


"Grace Bumbry (born 4 January 1937), is an American opera singer of great renown, considered one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation, as well as a major soprano for many years. She was a member of an extraordinary and pioneering generation of singers who followed Marian Anderson (including Leontyne Price, Martina Arroyo, Shirley Verrett and Reri Grist) in the world of classical music and paved the way for future African-American opera and classical singers." read more here.
On December 6, 2009, she was among those honored with the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors, for her contribution to the performing arts.