Tibbett, Lawrence (tĭb`ĭt), 1896–1960, American baritone, b. Bakersfield, Calif. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in 1923. After a successful appearance as Ford in Verdi's Falstaff, he was given leading roles and became especially noted for those he created in American operas, including Louis Gruenberg's Emperor Jones (1933) and the operas of Deems Taylor. He was outstanding in the revival (1932) of Verdi's Simon Boccanegra. Beginning with The Rogue Song (1930) he appeared in a number of motion pictures and was long popular as a radio singer. In 1936 he helped found the American Guild of Musical Artists, of which he became president.

Tibbett, Lawrence

orig. Lawrence Mervil Tibbet

(born Nov. 16, 1896, Bakersfield, Calif., U.S.—died July 15, 1960, New York, N.Y.) U.S. baritone. He performed as a singing actor before moving into opera. After his 1923 Metropolitan Opera debut, his first major success came in 1925, when he played Ford in Giuseppe Verdi's Falstaff. Over the next several years he sang most of the leading baritone roles at the Metropolitan, continuing with the company for 27 seasons. He also starred in several musical films and appeared on the popular radio show Your Hit Parade.

Tibbett, Lawrence (1896–1960) baritone; born in Bakersfield, Calif. After experience as an actor and in light opera, he studied voice in New York and made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1923, going on to be a favorite there until his retirement in 1950. He was admired both for his roles in Italian classics and in new operas, and also appeared in films and recitals, and on radio.