VCU professor co-writes book on American opera singer

By Malorie Burkett

A fascination with one of opera's first African American stars led to co-writing her autobiography. "I Never Walked Alone: The Autobiography of an American Opera Singer," by Shirley Verrett with Christopher Brooks, Ph.D., associate professor of music and African American studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, was recently published by Wiley & Sons.

One of the first African-American artists to achieve and sustain international stardom in the world of opera, Verrett overcame racial prejudice, the difficulties of show business in the opera and classical music world as well as the impact of her own complicated upbringing. Her career spanned most of the second half of the 20th century, and she won acclaim in an uncommonly wide range of roles at venues including New York's Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opera and Italy's La Scala.

Brook's interest in Verret's life began in 1974 when he was a freshman at the University of Maryland. He first heard Verrett perform at a recital at Coppin State University in Baltimore, and from that moment decided to follow Verrett's career, continuing to see her performances in the Washington, D.C. area.

A biographer, professor and alum of the University of Michigan, Brooks decided to approach Verrett, who was on the faculty at Michigan and asked her to tell her story.

Though he began to write before he and Verrrett had a literary agent and publisher, Brooks completed a first draft within seven months. The writing process took place over a series of travels, and if their work wasn't accomplished during their meetings, the two would communicate via phone or e-mail.

"In addition to her truthfulness about herself and career, Shirley Verrett has also been a conscious musician and woman," said Brooks. "She refused to sing in apartheid South Africa, she refused to sing in segregated theaters in this country and speaks willingly about the challenges that continue to face musicians because of their ethnicity."

On her part, Verrett says Brooks motivated her to think about how few books were written by African American singers, and that she realized it was necessary and important to give her own account as well.

"Writing this book with Christopher has made me think a little more about certain things that were possibly always inside me and hadn't come out before," said Verrett. "It's also given me a chance to set the record straight about what was happening behind the scenes, as well as onstage and in the recording studio, during my highs and lows over a long, international career."

The book tells the story of Verrett's childhood, struggles, personal relationships, international career, opera roles and performances and her musical collaborations. In addition, it gives an account of Verrett's rise to success at a time when black classical musicians faced many barriers. The book also features forewords by world-renowned opera tenors Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.

"There is something in this book for many people to identify with," said Brooks. "It is a very revealing story about a world-class musician and her experience."

A resident of Richmond, Brooks received his doctorate in anthropology/ethnomusicology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has published numerous works focusing on African and African-American issues and has recently done field research on women's rights organizations in Southern Africa.