Harry T. Burleigh
- Born Henry Thacker Burleigh on December 2, 1866 in Erie Pennsylvania
- Discovered musical talent after learning to sing spirituals from his grandfather
- Continued musical career at National Conservatory of Music
- Met Czech composer Dvořák at National Conservatory of Music
- Working as a handyman in the conservatory burleigh would sing spirituals. Dvořák was the director of the conservatory and asked burleigh to sing for him, that created a relationship between them.
- Burleigh influenced Dvorak
- Burleigh performed Spirituals and contributed to making spirituals popular
- Burleigh performed art songs with flavor because of his background in spirituals
- Although burleigh was well known for his roots in spirituals his art songs were written first
- Burleigh focused mainly on solo voice; first african american to arrange spirituals for solo voice
- Burleigh was known for his baritone solo voice, and also established a platform for african american soloist on which to build their singing career
