Mack Harrell

Mack Harrell (b. October 8, 1909, Celeste, Texas– d. January 29, 1960, Dallas, Texas) [cite book | last = Slonimsky | first = Nicolas | authorlink = | coauthors = Theodore Baker | title = Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians | publisher = Schirmer Books | date = 1992 | location = New York, New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-02-872415-1 ] was an American baritone and was regarded as one of the greatest concert baritones of his generation.

He was born in Celeste, Texas, to M. K. Harrell and Mollie Kelly Harrell, but was raised and educated in Greenville, Texas. He studied violin from the age of ten and continued for twelve years. Harrell studied the violin at Oklahoma City University. Later, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music and studied under Emanuel Zetlin. It was at the Curtis Institute that the quality of his baritone voice was discovered. It is said that Harrell believed that his experience of musical studies as a violinist first made him a better singer than he might have been otherwise. From 1945 to 1956 Mack Harrell taught voice at The Juilliard School.

He met his wife, Marjorie Fulton, while they were both students at the Curtis Institute and later attended The Juilliard School together.

Among his major roles in opera were Papageno, Kothner, Amfortas, Jochanaan, and Wozzeck. He created the role of Nick Shadow in "The Rake’s Progress", in its US premiere at the Metropolitan Opera, in February 1953. In 1955, he was in the first performance of "Susannah", in Florida, opposite Phyllis Curtin.

In 1939, Harrell's book, "The Sacred Hour of Song: A Collection of Sacred Solos Suitable for Christian Science Services", was published by C. Fischer. [cite book | last = Slonimsky | first = Nicolas | authorlink = | coauthors = Theodore Baker | title = Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians | publisher = Schirmer Books | date = 1992 | location = New York, New York | pages = | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0-02-872415-1 ]

Harrell died in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 50.

His son is the celebrated cellist Lynn Harrell. [ [http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Harrell-Mack.htm Mack Harrell (Baritone)] ]

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