Jessye Norman was one of the reigning divas of opera. The Augusta, Ga. native was born September 15, 1945, and was a champion of diversity in her field and in the arts as well.Jessye Mae Norman was raised in a musical household and sang in her gospel choir as a child. In high school, she entered the Marian Anderson vocal competition in Philadelphia. While Norman didn’t win, her performance led to a full scholarship to Howard University where she studied voice.
