When I was a little girl growing up in Laurel, Mississippi, my mother would tell me stories about Leontyne Price, the famous opera singer, born in Laurel, but then currently residing in the big city of New York. I was shown the house where Leontyne’s mother had been a housekeeper and was told how the people who lived in the large house recognized Leontyne’s exceptional musical abilities and talent. I was told that these people helped send Leontyne to exceptional music schools. I was in awe of her, the beautiful, talented young singer. I was proud to be from Laurel, Mississippi, the same town where Leontyne grew up too.
Flash forward to the mid 1980s when I took my young daughter to a book signing in Jackson when Leontyne’s book Aida was published. I stood in line with my little eight-year-old, and with my parents who were visiting from Laurel that weekend, and we all watched Leontyne from afar and thought about how she had her beginnings in our home town. It was a moment for reflection and pride once again. Even today, whenever I hear a recording of her voice from time to time, I remember my first impression of her. She is one of many reasons that I am proud to be a Mississippian.
Click here to see all of “Lemuria Reads Mississippians.”
Mississippians is available now. Purchase a copy online or call the bookstore 601/800.366.7619.
Neil White will be at Lemuria Friday, November 26th.
xxxx
-Nan
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