Robert Merrill - Operatic Baritone Legend/Signed Photo

Description

Robert Merrill - Operatic Baritone Legend/Signed Photo
Robert Merrill (1917-2004) - American operatic baritone.
Born in New York, his mother was a concert singer, Lillian Miller Merrill, who gave him his first voice lessons. In his early radio appearances as a crooner he was sometimes billed as Merrill Miller. While singing at bar mitzvahs and weddings and Borscht Belt resorts, he met an agent, Moe Gale, who found him work at Radio City Music Hall and with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Arturo Toscanini. With Toscanini conducting, he eventually sang in two of the maestro's NBC broadcasts of famous operas, La traviata (with Licia Albanese, in 1946), and Un ballo in maschera (with Herva Nelli, in 1954). Both of those broadcasts were eventually released on both LP and CD. His ranking as an important NBC performer is evidenced by his inclusion in NBC's 1947 promotional book, NBC Parade of Stars: As Heard Over Your Favorite NBC Station, displaying Sam Berman's caricatures of leading NBC personalities.
Merrill's 1944 operatic debut was in Verdi's Aida at Newark, New Jersey, with the famous tenor Giovanni Martinelli, then in the later stages of his long operatic career. Merrill, who had continued his vocal studies under Samuel Margolis made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1945, as Germont in La traviata. Also in 1945, Robert Merrill recorded a 78rpm record set with Jeanette MacDonald featuring selections from the operetta Up In Central Park; MacDonald and Merrill did two duets together on this album.
In 1951, Merill did a series of duet recordings together with the Swedish tenor Jussi Björling, including the world-renowned recording of "Au fond du temple saint" from the opera Les pêcheurs de perles by Georges Bizet.
Again in 1952 Merill and Björling, as well as Victoria de los Ángeles made a widely admired recording of Puccini's La bohème, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. In 1953, Merrill, Björling, de los Angeles and Zinka Milanov recorded the complete Pagliacci and Cavalleria rusticana.
His role in the musical comedy film Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (1952) led to a conflict with Sir Rudolf Bing and a brief departure from the Met in 1951. Merrill sang many different baritone roles, becoming, after the untimely on-stage death of the celebrated Leonard Warren in 1960, the Met's principal baritone. In the late 1950s and early 1960s he appeared under the direction of Alfredo Antonini in performances of arias from the Italian operatic repertoire for the open air Italian Night concert series at Lewisohn Stadium in New York City.
Merrill also continued to perform on radio and television, in nightclubs and recitals. In 1973, Merrill teamed up with Richard Tucker to present a concert at Carnegie Hall—a first for the two "vocal supermen" (as one critic dubbed them), and a first "for the demanding New York public and critics" Merrill recalled. The event marked a precedent that would lead eventually to the "Three Tenors" concerts many years later. Merrill retired from the Met in 1976. For many years, he led services, often in Borscht Belt hotels, on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
In honor of Merrill's vast influence on American vocal music, on February 16, 1981 he was awarded the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Glee Club Award of Merit. Beginning in 1964, this award "established to bring a declaration of appreciation to an individual each year that has made a significant contribution to the world of music and helped to create a climate in which our talents may find valid expression."
In 1996, at a reception at Lincoln Center, Merrill was presented with The Lawrence Tibbett Award from the AGMA Relief Fund, honoring his fifty years of professional achievement and dedication to colleagues. (The AGMA Relief Fund, award sponsor, provides financial assistance and support services to classical performing artists in need.)
Relatively late in his singing career, Merrill also became known for singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Yankee Stadium. He first sang the national anthem to open the 1969 baseball season, and it became a tradition for the Yankees to bring him back each year on Opening Day and special occasions. He sang at various Old Timer's Days (wearing his own pinstriped Yankee uniform with the number "11⁄2" on the back) and the emotional pre-game ceremony for Thurman Munson at Yankee Stadium on August 3, 1979, the day after the catcher's death in a plane crash. He would also sing at one World Series game in each year the Yankees played the Fall Classic at the stadium, starting in 1976. A recorded Merrill version is sometimes used at Yankee Stadium today. He preferred a traditional approach to the song devoid of additional ornamentation, as he explained to Newsday in 2000, "When you sing the anthem, there's a legitimacy to it. I'm extremely bothered by these different interpretations of it." Merrill appeared as himself in a cameo role, singing the national anthem, in the 2003 film Anger Management. Merrill joked that an entire generation of people know him as "The 'Say-Can-You-See' guy!" (Agmazine, April 1996).
Merrill received the National Medal of Arts in 1993.
Robert Merrill died at home in New Rochelle, New York, while watching Game 1 of the 2004 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals.
This is from an extensive 50 year collection covering all categories, that was built from the 1940’s through the 1980’s.
5” x 7.2” black and white glossy photograph signed in fountain pen. Light horizontal crease from right edge to top of forehead, with minor creases at the top corners, otherwise very good.
Any autographs I sell, I guarantee to be authentic and to pass a PSA/DNA inspection. I have sold more than 10,000+ autographs and historical items on eBay with 100% positive feedback since 1999. I always leave feedback and appreciate it if you leave feedback for me. Feel free to ask any questions before bidding. FOLLOW ME(Save this Seller), I will be listing Fresh to the Market Historical Autographs, Ephemera, Political Campaign Items, Americana, Artwork, Movie Posters, Vintage Fishing and lots of other neat finds.
I will combine Domestic shipping when multiple items are on the same invoice, up to a 3 day period. I ship everything same day, or next day if I have already been to the Post Office. If for some reason your invoice doesn’t reflect the shipping price in the listing, ask me to “Send an Invoice”.
***If you would like insurance, ask before making payment and I will re-invoice you.
coverage .30; 0 @ .95; 0 @ .60; 0 @ .75; 0 @ .00; 0 @ .20.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING: International Buyers are responsible for paying import fees, usually as part of clearing their parcel through customs or when they receive their item. I am happy to ship items Internationally, but Please confirm shipping availability and cost. Canada: .25  All others: .25 or Ask for Quote, many countries are .75 less.
15496