DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987 | ""Simon Estes--Someone A Youth Can Look Up To""

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Cecile Cooper newspaper clippings, 1966-1987

""Simon Estes--Someone A Youth Can Look Up To""

Singer Estes -- Someone A Youth Can Look Up To

By Dick Doak

Des Moines singer Simon Estes says one of the things Negro kids need these days is someone to look up to in whatever field they're interested in.
And if any Iowa youngsters are interested in serious singing, Estes has gone a long way toward providing an image.
At 29, he's handsome, single and leads a pretty swinging life. He has performed in European capitals with several major American orchestras.
And he is only at the beginning of his career.
[[bold]]Brief Visit[[end bold]]
Estes was in Des Moines Wednesday for a brief visit with his family. Later this week he will go to the University of Illinois for a performance, then fly to London for a televised appearance.
Estes spent his early years in Centerville. He first gained international attention when in 1966 he placed third and won high praise in the Tschaikovsky international vocal contest at Moscow.
[[bold]]Estes said his main ambitions now lie in the prestigious world of opera, where he has a chance to become one of the first Negro stars.[[end bold]]
"I want to be the best example I can be," said Estes. "I want to do the best I can as an artist and also contribute what I can to eliminating barriers.
"Children need someone to identify with, whether it's Simon Estes or somebody else. These things are vitally important."
Estes said he has no difficulty being booked for concerts, but some opera groups are reluctant to engage Negro performers.

[[bold]]Opera in Europe[[end bold]]
He said as a result most of his opera roles have been sung in Europe rather than the United States. He said the director of the Dallas, Tex., opera company once wanted him to perform, but he was turned down by the board of directors.
[[bold]]Estes has given several performances in the South and can chuckle, without apparent bitterness, about incidents there.[[end bold]]
He speaks quietly but expressively an does a good southern accent of the woman who confronted him last year in the elevator of a Baton Rouge, La., hotel where he was the only Negro guest:
"Thea's some jewelry missin' in this hotel. Did you take it -- boy?"
Estes said he was dressed formal concert attire at thetime and answered: "Lady, do I look like a thief?"
[[bold]]At Negro Colleges[[end bold]]
Estes said he has performed at three Negro colleges in the South.
Estes' serious study of music began in 1963 at the University of Iowa under Charles Kellis. He later won a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

[[photo caption]]
Simon Estes
[[italics]]A Swinging Life[[end italics]]

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Singer Estes -- Someone A Youth Can Look Up To By Dick Doak Des Moines singer Simon Estes says one of the things Negro kids need these days is someone to look up to in whatever field they're interested in. And if any Iowa youngsters are interested in serious singing, Estes has gone a long way toward providing an image. At 29, he's handsome, single and leads a pretty swinging life. He has performed in European capitals with several major American orchestras. And he is only at the beginning of his career. [[bold]]Brief Visit[[end bold]] Estes was in Des Moines Wednesday for a brief visit with his family. Later this week he will go to the University of Illinois for a performance, then fly to London for a televised appearance. Estes spent his early years in Centerville. He first gained international attention when in 1966 he placed third and won high praise in the Tschaikovsky international vocal contest at Moscow. [[bold]]Estes said his main ambitions now lie in the prestigious world of opera, where he has a chance to become one of the first Negro stars.[[end bold]] "I want to be the best example I can be," said Estes. "I want to do the best I can as an artist and also contribute what I can to eliminating barriers. "Children need someone to identify with, whether it's Simon Estes or somebody else. These things are vitally important." Estes said he has no difficulty being booked for concerts, but some opera groups are reluctant to engage Negro performers. [[bold]]Opera in Europe[[end bold]] He said as a result most of his opera roles have been sung in Europe rather than the United States. He said the director of the Dallas, Tex., opera company once wanted him to perform, but he was turned down by the board of directors. [[bold]]Estes has given several performances in the South and can chuckle, without apparent bitterness, about incidents there.[[end bold]] He speaks quietly but expressively an does a good southern accent of the woman who confronted him last year in the elevator of a Baton Rouge, La., hotel where he was the only Negro guest: "Thea's some jewelry missin' in this hotel. Did you take it -- boy?" Estes said he was dressed formal concert attire at thetime and answered: "Lady, do I look like a thief?" [[bold]]At Negro Colleges[[end bold]] Estes said he has performed at three Negro colleges in the South. Estes' serious study of music began in 1963 at the University of Iowa under Charles Kellis. He later won a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music in New York. [[photo caption]] Simon Estes [[italics]]A Swinging Life[[end italics]]