Born Lawrence Lafayette Whisonant in South Carolina, he performed as Lawrence Winters through much of his career. A bass-baritone, he attended Howard University where he studied with Todd Duncan, graduating in 1944. He sang with the Eva Jessye Choir, appearing on Broadway, and sang lead in a concert performance of Clarence Cameron White’s Ouanga in South Bend, Indiana. From that point he enjoyed an active international career. He was one of the group of performers (with Robert McFerrin, Jr., Camilla Williams, Carol Brice and Mattawilda Dobbs) who became the first to sing with white opera companies in the United States, debuting with the New York City Opera. He was cast in the 195 production of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors and recorded opposite Camilla Williams in a recording of Porgy and Bess (1951). He performed more than a dozen roles with the New York City Opera until he moved to Europe in 1955. There he became principal baritone first at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and then at the Hamburg State Opera. He returned to the United States several times, singing with the New York Philharmonic in 1957 and earning a Tony nomination in 1960. He lived in Hamburg until his death at the age of 50.

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For further information on this artist:

• Nettles, Darryl Glenn (2003). African American Concert Singers Before 1950. McFarland & Co., pp. 164-169.

• Bach Cantata Website, “Lawrence Winters.” Source: Operissimo Website, translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2010). https://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Winters-Lawrence.htm. Accessed May 20, 2024.

• Mary Latham: “Classically Trained: Lawrence Winters.” Of Note: The Bog of WDAV Classical Public Radio, June 15, 2020. https://blogs.wdav.org/2020/06/classically-trained-lawrence-winters/. Accessed May 20, 2024.

• Discogs. “Lawrence Winters.” https://www.discogs.com/artist/1133130-Lawrence-Winters. Accessed May 20, 2024.

• Robert Fikes, contributor: “Lawrence Winters.” Black Past: August 2, 2016. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/winters-lawrence-1915-1965/. Accessed May 20, 2024.

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Recordings:

• Drei Münzen im Brunnen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VExE1UFcB7Q. Accessed May 20, 2024.

• Opera Sampler. Underrated Baritone: Lawrence Winters. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDWRXYOeZpI. Accessed May 20, 2024.

• Lawrence Winters sings Amonasro. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdWzClaUy6Q. Accessed May 20, 2024.

• I. couldn’t hear nobody pray. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWsRSCv2j0E&list=RDEMXdhs_oX6-rmy4Fe5_S8cVw&start_radio=1. Accessed May 20, 2024.