Washington [USA], January 10: Jack Waddell, a former opera singer and renowned vocal coach to Broadway stars such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessica Vosk, and Brandon Victor Dixon, has passed away at the age of 83 at his home in Bloomington, Illinois. According to Deadline, Waddell died on New Year’s, with his passing announced by his students Dixon, Vosk, and Owen Rozanski. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Celebrations of Waddell’s life will take place in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, New York City, and Hamburg, Germany, with dates to be announced.
Born John A. Waddell on March 31, 1941, in Bloomington, Illinois, Waddell achieved recognition in the music world over a decade-long career. He was honored by the American Theatre Wing as an “Unsung Hero of Broadway” in 2023, with his induction introduced by Dixon at the organization’s gala.
Waddell graduated in 1963 with a degree in voice from Illinois Wesleyan University and initially aimed for opera stages in New York City. However, facing limited opportunities for Black performers in the opera world, he moved to West Germany, where he gained prominence and became a trailblazer for people of color in the field. Fluent in multiple languages, particularly German and Italian, he built a prolific career in opera, concert, and TV performances.
In the 1980s, Waddell returned to the United States, where he transitioned into vocal coaching. He mentored a range of accomplished Broadway stars, including Mitchell (Ragtime), Vosk (Hell’s Kitchen), Dixon, Robert Fowler (The Producers), Felicia P. Fields (The Color Purple), Angela Robinson (Dreamgirls), and Soara-Joye Ross (Hadestown), among others.
In recognition of his contributions to the Broadway community, Waddell was awarded the “Unsung Hero of Broadway” by the American Theatre Wing in 2023.