Florence Cole-Talbert was an African American soprano singer.  Cole-Talbert was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 17, 1890 as one of two daughters to parents Thomas A. Cole and Sadie (Chandler) Cole.  She was born into a family of musicians and began to learn and practice music at a young age.  When she was ten years old the Cole family moved to Los Angeles, California.  She was influenced to become a singer after attending a performance of Aïda at the age of fifteen. Cole-Talbert attended Los Angeles High School where she participated in music programs, and after high school she attended the College of Music at the University of Southern California to specialize in oratorio.  During her senior year Cole-Talbert left college to tour with Hann’s Jubilee Singers run by W.A. Hann, and about the same time she married musician Wendell “Wen” P. Talbert, a marriage that was short-lived.  In 1915 the Talberts separated but for professional purposes Florence kept his name. By 1916 Cole-Talbert began to make solo appearances after she graduated with honors from Chicago Musical College.  Over the following months she made concert appearances in Chicago, Detroit, and Los Angeles.  In April 1918 she made her New … Continue reading Florence Cole-Talbert (1890-1961)