Tucker, Richard [ Ticker, Reuben] (b Brooklyn, NY, 1913; d Kalamazoo, 1975). Amer. tenor. Sang in synagogues as cantor. Opera début NY 1943 (Alfredo in La traviata). Débuts: NY Met 1945, becoming prin. ten. there in It. and Fr. operas; Eur. (Verona) 1947 (with Callas on her It. début); CG 1958; La Scala 1969. Sang in Toscanini concert-opera perf. (Aida). His brother-in-law was Jan Peerce. Only singer whose funeral service took place on the stage of the Met.

TUCKER, RICHARD

TUCKER, RICHARD (1914–1975), singer and *ḥazzan. Born in New York, Tucker sang in a synagogue choir and studied singing under Paul Althouse. From 1939 to 1944 he was ḥazzan at Temple Adath Israel, Brooklyn, and also appeared in concerts and on radio. In 1944 he was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera, but continued officiating as ḥazzan at the Brooklyn Jewish Center until 1947. At the Metropolitan he became one of the leading lyric tenors, specializing in French and Italian operas. Tucker was distinguished for the volume and quality of his voice, and sang in the world's leading opera houses. Throughout his career Tucker continued to perform occasionally as ḥazzan or in cantorial recitals, and also made several cantorial recordings.