Tenor Jerry Hadley Dies at 55

Jerry Hadley, 55, was known for his bright voice and brash energy
By Colleen Barry,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 19, 2007 4:44 AM CDT
Tenor Jerry Hadley Dies at 55
Opera Singer Jerry Hadley prepares to go on stage at New York's Metropolitan Opera with the help of dresser Bill Malloy in this file photo from Feb. 2, 1992. Hadley, whose voice was heard at top opera houses and graced Grammy- and Emmy-winning recordings, was on life support Wednesday July 11, 2007,...   (Associated Press)

Lyric tenor Jerry Hadley, 55, died yesterday, eight days after shooting himself in the head in his home near Poughkeepsie, NY. Hadley, who suffered from depression, was known for his bright, warm voice, brash energy on stage and adventurous choice of repertory, the New York Times reports.

Hadley auditioned for Beverly Sills in 1978, and was immediately offered a contract with the New York City Opera. He pushed his voice so hard during his career that it lost some of its power, eventually reducing his roles and adding to his financial difficulties. In his final performance at the Met, he sang the title role in John Harbison’s “Great Gatsby.” (More opera stories.)

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