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As the penultimate episode in my 2026 Black History Month series, I revisit the stories of African American performers who, for a variety of reasons, including seeking to improve their increase their opportunities as artists of color, made their way to Europe in the 1950s and 1960s. Today the focus is on the low-voiced males, baritones, bass-baritones, and basses, in a variety of musical genres, who found success overseas. Surely the most famous of these is the great operatic baritone Lawrence Winters, who leads off the episode, but there were many others as well, some in opera, some in pop music, and some in that magical and confusing world in between, who also experienced life in its fullness, not just in Germany, but in Austria, Italy, and Norway as well. A few of these singers, among them Kenneth Spencer and Thomas Carey, are still somewhat remembered today. Far too many others are virtually forgotten. Among those we also discuss William Ray, Owen Williams, Henry Wright, William Pearson, George Goodman, and Allan Evans. The musical selections are primarily focused on pop music and crossover, with some fascinating exceptions. Even within this somewhat circumscribed musical palette, however, there is much variety to be experienced, and celebrated.
Countermelody is the podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel’s lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and author yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody’s core is the celebration of great singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. By clicking on the following link (https://linktr.ee/CountermelodyPodcast) you can find the dedicated Countermelody website which contains additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. The link will also take you to Countermelody’s Patreon page, where you can pledge your monthly or yearly support at whatever level you can afford.
