On January 27, 1961, Leontyne Price made her historic debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, performing the role of Leonora in Verdi’s Il Trovatore. Her performance received a 42-minute standing ovation, marking a breakthrough moment for African Americans in classical music and establishing her as one of the world’s leading opera singers.

On January 27, 1973, Joseph Lawson Howze was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Natchez-Jackson, Mississippi, becoming the first African American Catholic bishop in Mississippi. He would later become the first Black bishop to head a U.S. diocese when appointed Bishop of Biloxi in 1977.

On January 27, 1972, Mahalia Jackson, the “Queen of Gospel,” passed away in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Known for her powerful voice and deep spiritual conviction, Jackson was a central figure in the rise of gospel music and a passionate supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, often performing at rallies and events alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 27, 1953, Ralph Ellison’s groundbreaking novel Invisible Man won the National Book Award for Fiction. The novel, which explores themes of identity, race, and social invisibility in America, became a classic of 20th-century literature and marked a major achievement in African American literary history.

Will Marion Cook, a pioneering African American composer, violinist, and conductor, was born on January 27, 1869. Trained in classical music, Cook blended African American musical traditions with classical forms, influencing the development of Black musical theater and paving the way for future jazz composers. He mentored artists like Duke Ellington and helped elevate African American music on the national stage.