Richard Tucker was born August 28, 1913 in Brooklyn, New York. His music aptitude was readily apparent to his parents and by age six he was working at his first job as a boy alto at the Lower East Side Manhattan Synagogue. Soon he was performing at weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. He left high school to work making silk linings for fur coats, but during this time started taking vocal lessons with Paul Althouse. This led to a professional career as a Cantor at the Brooklyn Jewish Center. In 1941 Mr. Tucker was a participant in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the Air, but he did not win. However in 1944 Metropolitan Opera general manager Edward Johnson was pursuaded by Paul Althouse to attend a service at Brooklyn Jewish Center. On the spot Mr. Johnson offered Richard Tucker a contract commenting, "If you can hold an audience of 2000 in a synagogue you can hold an audience of 3600 in an opera house." His debute was on January 25, 1945 as Enzo in La Gioconda. Tremendous ovations followed Cielo e Mar and his final curtain calls. As his career progressed his natural but unpolished abilities as an actor and his propensitiy for pranks became apparent. He never gave an unenthusiastic performance and would get his fellow singers to smile often. Once in the third act of La Forza del Destino he put a nude photo in the small casket to be found by his good friend Robert Merrill when he opened the casket. Mr. Tucker remained a very religious man and would not wear crosses during any of his performances. During the Viet Nam War he led a Passover Seder for Jewish memebers of the American troops. Among his many honors are honorary degrees from Notre Dame and St. John's Colleges. He performed in Franck's Panis Angelicus at Robert Kennedy's Funeral. Lastly he was given a 25th anniversary concert at the Metropolitan Opera House. On January 8, 1975 Richard Tucker died of a heart attack while preparing for a concert performance with Robert Merrill in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His wife, Sara, and his three sons have dedicated the Richard Tucker Award and Gala to his memory. Mr Tucker is the only person to have his funeral on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House
Mr. Tucker performed 30 roles during his career; I was fortune enough to see him in four live performances, the Duke of Mantua, Rodolfo in Luica Miller, Don Jose and Manrico. He was a very gracious man and when I wrote him as a teen ager, he not only answered my letter but also invited me backstage. Although he was very busy he took the time to greet me and sign my program. That was a night to remember!

Here is a list of some of Richard Tucker's most performed roles.

Don Alvaro
Don Carlos
Enzo
Ferrnado (Cosi fan Tutti)
Des Grieux
Don Jose (36 times)
Lenski
Mario Cavaradossi
Radames
Rodolfo(39 times)
Turiddu
Canio
Hoffman
Duke of Mantua
Gabriele (Simon Boccenegra)
Riccardo
Edgardo
Alfredo
Chenier
Manrico
Rodolfo (Luica Miller)
Lionel (Martha)
Calaf
Samson
Eleazar (La Juive)
Total Performances at the Metropolitan Opera House 449 and 225 during the spring Tour.