Tenor, born in Gary, Indiana, USA. He started life as a steelworker, but his potential as a singer was spotted during service with the US Navy. He made his operatic debut as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème in 1952, but his 1959 performance as Verdi's Otello in Europe marked a turning point in his career. In 1963 he returned to America to become one of the Metropolitan Opera's leading tenors, and was internationally acclaimed in the 1960s, particularly for his Otello.
James McCracken (December 16, 1926 – April 29, 1988) was an American tenor.
He was born in Gary, Indiana and began singing in his church choir as a child.
He made his debut in 1952 with the Central City Opera in Colorado as Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bohème. He sang minor roles at the Metropolitan Opera from 1953 to 1957, while he was still a student.
Otello was one of his signature roles.
He was married to the soprano Sandra Warfield, with whom he performed Saint-Saëns' Samson and Delilah at the Met.
McCracken left a legacy of great recordings, such as Carmen, Fidelio, and Pagliacci, as well as Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder.
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