Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield Debuts as 'The Black Swan'

Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, born enslaved in Mississippi and raised free in Philadelphia by Quaker guardians, debuted in Buffalo in 1851. Her extraordinary soprano voice — a reported range of 27 notes — earned her the title 'The Black Swan.' She toured the US to mixed Black and white audiences in 1851-52, then performed in Britain in 1853, including a command performance for Queen Victoria. She was the first Black American concert artist to achieve international recognition.