Voting Station

Marian Anderson

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (February 17, 1898-April 8, 1993)
    Sung at the Lincoln Memorial (1939)
    First African American to perform at the New York Metropolitan (1955)
    Sang the role of Ulrica in Verdi's 'Un Ballo in Maschera'
    Sung at Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy's inaugurations
    Presidential Medal of Freedom (1963)

Why she might be annoying:

    She claimed a birthday of February 17, 1902, but when she died, her birth certificate became public, it stated February 27, 1897.
    She had a lot of trouble pronouncing foreign languages of operas.

Why she might not be annoying:

    She is the first African-American singer to sing at New York Metropolitan Opera (January 7, 1955).
    The New York Metropolitan's General Manager decided to give Anderson the honor, over several other African Americans because he felt she had continuously and quietly broken racial barriers.
    Leontyne Price, Jessye Norman, Shirley Verrett and Kathleen Battle list her as their inspiration to seek professional vocal careers.
    She was rejected from music school simply because of her race, however she did find a teacher who gave her lessons for free.
    The great conductor, Arturo Toscanini, remarked to her 'Yours is a voice one hears once in a hundred years.'
    She sparked a turning point in racism when the Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow her to perform at Constitution Hall (1939).
    Protests led by first lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, offered her the Lincoln Memorial steps for a concert.
    75,000 attended with millions listening on radio (April 9, 1939).
    She was a non hostile person, despite the racism she received.

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 127 Votes: 49.61% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 155 Votes: 52.90% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 33 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 51 Votes: 50.98% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 12 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 143 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 97 Votes: 57.73% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 35 Votes: 62.86% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 52 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 30 Votes: 63.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 115 Votes: 44.35% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 92 Votes: 42.39% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 53 Votes: 33.96% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 179 Votes: 43.02% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 183 Votes: 43.72% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 299 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 276 Votes: 42.03% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 598 Votes: 44.48% Annoying
    In 2002, Out of 1719 Votes: 47.53% Annoying
    In 2001, Out of 5176 Votes: 40.96% Annoying