The world recognized her as having possessed one of the greatest singing voices of her era. An Opera News reviewer for the Washington Post wrote: “The compass and quality of her registers surpass the usual limitations and seem to combine the height and depth of both soprano and contralto.” A distinguished African American soprano during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sissieretta Jones (1869–1933) enjoyed a successful career as a concert and variety performer.
Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Jones, whose nickname “the Black Patti” likened her to the well-known Spanish-born opera star Adelina Patti, sang classical opera and performed in musical comedies. She was the first African American to perform at Carnegie Hall and sing before four US presidents. Her successes, however, were not without roadblocks.
Opportunities for Blacks in the classical world during Jones’ era were virtually nonexistent. Talent, vocal ability and professional standing didn’t matter. There were a few, however, who despite the obstacles, succeeded. Jones was among them.
Both white music critics and audiences were accustomed to Blacks on stage performing in negative and stereotypical roles. A serious performer on the classical music stage was unheard of. Jones, therefore, shaped her musical career within the limited professional options available to Blacks. Many performers did the same to avoid bias while building a career.
Jones would eventually settle for headlining the Black Patti Troubadours, which in essence was a minstrel show. Even so, touring for Black performers was an extremely difficult life during that time.
About the troupe’s travels, New York Times journalist Michael Cooper wrote: “Segregated hotels turned her away, and not only in the South… when Jones’s young company tried to tour Hartford, [Conn.] every hotel refused them … She eventually got a private railcar to live in while on the road.”
Author Rosalyn M. Story wrote that Jones “struggled as an artist, fighting daily for dignity and artistic survival in a world that viewed her as, at best, a freakish imitation of a white ideal.… [Adelina] Patti was the idol of millions, demanded at least $4,000 nightly, and retired to her opulent Welsh castle…. Jones rarely earned more than $300 for one appearance and retired, largely forgotten, to a life of poverty.”
Eventually, Jones was able to overcome the obstacles of racial bias in the music world and build a successful 28-year career. She then performed in hundreds of opera houses and theaters throughout North America and Europe.
Shortly after the Black Patti Troubadours dissolved (1915) Jones retired to Providence, Rhoda Island. to care for her aging mother. In succeeding years, she sold her valuables to support herself and taught music to local students. On her death, she was buried in an unmarked grave paid for by a local businessman.
Of Jones’ life, biographer Maureen Lee wrote that Jones “taught white Americans that black people could sing classical music and popular standards and sound as elegant and breathtaking as white vocalists, and she showed them that African Americans could achieve fame and prosperity.”
Tamara Shiloh
Tamara Shiloh has published the first two books in her historical fiction chapter book series,
Just Imagine…What If There Were No Black People in the World is about African American inventors, scientists and other notable Black people in history. The two books are
Jaxon’s Magical Adventure with Black Inventors and Scientists and
Jaxon and Kevin’s Black History Trip Downtown. Tamara Shiloh has also written a book a picture book for Scholastic,
Cameron Teaches Black History, that will be available in June, 2022.
Tamara Shiloh’s other writing experiences include: writing the Black History column for the Post Newspaper in the Bay area, Creator and Instruction of the black History Class for Educators a professional development class for teachers and her non-profit offers a free Black History literacy/STEM/Podcast class for kids 3d – 8th grade which also includes the Let’s Go Learn Reading and Essence and tutorial program. She is also the owner of the Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts, in Richmond, California,
Previously in her early life she was the /Editor-in-Chief of
Desert Diamonds Magazine, highlighting the accomplishments of minority women in Nevada; assisting with the creation, design and writing of a Los Angeles-based, herbal magazine entitled
Herbal Essence; editorial contribution to
Homes of Color; Editor-in-Chief of
Black Insight Magazine, the first digital, interactive magazine for African Americans; profile creations for sports figures on the now defunct PublicFigure.com; newsletters for various businesses and organizations; and her own Las Vegas community newsletter,
Tween Time News, a monthly publication highlighting music entertainment in the various venues of Las Vegas.
She is a member of:
- Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
- Richmond Chamber of Commerce
- Point Richmond Business Association
- National Association of Professional Women (NAPW)
- Independent Book Publishers Association (IPBA)
- California Writers Club-Berkeley & Marin
- Richmond CA Kiwanis
- Richmond CA Rotary
- Bay Area Girls Club
Tamara Shiloh, a native of Northern California, has two adult children, one grandson and four great-grand sons. She resides in Point Richmond, CA with her husband, Ernest.
www.multiculturalbookstore.com
