You got a guy for tickets

Roland W. Hayes Tickets

Follow Roland W. Hayes tour dates and be first in line when new tickets drop - all backed by our 100% Buyer Guarantee.

100% Buyer Guarantee Secure checkout (312) 644-6446

On the schedule

Roland W. Hayes Tour Dates & Tickets

Loading current ticket availability

Inside the performance

Sound, stage & company

The live experience

What reaches the room

Roland W. Hayes stands as a landmark figure in classical music, breaking racial barriers and shaping the performance landscape for Black artists in the 20th century. From his early successes in the United States to his international engagements, Hayes helped bring classical vocal repertoire to a broader audience through bold artistry and persistent excellence. He’s remembered not only for his radiant tone and refined technique but also for his role in civil rights milestones and his lasting impact on musical institutions.

The live experience

What reaches the room

This page highlights Hayes’s biography, notable recordings, and the enduring legacies that continue to inspire performers and audiences today. While Hayes is no longer touring (he passed away in 1977), his influence lives on in concert halls, museums, and the ongoing celebration of diverse voices in classical music.

The live experience

What reaches the room

Explore the ongoing legacy surrounding Roland W. Hayes, including venues named in his honor and institutions that preserve his recordings and story. Whether you’re researching historical piano and vocal performance, civil rights era milestones, or the evolution of classical music accessibility, Hayes’s career offers rich context for understanding 20th-century American music history. For fans and researchers alike, his recordings—ranging from early Columbia sessions to later Vanguard and Amadeo releases—remain essential listening for insight into a groundbreaking artist.

The essentials

Quick Facts About Roland W. Hayes

  • Roland Hayes was one of the first African-American concert artists to achieve international prominence in classical music.
  • He recorded with Columbia in 1939–1940, helping bring classical vocal repertoire to a broader audience.
  • Hayes became the first African-American soloist to appear with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (early 1920s).
  • He received the NAACP Spingarn Medal in 1924 for his contributions to music and civil rights.
  • His discography includes Vanguard LPs from the 1950s–60s, Amadeo releases in the 1950s–60s, and later Smithsonian/Preiser reissues; Afro-American Folksongs appeared on Pelican in 1983.
  • Major legacies include the Roland Hayes Concert Hall at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s music center, and the Roland Hayes Museum in Calhoun, Georgia.

The records

Roland W. Hayes Discography

  • Afro-American Folksongs
    1983 · Pelican LP2028
  • The Life of Christ
    1976 · Vanguard Everyman SRV352SD
  • The Art of Roland Hayes: Six Centuries of Song
    1966 · Vanguard VRS448/9 (2 LP)
  • My Songs
    1956 · Vanguard VRS494
  • Negro Spirituals
    1955 · Amadeo
  • The Life of Christ
    1954 · Amadeo
  • The Life of Christ
    1954 · Vanguard VRS462
  • Roland Hayes Sings
    0 · Amadeo AVRS 6033 (Vanguard)
  • Christmas Carols of the Nations
    0 · Vanguard VRS7016
  • The Life of Christ
    1954 · Amadeo (duplicate listed in LPs)
  • The Life of Christ
    1954 · Vanguard VRS462

The hits

Top Roland W. Hayes Songs

  • Were You There? (Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord))
    1940 · N/A

Explore the ongoing legacy surrounding Roland W. Hayes, including venues named in his honor and institutions that preserve his recordings and story. Whether you’re researching historical piano and vocal performance, civil rights era milestones, or the evolution of classical music accessibility, Hayes’s career offers rich context for understanding 20th-century American music history. For fans and researchers alike, his recordings—ranging from early Columbia sessions to later Vanguard and Amadeo releases—remain essential listening for insight into a groundbreaking artist.

Pick your night

Browse Concert Tickets

100% GuaranteeSee refund conditions
Secure CheckoutEncrypted & protected
Invalid-Entry ProtectionVenue letter required
Since 199331+ years in Chicago