I remembered Mr. Brown from the summer of ‘84 at the Brevard Music Festival in Brevard, North Carolina; he sang the role of Faust, I was a high school scholarship participant. This interview happened just moments after Mr. Brown had participated in a recital of music by T.J. Anderson on March 9, 1997 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The recital was one of the many performances taking place during the Symposium for the National Black Music Caucus of the Music Educators National Conference. Our meeting was rather impromptu. Although he had come to Symposium to rekindle relationships with old friends and composers, he deemed it necessary to speak to me immediately.
I remembered Vinson Cole from an article I read in Opera News in December of 1989 entitled ’Accentuate the Positive’. The article mentioned that he was performing regularly with Seattle Opera so I decided to try to find him through the Internet Directory in Seattle, Washington. I have to admit that I was surprised to find his address, phone number and e-mail address. I was surprised yet again when Mr. Cole phoned me from Leipzig, after having received an e-mail and a phone message from me. The phone interview lasted approximately forty-five minutes.
This interview took place on March 8, 1997 in Savannah, Georgia, at the Mulberry Inn. We met at 10am for brunch. He presented himself as a dignified yet warm individual, with a wonderful sense of humor. Though brunch lasted only half an hour, the interview lasted two hours; beginning with casual conversation and then moving on to prepared questions.
Talents come in different shapes and colors: You can overcome adversity with extra effort.
