Carl Tanner

Personal Biography

Born and raised in Arlington, Virginia to very modest means, my family had many talents. My mother painted oil on canvas for as long as I can remember, and my father was the hardest-working man I knew. Not because he was my dad but because he worked two full time and part time jobs to put food on the table and clothes on our back.

Music was always a part of my life but it was country music that surrounded me. My father and I would drive down every Sunday to visit his brothers and sisters near Orange, VA, where he grew up. I would turn the radio to whatever country music station his little "corvair" could get. I would sing along to John Denver, Willie Nelson, Roy Clark or whoever was crooning away at the time. I'm pretty sure this is where I got my love for music. I started learning the violin when I was 13 years old, but I never took it seriously. I would take it home after school, walk in the house, lay it beside the front door and that's where it would stay until I left for school the next morning. I never really practiced, but I do believe this was the start of my love for classical music.

One Saturday afternoon after football practice I went home, showered and went out on front porch to have a coke and rest. A friend from four doors away came over to ask me if that was me singing in the shower. I said, "yeah, sorry about that!" She insisted that the following year I should try out for the chorus. I told her "come on, that's for girls." After she convinced me that there were other athletes singing in the chorus I stubbornly agreed to try it. The teacher said my voice was too big to blend in with the other voices and asked me if I wouldn't mind being the soloist from time to time. After a year of singing soloist for the chorus, I auditioned for The Madrigals. For a high school choral group we had a very difficult schedule, which made me not want to do this anymore.

After high school I did various odd jobs to earn money and not be a burden on my parents. I then realized that all my friends had left for college or go off to who-knows-where and I was by myself and needed to figure out what I was supposed to do! I decided that since the only think I knew how to do was sing, I would try and go to school for it. I auditioned for Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia. After earning a degree in performance, I went back home to Arlington without a clue of what to do next.

I started truck driving (semi) after college and was later offered a job as a licensed modern day Bounty Hunter. Yep, I was crazy enough to take it. It was exciting for a while and even though I was very good at it, it was not my calling. I started noticing signs that I was chosen to sing. I didn't know what I wanted to do but I knew it was singing! After many family, friends and strangers convinced me to follow my talent, I did.

I moved to New York City in December 1990. I arrived with a small bag of clothes and $75.00. I moved in with friends and started looking for work. I was walking in Greenwich Village one evening and heard opera singing coming from a little restaurant called Bianchi and Margarita's. I walked in, sat down at the bar and told the bartender I would have a coke. He replied, "coke's not good for your voice". I asked him how he knew I was a singer? He said he could tell by the way I spoke. If you have heard me speak, then you know I have a very unusual speaking voice. I then got up and sang. This was the beginning of my career. In the restaurant that night was Richard Gaddes, the head of Santa Fe Opera. He offered me a role in one of the operas that they were doing the following summer.

My career has so far taken me around the world. I have made some lifelong friends and have been able to enjoy great audiences. I would like to give love and thanks to my mentors: Professor Jackson Sheats of Winchester, Va and opera coach Mr. Gerald Brown of New York City for supporting me during the many times when I thought I wanted to give up! I thank God that He chose me to do this!