Spartanburg in Spartanburg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Rev. Julius Cheeks
⎯⎯⎯
Gianna Rolandi
| | Spartanburg Music Trail | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 21, 2025
1. Rev. Julius Cheeks
Rev. Julius Cheeks
1929-1981
Rev. Julius "June" Cheeks was born into poverty at the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929 in Spartanburg. He began singing in the second grade and in 1946 formed the group The Sensational Nightingales. The group sang popular gospel songs such as "Somewhere to Lay My Head" and "The Last Mile of the Way."
Gianna Rolandi
1952-2021
After growing up in Spartanburg and training at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Gianna Rolandi began her career as an American soprano with the New York City Opera in 1974. She continued her successful 19-year career by performing with the New York City Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and many others.
Erected by Spartanburg Philharmonic.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.
Location. 34° 56.994′ N, 81° 55.792′ W. Marker is in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in Spartanburg County. It is on East Main Street west of Liberty Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 163 E Main St, Spartanburg SC 29306, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Upstate. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other
this page online
More about this marker. The marker is a part of the Spartanburg Music Trail.
Also see . . .
1. Rev. Julius Cheeks. Biography from the Spartanburg Music Trail site
Rev. Julius June Cheeks was an American gospel singer famed for a gritty, powerful baritone that influenced not only the next generation of gospel performers but also secular stars including James Brown and Wilson Pickett.(Submitted on February 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
2. Gianna Rolandi. Biography from the Spartanburg Music Trail site
Rolandi graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in 1975 and made her operatic debut that year (Olympia/The Tales of Hoffmann(Submitted on February 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)and Zerbinetta/Ariadne auf Naxos) with the New York City Opera, where she went on to sing more than 30 roles. Metropolitan Opera roles include Sophie/Der Rosenkavalier (debut, 1979), Olympia, Zerbinetta, and the title role/Stravinskys Le Rossignol. At Lyric Opera of Chicago she debuted as Dorinda in Handels Orlando (1986), and returned to sing Despina/Cosμ fan tutte (1993-1994), which marked her retirement from the stage.Photographed by Mark Parker, February 21, 20252. Gianna Rolandi
3. Gianna Rolandi - Rossini: Barber of Seville, Una voce poco fa. 1978 Recording with the New York City Opera (Submitted on February 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
4. Rev. Julius Cheeks and the Singing Sensations. "Somewhere to Lay My Head (Submitted on February 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 21, 2025
3. Rev. Julius Cheeks / Gianna Rolandi Marker looking east on East Main Street near Liberty St.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 24 times this year. Last updated on February 22, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 21, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
