Between the Covers

Softcover. Original set of two 12" 78 rpm red vinyl records. One record features Mattiwilda Dobbs singing soprano, accompanied by Robert Williams singing tenor on one side ("New Born"), and the other record features Mae Belle Finch singing soprano. Both records credit Kemper Harreld as director. The Dobb's record has one faint scratch on the "New Born" side, the Finch record has a few faint scratches to both sides, overall near fine, in good original unprinted paper sleeves with a small dampstain to one, creasing, and edgewear including chips and tears to both. The runout etches suggest that these records could have originally been issued as a set. According to Spelman College, these recordings (at least the Dobbs recordings) were from a performance in January of either 1946 or '47 when the chorus was invited to play on the CBS radio program, *Wings Over Jordan*.

Mattiwilda Dobbs, the daughter of Atlanta civic and political leader John Wesley Dobbs, graduated from Spelman College in 1946 with a degree in Spanish and music. She went on to have a highly successful career in music and was a pioneer for Black performers, becoming the first Black singer to perform at La Scala in Italy, and the first Black woman to land a long-term contract and sing a lead role with the Metropolitan Opera, as well as the first Black singer to play a lead role at the San Francisco Opera. Her *New York Times* obituary states that her voice was "praised by critics for its crystalline purity and supple agility, and for her impeccable intonation, sensitive musicianship and captivating stage presence." It goes on to say that Dobbs "made relatively few recordings."

Also featured is Mae Belle Finch. Although she never went on to make the name for herself that Dobbs did, she sings here with great passion and gives a haunting performance of "I Wonder as I Wander." The director of these performances, Kemper Harreld was a successful African-American concert violinist who founded both the Morehouse College and Spelman College Glee Clubs.

Unrecorded by both *OCLC* and Discogs, and equally unknown in the trade. A rare set of records showcasing two very early performances by Mattiwilda Dobbs.

Item #581774