Laurence Tibbett

American baritone opera singer, recording artist, film actor and radio personality. Born November 16, 1896 in Bakersfield, California Died: July 15, 1960 (age 63) in New York City, New York. Tibbett grew up in Los Angeles and began singing in concerts in 1921, in 1923 making his debut with the Metropolitan Opera, and by 1925 he was the star baritone of that company. Tibbett's operatic recordings made in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s are regarded as among the better performances of this period. In 1936 with violinist Jascha Heifetz he founded the American Guild of Musical Artists, a union for solo performing artists. He made his film debut in 1930. In 1940 he had surgery which took its toll on his voice. He appeared infrequently thereafter, retiring from singing in 1949.