Roland Hayes, African-American Lyric Tenor

Lyric tenor Roland Hayes, West Newbury’s pre- renaming it Angel Mo’ after his mother. The Hayes eminent concert virtuoso, was born on June 3, family summered there. 1887 at the plantation in Curryville, GA, where his In July of 1942, nationwide news stories made it mother, Fannie Mann, had been enslaved and the clear that wealth and fame provided the Hayes family continued as tenant farmers. His father, family no immunity from gratuitously violent William, died when Hayes was 11, and the family police action in support of the Jim Crow regime. moved to Chattanooga, TN. During a shopping excursion in Rome, GA, Helen Hayes’ talent and drive were apparent at an early Hayes and her daughter sat in a shoe store’s front age: he sang in the church choir, found voice “whites-only” seats. Words were exchanged; Mrs. instruction, and in 1911 was invited to become the Hayes was arrested. When Roland Hayes appeared lead tenor at ’s Jubilee Singers. At on the scene, an out-of-uniform policeman beat the same time, he worked several jobs to support him, handcuffed him, and jailed Roland and Helen. himself and his family. When the Jubilee Singers Rome’s police chief later denied the assault, and toured, Hayes decided to stay behind in . ’s governor declared that anyone displeased In Boston, Hayes worked as a page at John with segregation laws should stay out of the state. Hancock and saved money to support his music The Boston Globe was among many papers printing career. Notwithstanding the insistence of his editorials expressing outrage at Hayes’ “brutal and mother, voice teacher, and others in the music wanton” treatment. world that audiences would never listen to a black On November 14, 1946, the Newburyport Daily News man as a serious concert performer, he persevered. ran the headline, “Roland Hayes, Noted Singer, To Managing his own career, he sang in churches and Be Eagerly Welcomed As Resident of West other venues and by 1913 was known as the “Ne- Newbury.” Julian Steele, a civil rights leader in gro Caruso,” performing both classical pieces and Boston and himself an important person in West , which he did much to preserve. In 1920 Newbury’s history, was instrumental in the Hayes’ Hayes sailed for Europe. In 1921 he gave a com- decision to buy a home here. Located at 155 Crane mand performance for England’s King George V. Neck Street, the Hayes’ house sits on the hilltop After his triumphant return to the States in 1923, site where Enoch and Elizabeth Little first settled Hayes became the first African-American soloist and was built by their descendants. The Hayes kept appearing with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. their West Newbury home until 1953. He toured all over the country and the world, The Newburyport Daily News described Roland including this corner of it. The October 1, 1924 Hayes as “beloved by his West Newbury Newburyport Daily News stated, “When Roland neighbors.” A typical Newburyport Daily News story Hayes, internationally famed tenor comes to this of the time described a concert benefiting Anna city Monday evening, Oct. 27, for his song recital Jaques hospital: “Roland Hayes sang for grateful on the program of the sixth public concert of the neighbors last evening—and with ingratiating Newburyport Musical club, his choice of selections warmth and friendliness, sharing his great and will afford an unusually varied and interesting unique artistry with utmost generosity, enthusiasm, revelation of his powers both as a musician and as and sincerity.” an artist, of extraordinary scope and ability,” citing In his later years, Hayes mentored African-Amer- selections ranging from Handel and Schubert to ican vocalists and taught voice in Boston. Roland spirituals. Hayes died there on January 1, 1977, at age 89. His Hayes maintained a home base in Brookline with voice resonates to this day: click here, and imagine his wife Helen Mann Hayes and their daughter yourself in Old Town Hall on March 4, 1949, at a Afrika. He also purchased the 600-acre estate in concert benefiting the Town water system’s Georgia where his family had been enslaved, extension to Crane Neck Street. Roland Hayes, African-American Lyric Tenor

Bust of Roland Hayes Source: http://afrovoices.com/roland-hayes-biography/

Newburyport Daily News 5/24/1948

Hayes’ summer home at 155 Crane Neck Street