(Encyclopedia) soprano [Ital.,=above], female voice of highest pitch. The three basic types of solo soprano are coloratura, lyric, and dramatic. The coloratura has a great range and impressive vocal…
(Encyclopedia) Walker, Albertina, 1929–2010, African-American gospel singer and composer, b. Chicago. A protégé of Mahalia Jackson, she sang with two gospel groups before founding (1951) the Caravans…
(Encyclopedia) Watson, Doc (Arthel Lane Watson), 1923–2012, American country-music singer and musician, b. Stony Fork, N.C. Blind from infancy, he learned to play the harmonica, banjo, and guitar in…
(Encyclopedia) Van Halen, Eddie (Edward Lodewijk Van Halen), 1955–2020, American rock musician and song writer, b. Amsterdam, Netherlands; his family moved to California when he was young. He and…
(Encyclopedia) banjo, stringed musical instrument, with a body resembling a tambourine. The banjo consists of a hoop over which a skin membrane is stretched; it has a long, often fretted neck and…
(Encyclopedia) Montt, PedroMontt, Pedropāˈᵺrō [key]Montt, Pedro mōnt [key], 1848–1910, president of Chile (1906–10). Son of Manuel Montt, he held with distinction several government posts. He was a…
(Encyclopedia) Farrar, Frederic William, 1831–1903, English clergyman and author, dean of Canterbury (1895–1903), b. Bombay (now Mumbai), India, educated in England. He was assistant master at Harrow…
(Encyclopedia) vaudevillevaudevillevôdˈvĭl [key], originally a light song, derived from the drinking and love songs formerly attributed to Olivier Basselin and called Vau, or Vaux, de Vire. Similar…
