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Leontyne Price The African-American I have chosen is Leontyne Price. She was raised in the colored section of Laurel, Mississippi. She has been described as a "lirico-spinto" soprano. Her rock-solid vocal technique and purity and her dramatic flair have been combined to create a mix suitable both for the opera and concert stage. She first started singing at area social events. After attending Central State University, she went to Julliard. While attending Julliard, she appeared …

…solidified Price's place as one of the world's great divas. Price's notoriety allowed her the freedom to select roles she wanted; often taking rests between runs, in the years that followed. In the 1970's she increased the number of recitals and made several operatic and concert recordings. Also, she earned 18 Grammy awards over the years. Price retired from the opera stage at the Met in 1985 with her signature role, Aida. Millions viewed the live telecast.