- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Walter Cassel
- Walter Cassel (not to be confused with actor Wally Cassell), is best remembered as a leading baritone with the Metropolitan Opera (275 performances), and the New York City Opera Company (126 performances). His singular noteworthy film appearance is in Romance Road (1938), (filmed in 1937), a two-reel Warner Bros. Technicolor musical short, which is occasionally shown on Turner Classic Movies.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jack Tillmany - Baritone Walter Cassel played trumpet in high school and sang in the chorus, but did not seriously consider music as a career upon graduation. His uncle - an important figure to him since his father died when he was little - was a dentist and the impetus for starting college in pre-dentistry at Creighton University.
However, when baritone Lawrence Tibbett visited the area and heard Cassel sing, he encouraged the younger man to become a professional singer. This meant leaving college and the thought of dentistry, and leaving Iowa for New York, which was accomplished by hopping a freight train full of cattle.
Upon his arrival in New York City, Cassel began studies with Frank LaForge and within about two weeks successfully landed a job singing on the radio. His career was long and varied: major roles at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, and other major companies, plus concert tours, musical theater troupes, and a quick foray in Hollywood for Romance Road (1938).
Among the operatic roles for which he might be most remembered are the villain Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca and his creation of the role of Horace Tabor in Douglas Moore's The Ballad of Baby Doe. He is also remembered for his Mozart and Wagnerian roles, and performing as Edvard Grieg in The Song of Norway.
In 1974, he moved to Bloomington, IN to teach at the acclaimed Indiana University School of Music and inspire a new generation of musicians.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tamara Fudge
- SpousesGail Manners(1954 - 2000) (his death)Nadine Blackburn (divorced, 4 children)
- Stayed fit by swimming in his backyard pool in Bloomington, IN.
- Second wife Gail Manners (born Renee DeJarnette) was a USO dancer and singer, and performed as an operatic soprano alongside her husband in many shows. She passed away in 2007.
- Greatly enjoyed driving his vintage Cadillac.
- At one point, he wanted to be a singing cowboy in the movies, but unfortunately there were plenty of others who were already established in that role when he arrived in Hollywood.
- Loved pumpkin pie, especially the Libby's recipe as baked and sold in New York City automats.
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