Jan.5th: Happy birthday Opera Singer-Soprano Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones (1868-1939) known as the "Black Patti" in reference to Italian opera singer Angelina Patti. Rhode island Hall of Fame. Thank you and God bless. RIP. Thanks for the upload, Carnegie Hall. Blessings
What a fascinating story of this wonderful woman - thank you for posting. She must have really had an incredible voice. She performed for four presidents and the British Royal Family and travelled all over the world. It is sad to think her life ended in poverty, when she had made so much money during her life.
This diva paved the way for a Jessye Norman, Denyse Graves, Marian Anderson, Leontyne Price, Kathleen Battle, Grace Bumbry and many other women of color.
I gasped when I saw the medal ... yeah Howard! Also, there is an excellent bio on her by Maureen Lee, "Sissieretta Jones: “The Greatest Singer of Her Race,” 1868-1933. I highly recommend it.
What a pity Jones, unlike Patti, did not record her art. Still, "She devoted the remainder of her life to her church and to caring for her mother, also taking in homeless children, and caring for her two adopted children."
How wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. I have a copy of a very rare letterhead of hers. I am an old business colleague of Gino Francesconi. We will be in touch
Completely fascinating while simultaneously being oh so tragic. As far as how her storyended. Interestingly enough, while there are no available (if any) recordings of the "Black Patti," her notoriety seemed to make its way to the island of Cuba. In 1907, the hottest Cuban dance (danzon) ensemble of that era, led by a gentleman named Pablo Valenzuela, made its way to New Jersey and recorded "El Patti Negro." Which translates to "The Black Patti." The recording itself makes me wonder if Sissieretta Jones ever managed to, perhaps, make her way to Cuba, and performed there? As several other U.S. based Black artists from the world of Vaudeville, Theater, Dance, etc. managed to during the 19th and early part of the 20th century? If anyone knows, please share. Thank you! BTW-This aforementioned Cuban dance recording IS available here: m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BQANThaziG8.html
Thanks for Posting: There was a record label named after her in 1929 . Purple label with peacock. Reference Stack-O-Lee blues recording. Only one surviving copy.
Wow tragic story....How about a movie or something done on her...Even though she's not a soprano, Fantasia would be a good fit to play her and she resembles her a lot...Just my thought
How wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. I have a copy of a very rare letterhead of hers. I am an old business colleague of Gino Francesconi. We will be in touch
How wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. I have a copy of a very rare letterhead of hers. I am an old business colleague of Gino Francesconi. We will be in touch
How wonderful. Thank you for sharing this. I have a copy of a very rare letterhead of hers. I am an old business colleague of Gino Francesconi. We will be in touch
