Lushanya Vinay, Photograph, Undated. Courtesy Oklahoma Hall of Fame Archives.
Lushanya Vinay
(1906 - 1990)
Profession: Opera Singer
Hometown: Ardmore
Inducted: 1964
Opera singer Lushanya Vinay captured the attention of audiences around the world with her voice. Born Tessie Mobley in Ardmore, Oklahoma, in 1906, Vinay grew up on a farm where she learned beadwork from her grandmother and to ride horses. As a child, she initially studied piano, but later transitioned into voice lessons to pursue her interest in opera. Vinay studied music at the University of Georgia and Christian College in Columbia, Missouri. In 1929, her career as a soprano soloist was launched during the Indian Ceremonials at the Hollywood Bowl where she was mentored by Muscogee singer Tsianina Redfeather Blackstone.
Following this performance the name "Lushanya" was given to Vinay as she was regarded as the "Songbird of the Chickasaws.". During the early 1930s, she continued her music education studying opera at distinguished schools such as the State Academy of Music in Berlin and the Royal Academy in Rome. While in the United States, she performed solo roles in Los Angeles and Chicago.
In 1937, Vinay became the first Native American woman to perform the title role of Verdi's Aida at the Trieste Opera House in Italy; opening up more opportunities for her to perform around the world. During the same year, she sang at the coronation of King George VI of England, allowing her to meet with royalty of other countries. Everywhere she went Vinay shared and celebrated her Chickasaw culture. Following her marriage to fellow singer Ramon Vinay, she retired from performing to manage his career. Vinay's legacy was recognized when she was posthumously inducted into the Chickasaw Nation Hall of Fame in 2009.