Billie Lynn Daniel facts for kids

Billie Lynn Daniel (born in 1932, died in 2002) was an amazing American opera singer and composer. She had a beautiful high voice, known as a soprano. Billie Lynn won many important singing contests. She was especially famous for playing the character Clara in the opera Porgy and Bess. She also loved performing and promoting American songs. She was the first person to perform new music by famous composers like Richard Hundley, William Flanagan, and Claude Debussy.

Her Life and Career

Billie Lynn Daniel was born in New York City on May 21, 1932. She grew up there. She started her career on Broadway, which is famous for its plays and musicals. She appeared in a show called Four Saints in Three Acts. She even performed alongside another famous singer, Leontyne Price.

Early Performances

Billie Lynn had her first solo concert at Carnegie Hall in 1959. Carnegie Hall is a very famous concert venue in New York City. The New York Times, a big newspaper, said she was a singer who had "something to say" with her voice. She performed at Carnegie Hall again in 1970.

She studied music at the Juilliard School, a top music school. In 1961, she won two big awards. These were the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the Town Hall Recital Award. These awards showed she was a very talented singer.

Famous Roles and New Music

In 1961, Billie Lynn played Clara in a new production of George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. This show was at the New York City Center. She performed with other great singers like William Warfield.

She also helped new music come to life. In 1962, she gave the first-ever performances of two songs. These were Les Papillons by Claude Debussy and Moss by William Flanagan. She performed them at Town Hall in New York City. In 1963, she won another important prize, the Marian Anderson Award.

Later Work and Family

In 1972, a composer named Richard Hundley wrote a group of songs just for Billie Lynn. It was called Birds, U.S.A.. In 1975, she performed a concert with her husband, Andrew Frierson. He was also a singer. They performed together at Alice Tully Hall.

In 1981, she sang the role of Clara again in a concert version of Porgy and Bess. She performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic orchestra. She also wrote music for a play called Black Girl in 1993. This music was for the Red Silk Dancers.

Billie Lynn Daniel passed away in 2002. Her daughter, Andrea Frierson, became an actress.