Harry Thacker Burleigh (1866-1949) was an influential American musician and composer, known for his baritone singing voice and his role in introducing African-American spirituals to broader audiences. The grandson of a freed slave, Burleigh studied music at the National Conservatory of Music in New York, where he caught the attention of the renowned Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. This connection helped highlight the significance of African-American spirituals in classical music. Burleigh served as the soloist at St. George’s Episcopal Church in New York for 52 years, despite facing racial opposition from some church members at the beginning of his tenure. Throughout his career, he composed numerous works and is remembered for his contributions to the preservation and popularization of spirituals. Some of his popular songs include "Go Down Moses" and "Lovely, dark, and lonely one." His notable albums include "Negro Spirituals" (1917) and "Plantation Melodies Old and New" (1901).