William Warfield Biography Favorites Color Green Time of Year Fall

Born in 1920 to a family of sharecroppers in West Helena, Arkansas, William Warfield first developed his extraordinary vocal skills by singing in the choir of his father's Baptist church. During his childhood, the Warfield family moved to Rochester, New York, where he took formal voice lessons. In 1938, during his high school senior year, Warfield won the District Award for the National Music Educators' League vocal competition, which included a scholarship to the music school of his choice. The following fall, Warfield began study at the Eastman School of Music, where he received his bachelor's degree in music studies in 1942.

After a period of service in the U.S. Army during World War II, Warfield returned to New York and earned a part in the Broadway show Call Me Mister. Following this performance, he received roles in two other productions, 1948's Set My People Free and 1950's Regina, both parables about American race relations. Also in 1950, Warfield played a role in the film adaptation of Showboat and made his New York Town Hall debut. This debut met with great public excitement and critical acclaim, thus launching his successful career.

In 1952 Warfield was chosen to star as Porgy in a revival of the legendary musical Porgy and Bess, opposite soprano Leontyne Price. The two stars performed the title roles throughout the United States and Europe. After returning to New York, Warfield and Price married. Together they performed several remarkable concerts, including a joint recital with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1956.

Throughout the remainder of the decade, Warfield toured with the U.S. State Department throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and the Near East. In the 1960s, he performed in a series of European performances, including venues in Greece, Switzerland, and Austria.

On March 24, 1975, the twenty-fifth anniversary of Warfield's Town Hall debut was commemorated by a recital at the Duke Ellington Center in New York's Carnegie Hall. This gala event was attended by thousands of his fans and admirers, including his mentor, Marian Anderson. Warfield died on August 25, 2002.

Warfield was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on December 14, 1999.