Early Life
Harry
Thacker Burleigh was born in Erie Pennsylvania. He was born on December 2,
1866. His grandfather had been a slave. He worked as a lamplighter in
Erie. He taught Harry many songs the slaves had sung.
Harry’s mother worked as a servant. She worked for Mrs.
Elizabeth Russell. Mrs. Russell often had concerts in her home. Harry
would go with his mother to her job. His mother would work in the kitchen.
Harry would stand in the hall and listen to the music. One night a special
musician was singing. Harry’s mother was not working that night. Harry
really wanted to hear the music. He stood outside the window in the snow.
The snow came up to his knees. He listened to the concert. Harry was very
sick after this. His mother talked to Mrs. Russell. Mrs. Russell gave
Harry a job. He was the doorkeeper. When there was a concert, he would
open the door to the guests. This way Harry could hear the music and still
stay warm.
Harry worked as a laborer in his teens. He worked to
make money for the family. He sang in choirs in Erie. He graduated from
High School in 1887. Harry worked as a stenographer during the day. At
night he worked on his music.
Musical Education
Harry wanted to study music. He heard that a music
school was offering scholarships. It was called the National Conservatory
of Music. It was in New York City. Harry went to New York to try for a
scholarship. He arrived in New York in 1892 with only $30.00. He was 26
years old. The judges liked his audition. Harry was given a scholarship.
Harry’s scholarship did not pay for his food. It did not
pay for a place to stay. It only paid for his schooling. Harry did any job
he could to make enough money to live. Sometimes he went hungry.
Henry studied music with great teachers. He met many
musicians. One great musician was composer Antonin Dvorak. Dvorak was from
Czechoslovakia. He worked as the director of the Conservatory of Music.
The two men became friends. Harry sang some of the songs his grandfather
had taught him. Dvorak thought they were beautiful.
Some African Americans were ashamed of the songs. Slaves
had made them up. They reminded them of the hard times of slavery. Dvorak
encouraged Harry to write the songs down. He said they were too beautiful
to be forgotten. They were part of America’s music. Everyone should hear
them.
St. George’s Church
In New York there were many large churches. One was St. George’s Episcopal
Church. The church needed a soloist. Many people wanted the job. Harry
Burleigh was hired. He was the best singer. He was the first African
American to sing in the church’s choir. He sang in that choir for 52
years. The money from this job was enough to pay his bills.
Working Life
Harry finished school in 1896. He taught at the conservatory from 1895 to
1898.
In 1898 Harry married Louise Alston. She was a poet. In
1889 they had a son. They named him Alston Burleigh.
1900 was a good year for Harry Burleigh. He was hired as
a music publisher. Some of his songs were published. He also got another
solo job. This time it was in Temple Emanuel. He was the first African
American to sing in this synagogue.
Harry Burleigh wrote over 200 songs. Some of them were
“Saracen Songs” and “Sweet Mother of Mine.” Harry didn’t forget the songs
his grandfather had taught him. He did not feel ashamed of them. He was
proud of them. They showed how strong the faith of the slaves had been.
These songs became known as spirituals. Harry wrote many of them down. He
wrote music to be played while they were sung. Now they could be sung in
concerts. Some of the songs that Harry arranged were: “Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot,” “Deep River,” and “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.”
Fame and Recognition
Harry Burleigh gave many concerts. He sang in Europe and America. He
performed for the King of England. He also sang for President Theodore
Roosevelt.
Harry was given several honors. Atlanta University and
Howard University honored him. They gave him honorary degrees. In 1917 the
NAACP gave him a medal. It was called the Spingarn Medal. This is given to
an African American who has achieved great things. St. George’s Church
also honored him for all of his singing. In 1944 they gave him a gift of
money. They also gave him a cane with bands of silver around it.
Harry Burleigh helped many young musicians. He
remembered how hard it could be. He helped Marian Anderson and Paul
Robeson as they studied music.
ASCAP
When musicians write music, it belongs to them. People should not perform
the music without paying. This is called a royalty payment. In 1914 a
group of musicians and composers got together. They formed a group called
the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Most people
called it ASCAP. This group made it easy for royalties to be paid. Harry
Burleigh helped to found the group. He belonged to it for many years. In
1941 he joined the board of directors.
Later Life
Harry Burleigh retired from singing in 1946. He was not very well. His son
Alston helped him to find a nursing home in Stamford, Connecticut. Harry
died there on September 12, 1949. He died of heart failure. He was 82
years old.
At Harry Burleigh’s funeral, many of his songs were
sung. Many musicians came to honor him. He was buried in
Hastings-on-the-Hudson, New York. Later, in the 1990’s, his family moved
his body. They had him buried in Erie, the city where he was born.
Researched and written by Melissa Yates |