Jan Peerce
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Jan Peerce (June 3, 1904 – December 15, 1984) was an American tenor.
He was born Jacob Pincus Perelmuth in New York City. He attended De Witt Clinton School and Columbia University. He first studied the violin and played in public to earn extra money. His first singing engagement was at Radio City Music Hall in 1932. Through these broadcasts, he became known all over the country and was soon in demand for concert performances.
In May 1938, he made his operatic debut as the Duke in Verdi's Rigoletto in Philadelphia. His first solo recital followed the next year. He caught the attention of conductor Arturo Toscanini and made a memorable series of recordings with him. His Metropolitan Opera debut was as Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata in 1941. He remained on the staff at the Met until 1966 and made occasional appearances thereafter until his retirement in 1982.
Peerce was also at home on the concert stage and in solo recital and recorded such works as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
In 1956, he was the first American singer to perform at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow as a cultural ambassador.
In 1971 he made his Broadway debut as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
He died in New York City.
His sister married fellow-tenor Richard Tucker.
