Considered one of the best classical singers of the 20th century, Portia White, who was born in Truro in 1911, would go on to be that and more to her home province of Nova Scotia.
Portia was a direct descendant of Black Loyalists. Her grandfather was born into slavery in Virginia. Her father, William White, was the second Black Canadian to be admitted to Acadia University. He later became a pastor after the First World War.
She grew up around music in her father’s church and eventually began singing in the choir. She attended Dalhousie University and taught for some time, but her singing talent was always very strong.
In the 1940s, her community helped her pursue music full time, and she was signed to Columbia Concerts, the largest artist agency in North America at the time. She went on to tour extensively around the world and faced significant discrimination because of her race.
Despite that, she was also widely celebrated and still is today. One of her last singing engagements was in the mid 1960s on Prince Edward Island, where she performed for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
No official studio recordings were made of her, which was common at the time, but she can be heard on these concert recordings. Check them out.
There is so much more fascinating information about Portia White. You can find more.
