{{Short description|American opera singer (1924–2018)}} {{About||the Olympic equestrian|Hank Frierson}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}} '''Andrew Benny Frierson''' (March 29, 1924 – December 6, 2018) was an American operatic baritone and music educator. He was part of the first generation of black opera singers to achieve success and is viewed as part of an instrumental group of performers who helped break down the barriers of racial prejudice in the opera world. In 2000 he was the recipient of the Legacy Award by the National Opera Association, an award given annually to recognize the contributions made by African-American artists to opera in America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noa.org/initiatives/legacy-project.html|title=The Legacy Project|work=National Opera Association|accessdate=April 20, 2015}}</ref>
==Life and career== Born in Columbia, Tennessee on March 29, 1924,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yE55DJdig3wC&pg=PA9|title=Dialogues on Opera and the African-American Experience|author=Wallace Cheatham|pages=9–23|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=1997|isbn=9780810831476 }}</ref> Frierson was raised in Kentucky.<ref name=Pioneering>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/obituaries/andrew-frierson-dead.html |title=Andrew Frierson, Pioneering Black Opera Singer, Dies at 94 |first=Sam |last=Roberts |date=December 14, 2018 |website=The New York Times |accessdate=2022-12-24 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181215094154/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/obituaries/andrew-frierson-dead.html |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He earned degrees in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School, and has taught on the voice faculties of Southern University and Oberlin College. At Juilliard he studied voice with Belle Julie Soudant; the teacher of opera singers Frances Bible and Gloria Davy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1975/02/11/80129946.pdf|title=Belle Julie Soudant Dead: Taught Voice at Juilliard|work=The New York Times|date=February 11, 1975|page=42|access-date=2022-12-24}}</ref> In his early career he was a member of The Belafonte Folk Singers with whom he performed and made recordings both with and without Harry Belafonte.
Frierson made his professional opera debut in 1958 as Cal in Marc Blitzstein's ''Regina'' with the New York City Opera; a role which he also recorded with the NYCO on disc for Sony. He continued to perform with the NYCO for the next six consecutive seasons, portraying such roles as Henry Davis in ''Street Scene'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/10/16/archives/3-debuts-heard-in-street-scene-bows-made-at-city-center-by-norman.html|title=3 Debuts Heard In Street Scene|work=The New York Times|date=October 16, 1959|author=Eric Salzma |url-access=subscription}}</ref> the King in ''Aida'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/10/20/archives/three-new-singers-join-cast-of-aida.html|title= Three New Singers Join Cast of 'Aida'|work=The New York Times|date=October 20, 1961|page=38 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> the Messenger/the Shepherd in ''Oedipus rex'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1959/10/05/80554771.pdf|title=Four Take New 'Oedipus Rex' Roles, One in 'Burana'|author=Eric Salzma|date=October 5, 1959|work=The New York Times |page=26 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Schlémil / Wolfram/ Hermann in ''The Tales of Hoffmann'', and the title role in Gershwin's ''Porgy and Bess''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/06/archives/music-once-again-porgy-and-bess-city-opera-presents-work-by.html|title=Music: Once Again, 'Porgy and Bess'; City Opera Presents Work by Gershwin|author=Harold C. Schonberg|author-link=Harold C. Schonberg|work=The New York Times|date=March 6, 1965 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
In 1960 Frierson performed the role of Don Alfonso in ''Così fan tutte'' with the Chautauqua Opera; notably touring with that production to Bermuda.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/08/05/105451449.pdf|title=Opera in Bermuda|date=August 5, 1960|work=The New York Times |page=15 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1961 he portrayed Joe in the New York City Center revival of Jerome Kern's ''Show Boat'' opposite Jo Sullivan Loesser as Magnolia, Anita Darian as Julie, Robert Rounseville as Gaylord, and Carol Brice as Queenie.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1961/04/13/101456238.pdf|title=Kern's 'Show Boat' Score Retains Beauty in City Center Revival|date=April 13, 1961|work=The New York Times|page=32|author=Lewis Funke |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He notably sang the song Ol' Man River on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. In 1975 he appeared jointly with his wife, soprano Billie Lynn Daniel, in recital at Alice Tully Hall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/31/archives/luminous-st-john-passion-sung-by-collegiate-chorale.html|title=Luminous St. John Passion Sung by Collegiate Chorale|work=The New York Times|date=March 10, 1975 |page=40 |access-date=2022-12-24}}</ref> In 1980 he performed the role of Cal in the Houston Grand Opera production of ''Regina''.
Frierson and Daniel's daughter, actress Andrea Frierson, married actor Jesse D. Goins in 1977.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/11/06/167898362.html?pageNumber=78|title=Jesse Goins, Actor, Weds Andrea Frierson, Actress|date=November 6, 1977|page=78|work=The New York Times|access-date=2022-12-24}}</ref> Andrea later married actor David Toney.
Frierson died in Oberlin, Ohio, aged 94.<ref name=Pioneering/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Frierson, Andrew}} Category:1924 births Category:2018 deaths Category:American operatic baritones Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:Manhattan School of Music alumni Category:Oberlin Conservatory of Music faculty Category:Southern University faculty Category:People from Columbia, Tennessee Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male opera singers Category:African-American male opera singers