performance at Town Hall in early 1950, a playbill for the 1952 *Porgy and Bess*, and a 1955 publicity postcard touting his appearance on *The Ed Sullivan Show* (then known as "Toast of the Town"). Together the material documents Warfield's amazing vocal range which stretched from opera classics (many sung in German, in which he was fluent), to traditional and contemporary jazz tunes, Broadway musicals, and a catalog of Negro spirituals. Also present is his dedicated tour schedule which stretched across America from coast-to-coast, as well as all over the world, sometimes as part of the U.S. State Department's Cold War-era cultural exchange program, and not limited just to famous venues, such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, but also small colleges, high schools, and religious centers.A sizable collection of ephemera documenting the career of one of the most successful and well-regarded African-American singers of the mid-20th Century. Seller ID: 446207 Subject: African-Americana, Ephemera, Music Between the Covers Between the Covers has been selling books for more than 30 years. Today we offer a wide ranging inventory, from Modern First Editions to General Used Books to Rare Archival Collections. We are active members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB). Terms All orders ship within two business days. Standard mail is USPS Media Mail. Expedited and international shipping are also available. We offer combined shipping on multiple orders. All books are guaranteed to be as described or they may be returned within 30 days of receipt for a full refund. This listing was created by Bibliopolis.

Price: 4500 USD

Location: Gloucester City, New Jersey

End Time: 2024-12-27T18:47:53.000Z

Shipping Cost: 5 USD