Lawrence Tibbett

Baritone, born in Bakersfield, California, USA. After experience as an actor and in light opera, he studied voice in New York and made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1923, going on to be a favourite there until his retirement in 1950. He was admired both for his roles in Italian classics and in new operas, and also appeared in films and recitals, and on radio.

Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (November 16, 1896 - July 15, 1960) is acknowledged as the greatest American male singer of opera in his day. Born in Bakersfield, California, Lawrence Tibbett became a singer at the Metropolitan Opera in 1923.

His Hollywood career was brief, although he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his first film, The Rogue Song, in 1930. He became the leading baritone of his era at the Metropolitan Opera, specializing in Verdi roles. He created leading roles in a number of American operas, including Louis Gruenberg's The Emperor Jones, based on Eugene O'Neill's play, and Howard Hanson's Merry Mount.

He had a radio program on which he sang formal music;

Tibbett was pictured on a set of United States postage stamps in the "Legends of American Music series", celebrating opera singers.

Lawrence Tibbett died in 1960 in New York City as the result of a fall in his apartment.