Spoiler : Merrill, Robert (birth name was Moishe Miller) Born in Brooklyn, New York 6/4/1919; died 10/23/2004 at his home in Brooklyn, New York. Married and divorced to soprano Roberta Peters (three months ?-?); Marion Machno (?-?). Merrill was the son of Polish emigres, his father, Abraham, was a shoe salesman and mother Lillian was an operatic soprano who performed in concert before her marriage. His parents changed their last name to Miller upon their arrival in the United States.

Spoiler : Merrill was a semi-pro baseball pitcher before he became a Borscht Circuit performer, making his operatic debut singing Amonasro in Aida in Trenton, New Jersey (1944), then debuted in 1945 as a Metropolitan Opera baritone, referred to as "The Star-Spangled Baritone." He became one of Opera's most enduring and acclaimed One of the Metropolitan baritones. Always a fan of baseball, he sang "The Star Spangled Banner" for the New York Yankees on opening day for over three decades since 1969.

Spoiler : His first audition for the Metropolitan Opera in 1941 was not successful. He made ends meet by singing for bar mitzvahs and weddings. Merrill finally made his operatic debut in 1944 voicing the role of Amonasro in "Aida" in Trenton, New Jersey, then successfully joined the Met the following year, taking his first company bow in December as Germont in "La Traviata." Displaying an amazingly vigorous yet smooth and effortless baritone, other roles in his standard repertoire would include the title role in "Rigoletto," Figaro in "The Barber of  Seville," "Tonio in "Pagliacci" and Escamillo in "Carmen." He was deemed one of the finest Verdi baritones of his generation. He continued to sing at The Met until 1976, performing sporadically after that as a recitalist.

Spoiler : Appeared on Metropolitan Opera Auditions for NBC-Radio (1944), was an audition contest winner on the program. Host and star of The Robert Merrill RCA Victor Show on NBC-Radio (1945-1946). Vocalist on radio programs including The Metropolitan Opera for ABC and CBS from the middle 1940s; An Evening With Romberg for NBC (summers of 1945-1948). Merrill and Marguerite Piazza hosted Encore on NBC-Radio (1952-1953).

Spoiler : Guest star on many television programs including Opening Night At The Metropolitan Opera for ABC (1950); Opera vs Jazz for ABC (1953). Regular performer on Your Show Of Shows for NBC-TV (1950-1951).

Spoiler : Radio programs offered cheap (free) entertainment. My parents would write away for tickets, usually to "The Shadow" and the Metropolitan Auditions. We had the good fortune to attend the broadcast that featured Merrill.