From the Archives: Biographies:
Who was Harry Thacker Burleigh?

1.  A renowned musician, singer (baritone), arranger and composer, Harry Thacker Burleigh was born the grandson of a former slaver in Erie, Pa. in 1866 and lived at 137 East Third Street.

2.  He is the only Erieite whose name appears in the Encyclopedia Britannica.

3.  His mother was a college graduate, yet never permitted to teach in the Erie school system.

4.  He graduated from Erie High School and the National Conservatory of Music in New York City, New York.

5.  Burleigh was the protégé of Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, president of the National Conservatory, inspiring a movement within Dvorak’s New World Symphony.

6.  He was the baritone soloist for 53 years at St. George Episcopal Church in New York City, where he met J.P. Morgan.  The financier made a special request that Burleigh sing at his funeral.

7.  Burleigh sang for King Edward VII of England.

8.  He arranged more than 50 Negro spirituals and composed more than 200 songs of his own.  Some of his most famous spirituals include “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Go Down Moses,” and “De Gospel Train.”

9.  He set to music many of Walt Whitman’s poems.

10. Burleigh was the recipient of the prestigious Springarn Medal in 1917.

11.  He led a sit-in at a New York City restaurant to test a new law requiring equal service for blacks.