Tenor Jerry Hadley, born on June 16, 1952, is one of the most renowned American tenors of all time, showcasing versatility in opera, operetta, and even Broadway.

He was born in Illinois and initiated his career studying conducting. Eventually, he shifted to becoming a singer and earned a number of leading roles in his graduate years at the University of Illinois.

From there he spent time working in regional opera houses in the US before earning a New York City Opera contract. His career with the company was launched in 1979 after he debuted as Arturo in “Lucia di Lammermoor.” In 1982, he appeared at the Vienna State Opera followed by an international career with such companies as the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera House, he Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the San Diego Opera, among many others. He appeared in a number of world premieres, including “The Great Gatsby,” “The Conquistador,” and even Sir Paul McCartney’s “Liverpool Oratorio.”

He stepped away from the stage between 2002 and 2007 after his divorce, citing that he struggled to cope with his new situation and that it caused vocal distress. “A wounded bird cannot sing. It was tough. It was emotionally distressing and it goes straight to the throat. So I took some time off and sat in the quiet for a while. I never really understood how inseparable was the journey of the spirit and the journey of singing and making music. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t see a way forward. But I came out on the other side of it with a deeper appreciation of what a great gift and great opportunities God has given me,” he stated in an interview.

In 2007, he reportedly shot himself in the head with an air rifle and received a catastrophic brain injury that eventually led to his demise on July 18, 2007.

Signature Role

The tenor sang a wide range of lyric roles and was Bernstein’s choice for his 1989 recording of “Candide.”

But the role he dominated most was Tom Rakewell in Stravinsky’s “The Rake’s Progress,” which he first started performing from his time as a graduate student at the University of Illinois.

“On Tuesday night, Mr. Hadley, as Tom, the eager innocent turned world-weary traveler, used his light tenor to encompass styles ranging from musical comedy to bel canto,” New York Times critic Edward Rothstein wrote of Hadley’s interpretation in Salzburg.

Watch and Listen

Here is Hadley in his signature role in “The Rake’s Progress.”

And here he is discussing vocal technique.