Jessye Norman was a force in the world of opera. My knowledge of her is limited and came from watching a PBS special about the history of the song, Amazing Grace. She helped tell the story of John Newton, an English slave trader who sought redemption by, in part, authoring what may be Christianity’s most popular and well-known hymn. During the program, Norman and others performed various renditions of the song.

I later watched a PBS recital of operatic music performed by Norman and was enthralled.

Jessye Mae Norman died in September of 2019 at the age of 74.