Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949)

Harry T. Burleigh's fame came as a church singer in New York City -- but that recognition came after he had already established himself as a top musician in Erie.
Burleigh is best known for his position as a longtime soloist at St. George's Episcopal Church in New York and for his arrangements of spirituals, which helped to popularize the genre.
But before those later-life achievements, he made a name for himself in Erie by performing all over the city and was often cited in newspapers as a top singer, said Jean Snyder, who has organized Burleigh events at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and is working to republish some of Burleigh's art songs and choral works.
His music career "didn't start when he went to New York," she said.
Unlike many black Americans who wanted to ignore reminders of slavery, Burleigh valued spirituals, which originated as slave songs. He thought they could help the rest of the country respect black music and culture, Snyder said, noting that Burleigh became known as a talented musician even in an era of widespread discrimination.
"Burleigh's life went from success to success at the same time people were being lynched and Jim Crow (segregation) was moving farther north," she said.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Erie
• Hall
• of
• Fame

[lilJudahboi]

This is wonderful!! thanks for the post!!

[mrskitty72]

This is amazing! Thank you

[figaro0127]

Thank you Dvorak

[ticklemepinky]

I am writing a paper on the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and in 1896, the composer Harry T. Burleigh was one of the performers at CCarnegie Hall. Wanting to know more I came upon your site. Thanks you for keeping our history alive and new for this and the next generation to come.

Again thank you from the Bronx Rev. Regina

[jlw509]

This video was made by Charles C. Kennedy, Jr.: the images, the narration, and the resonant, baritone voice.

Thank you, Charlie. Beautiful work

[972trev]

aahh! him and his brother were pretty babies. Why do this have to sound sooooo boring, they need Dj fat man scoop to tell history.

[skozmusic]

Beautiful! Lovely work Mr. Kennedy Jr !!

[flacaximenez]

Fantastic film! All respect to Harry Burleigh for his works!

[Jualmir]

Wow ! Great Work!! Greeting From Brazil