Dorothy Maynor

Dorothy Maynor

Dorothy Leigh Mainor (September 3, 1910 – February 19, 1996), known as Dorothy Maynor, was an American soprano, concert singer, and the founder of the Harlem School of the Arts. Considered one of the great singers of her generation, Maynor had a voice that was simultaneously sweet and supple and formidably powerful, with a mezza that was "magically ethereal." Maynor is noted as the first African–American to sing at a presidential inauguration, performing at President Harry S. Truman's inaugural gala in 1949.

Birth and Death Data: Born Norfolk (independent city in Virginia, United States), Died February 19, 1996 (West Chester (borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1939 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: soprano vocal

Notes: Dorothy Maynor's birth name was Dorothy Leigh Mainor. She was married to Reverend Shelby Rooks. https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/harlems-dorothy-maynor-harlem-school-of-the-arts-founder-and-a-woman-of-many-firsts/

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 51 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	CS-042994	12-in.	10/20/1939	Ave Maria	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-042995	12-in.	10/20/1939	Gretchen am Spinnrade	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-042996	10-in.	10/20/1939	Du bist wie eine Blume	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-042997	10-in.	10/20/1939	Liebeslied	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-043336	10-in.	11/2/1939	Zueignung	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-043337	10-in.	11/2/1939	Zur ruh, zur ruhe	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-043338	10-in.	11/2/1939	Die Almacht	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-043339	10-in.	11/2/1939	Du bist die Ruh	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-043570	12-in.	11/6/1939	Oh, sleep! why dost thou leave me	Boston Symphony Orchestra ; Serge Koussevitzky ; Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-043571	12-in.	11/6/1939	Pamina's aria ("Ach, ich fuhl's")	Boston Symphony Orchestra ; Serge Koussevitzky ; Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-047129	12-in.	3/20/1940	Micaela's aria	Boston Symphony Orchestra ; Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-047130	12-in.	3/20/1940	Depuis le jour	Boston Symphony Orchestra ; Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056155	12-in.	9/20/1940	The last spring	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056156	12-in.	9/20/1940	I'm Herbst	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with piano	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056477	12-in.	10/11/1940	Adelaide, part 1	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056478	12-in.	10/11/1940	Adelaide, part 2	Dorothy Maynor ; Arpad Sandor	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056575	12-in.	10/20/1940	Chorale : Now let every tongue adore thee	Dorothy Maynor ; Eugene Ormandy ; Philadelphia Orchestra	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056576	12-in.	10/20/1940	Dèpuis le jour.....	Dorothy Maynor ; Eugene Ormandy ; Philadelphia Orchestra	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	CS-056577	12-in.	10/20/1940	Recitative and air de Lia	Dorothy Maynor ; Eugene Ormandy ; Philadelphia Orchestra	Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-061450	10-in.	11/4/1941	Test record for Mr. O'Connell no. 3	Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with male vocal chorus, unaccompanied	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-068148	10-in.	11/4/1941	Test record for Mr. O'Connell no. 1	Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with male vocal chorus, unaccompanied	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-068149	10-in.	11/4/1941	Test record for Mr. O'Connell no. 2	Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with male vocal chorus, unaccompanied	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-068314	10-in.	11/14/1941	Steal away to Jesus (Hymn of deliverance)	Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-068315	10-in.	11/14/1941	I couldn't hear nobody pray	Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus	vocalist, soprano vocal
Victor	BS-068316	10-in.	11/14/1941	I'm a-going to travel (Hymn of tribulation)	Dorothy Maynor	Soprano vocal solo, with unaccompanied male chorus	vocalist, soprano vocal

(Results 1-25 of 51 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maynor, Dorothy," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106320.

Maynor, Dorothy. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106320.

"Maynor, Dorothy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.