Leontyne Price is one of the greatest figures in American music. It would take several episodes to just to list the awards and accomplishments of this legendary lyric soprano, from the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 13 Grammy Awards. She certainly must be considered one of the most beloved opera singers of all time.
In the midst of the civil rights movement in 1970, Price toured the U.S. with the choir of the historically Black university, Rust College, singing spirituals and old gospel songs. The following year, RCA Records released a recording of the tour, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free. In an album full of hauntingly beautiful moments, one of the highlights is her rendition of Dr. Martin Luther King's favorite spiritual, "There is a Balm in Gilead."
MUSIC: Leontyne Price with Rust College Choir, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free LP, "There is a Balm in Gilead," Side 1, Track 5
I'm Robert Darden ... "Shout! Black Gospel Music Moments" is produced by KWBU, the Black Gospel Music Preservation Program at Baylor University Libraries and is funded by generous support from the Prichard Foundation.
