Dr. David J. Ragland, who teaches in the Learning, Culture and Society Program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will present his documentary Friday, April 26 about his uncle, the world-renowned opera singer Eugene B. Holmes. Ragland will present his work in progress, Deep River: A Journey to Holmes, from 5-6 p.m. at the Club EXO, 3146 Locust St. in St. Louis.
The event at Club EXO will feature operatic performances by Jermaine Smith, known for his role as ‘Sportin Life,’ from the Gershwin Opera in Porgy and Bess and recording artist Lydia Caesar, whose rhythm and blues music video, “St. Louis,” recently aired on B.E.T.’s 106 & Park.
Holmes, who lived from 1932-2007, was one of the most prominent African-American operatic baritones. He achieved some acclaim in the U.S. during the early 1960s when he appeared on the Charlie Mack Show and then on the Mike Douglas Show in 1971.
Holmes was one of the trailblazing African-American classical performers, having performed at the New York Metropolitan Opera and many other opera houses around the world. In his early years, Holmes attended Washington Technical High School, Harris Stowe College and Saint Louis University. Later, he served in the Navy aboard the U.S.S. Conflict. During his military service, Holmes sang with the Navy Blue Jackets and had the opportunity to perform at the White House before President Lyndon B. Johnson and the First Lady.
Holmes was first discovered by Dorothy Zeigler, former artistic director for the St. Louis Opera Guild. Zeigler introduced Holmes to the Russian born Boris Goldovsky, a well-known classical pianist and vocal trainer who ran a prestigious opera workshop in Wheeling, W. Va.
After the clinic, Holmes was offered a scholarship and attended the University of Indiana in Bloomington for classical voice training. Afterward, he began performing with the Metropolitan Opera National Touring Company.
In 1966, after a year on tour with the Metropolitan Opera National Company, Holmes made his debut in the New York Metropolitan Opera. Later, Holmes made history as the first African American man to sing in the Jackson Mississippi Opera, during the height of segregation.
At one point, the praise and critical acclaim for Holmes reached such a height that he was considered “The foremost Negro Baritone of our time.” Composer Gian Carlo Menotti created a role of Ukamba in his opera, The Most Important Man, written specifically for Holmes, which he performed in the 1971 premier at the New York City Opera.
In 1973, Holmes performed in the opera, Aida with famous tenor Placido Domingo. In total, Holmes played in an impressive repertoire of more than 75 different operas, including The Marriage of Figaro, La Traviata, Nabucco, The Mask, Bolero and Madame Butterfly.
Later, Holmes left the U.S. for a permanent contract with the Deutsche Opera am Rheine in Dusseldorf, Germany. He became well known in Germany for his singing and humanistic activities with UNICEF. Holmes died in 2007 with many friends, colleagues and admirers.
Now this intriguing story is finally being uncovered and documented for the American audience. Ragland, along with his cousin Wayne Adams, a New York City audio engineer, have traveled to Germany for filming. The pair has filmed many people, including Holmes’ widow, Katja Holmes, and Holmes’ colleagues at the Dusseldorf Opera.
For more information about the documentary, please visit www.deepriverfilm.org.